The sun streams through my west facing bedroom window, bright and blinding. I can sense it through my still closed eyelids and rebel at the thought of opening even one of them. I wish I could get up without moving. I feel my full bladder. The thought of placing my cold toes on the warm window sill crosses my mind.
I remember that I don’t have school today and a small smile starts to form on my lips. The saliva begins to pool in my mouth as it hits me; the scent of the morning and day, meandering down the hallway and wafting under my bedroom door like a butter and onion breeze.
I glance at my alarm clock with one blurry eye and the time on the clock tells me that the turkey has already been in the oven for a while. I quickly open my other eye and take a deep breath, inhaling the air that is now fully scented by my mother’s cooking.
My heart starts to beat faster at the thought of future odors like cinnamon, nutmeg and pumpkin as well as yeasty rolls and sweet, sugary yams. I can feel the hunger in my gut now and wonder what’s for breakfast.
My stomach forces the rest of me into high gear and I sit up, push the covers off of me with urgency and hop out of the bed in a rush. I dash to the door and as I open it my eyes burn a little, now fully accosted by the oniony smell that fills the entire house. I can taste the stuffing already.
As I approach the kitchen her back is to me, her apron tied too tight. I see the dark orange pie filling pooling into the crust. Memories of every childhood Thanksgiving come rushing back as I watch her and take in yet another deep breath of all the smells melding together to make our afternoon meal.
She senses my presence.
“Hey sleepy head, you want something to eat?”
“I’ll take that pie,” I say as I walk over to her, hugging her from the side, realizing the smells have permeated her clothing too.
“Smells good, doesn’t it?”
I nod and go to the pantry for the cereal, scanning my options. I don’t want to ruin my appetite for later…
These same smells still fill my home even if I am not at my parents for Thanksgiving since my husband and I make our stuffing the same way as my mother, starting with chopped onions sauteed in butter…
The prompt:
For many of us a scent or a sound can bring back a rush of remembrances.
This week, your memoir prompt assignment is to think of a sound or a smell the reminds you of something from your past and write a post about that memory. Don’t forget to incorporate the sound/smell of your choosing!
looooooove this. so descriptive with the scents and your reactions. and my stomach is growling!
OK, um. YUM! I love butter and onions cooking… one of my favorites!
The only thing I wasn’t clear on was the “The thought of placing my cold toes on the warm window sill crosses my mind.” line. I thought for a second this could be a suicide attempt story… it’s just a little confusing.
I love the little details; the “future odors” and the too tight apron. Sounds like a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Elaine! this was wonderful! I adore how the moment unfolded and you used such beautiful words: streams, meandering, wafting.
I was right there with you and as promised: Yes, I’m hungry after reading this!
My favorite line is this: “…hugging her from the side, realizing the smells have permeated her clothing too.” because it struck me as sweet, warm, and cozy- mirroring the feeling from the food.
*Sigh* Good stuff!
Butter and onion breeze? Perfection.
Came from TRDC.
Love this so much. For me it is much the same – the smell of butter and onions and celery in the morning of Tday. yum!
Can I come to your house for Thanksgiving? The smalls and feelings of the morning are exactly what I want to experience with my own family one day. What a blessed experience to have and pass along to your own children. 🙂
I loved how to captured the intimacy of cooking in this piece, how the simple scent of onions cooking in butter, wraps you in you love for your mother, her love for you and now love for your own family.
“…take in yet another deep breath of all the smells melding together to make our afternoon meal.”
I like that description very much, how all of the wonderful smells of Thanksgiving just seem to come together to form a new smell that says ‘Family’. Great job!
This would make me get out of bed too! I love onions, and onions in butter is even better!
Great descriptions:
The saliva begins to pool in my mouth as it hits me; the scent of the morning and day, meandering down the hallway and wafting under my bedroom door like a butter and onion breeze.
I love that one!
I think I once read that memories associated with smells are the most embedded in our memories!
I think everybody knows that smell!
Oh, I love the smell of Thanksgiving. What a great job you did explaining it. Those spices and smells really only come together in the fall.
This is a beautiful family memory–you took me right there with you.
Thanks!
I love the smell of some good cooking. Every time I smell a pound cake I think of my grandmother. She always made them for me because they were my favorite.
Genius! This is the perfect setting for writing about a memory based on smell.
Oh the smells of holidays!! Mmm. This post makes me yearn for pumpkin pie, stuffing, and treats.
Your tasty descriptions were spot on.
The way you described your rebellion against waking was perfect. You just described how I felt last Saturday when I had the opportunity to sleep in and the sun made my body protest against my mind’s desire to sleep a few more winks worth. :>
Enjoyed the small details, such as your Mom’s apron tied too tight. And all those smells. I was smelling your stuffing, thinking of our stuffing, and you’ve left me wanting some of my favorite pie!
Yum. I love the smells of Thanksgiving. Reading this post, I was thinking about all the dishes my family makes and how I’m craving them now!
I just love the smell of onions in butter! Nicely done!
Thanksgiving is the absolute BEST. now i’m hungry!!