3. Sunshine in my child’s hair
I noted this earlier— nothing else brings me back to my children’s innocent, carefree days than the smell in their hair gently touched by the south Texas sun.
2. Dove soap
A few months before the passing of my dear paternal grandmother, I was relaxing in a hot bath long after I had gotten my children to bed. Normally, I prefer one of the few indulgences of my world—some fancy liquid soap in a loofah from Bath and Body Works or Crabtree and Evelyn. I had to settle for an old, crummy bar of Dove soap. As I worked this tired rectangle of wax and perfume into a lather, the smell reminded me of the soap we had at my grandparent’s home during bath time. I was transported back to the days when I would spend weekends at my Grandparents home with my brother and sister. While I was remiss to admit at the time, these were great days of exploring their fantastic wooded property in Bellevue, WA, and living a life separate from my normal, day-to-day, angst-filled adolescent existence. The memories for me were so powerful, I was convicted to write a letter to my grandmother and thank her for all the weekends she and my grandfather gave up to watch us, their three grandchildren. I know now, as a parent with no grandparents closer than at least a 15-hour journey by car or 3000-mile trip by air, how precious this can be. My grandmother, who at the time had been recently widowed from my grandfather, responded that their care was an act of love for us. I will always treasure this letter from her—all triggered by a $1 bar of soap.
1. Freshly brewed coffee
No matter how few hours of sleep I may get (due to teething, ear-infections, or separation-anxiety run amok) I will never cease to be invigorated by the smell of freshly brewed coffee waiting for me for that first, pristine cup of the day. Thank the Lord for automatic coffee makers, that I may set the time and ingredients before I go to bed each night. I remember when my first child was born. I had largely declined to drink my usual one cup of coffee per day in pursuit of the toxin-free baby. As far as decaf goes, my opinion is, “What’s the point?” When Danielle was born, my first real meal served in the hospital was breakfast.
