Wednesday, July 23, 2008

what the smell of a fig tree can do...

On my way home from the bus I walk by this fig tree. Today I stopped and smelled it (I do this sometimes) and a wave of memories hit me. In our neighbor's back yard in South Carolina had fig tree where a permanent cat trail ran beneath. The smell is so distinct, fresh and sweet. There are so many things I'm reminded of here, that I had no idea I remembered. DC is much more southern that I had expected. The gigantic plantation trees and the viney forests remind of a time I thought I had forgot about. I'm often very nostalgic, and nostalgia is always tinged with sadness. But this doesn't make me nostalgic. It makes me happy that the very early and very short period of my life in the south, when my parents were married, and when Katie and I were so young, is not lost. 

I didn't think moving here would would allow me to come so close to nature. DC has a lot of green spaces. There is a forest in the back of our buildings with long trails, and everyone in neighborhood gardens. And, if you need more space, there is a communal gardening area at the edge of the forest where people in the neighborhood can rent plots to grow veggies and flowers. It's so pretty to walk through. I've really missed this in Chicago. I've been coming to realize that I do prefer Chicago in so many ways, but at least DC has this.

3 comments:

Nicole said...

I LOVE how smells can trigger memories.
You've painted a picture of DC that I really didn't know existed! I pictured it way more "city-like". That's really great! You should post some pictures of where you're living! (or is that dangerous on the internet??)

Elise said...

At my house in FL we have fig trees on the side... it reminds me of my HS summers. And the delicious fat figs we'd eat. Mmm... Yeah, growing up is hard. I think back my HS summers and try to remember what I actually DID then! lol.

Kate said...

i remember that fig tree...

there are so many things that i remember, but dont realize i remember (know what i mean?). there have definitely been moments when i'll be walking down the street and all of the sudden i'll be flooded with memories of italy because of a smell, but i can't even place what the smell is or tell why it's bringing back memories. odd how our brains work...

Welcome!

Welcome!