They say that your sense of smell is most likely to invoke memories, and I suppose that would include taste as well since they're so tightly linked. Yesterday I picked up a box of Luden's Honey Licorice Losenges (something that is no longer available in Canada) and upon popping one in my mouth was engulfed in a childhood memory.
When I was 5 or 6, my family moved to Woodside, California or more precisely "The Junction"* of Skyline Blvd and Old LaHonda Rd. The area was just sold off for development in beautiful 1+ acre lots overlooking San Francisco Bay. The man who sold us this parcel of land was named Mr. Stadtler, and he roamed the area in a vintage open-top doorless Jeep.
One day after I walked up to the General Store - known as "Hank's" -- Mr Stadtler spotted me and offered me a ride home. Even then -- well before the SUV craze -- I recognized the Jeep as something cool. I hopped in, and he instantly offered me a Luden's Honey Licorice Losenge. Off we went in the open air, the flood of licorice flavor in my mouth, the wind in my hair, and the grinding noise of that old Jeep's gearbox in my ears. Sweet.
I wonder, is music as tied to memory as taste is? The reason I ask is that I had another flood of memories yesterday after throwing on an old UB40 album (the first one -- the one nobody seems to have heard of). Instantly, I was transported to 1979, to my third floor loft in my house on Euclid Street, sitting with Carl smoking joint after joint on a hot Summer's day. And feeling so numb and anesthetised. Please, don't anyone ask me to do anything. I'm way too S-T-O-N-E-D. Of course that was back when pot was weaker and cost $60/bag.
*"The Junction" became famous around that time for Hell's Angel's on acid, Ken Kesey, Hunter S. Thompson. I was too young to notice.. it was just where I got off my school bus.
You gots a turntable in that truck??
Posted by: hank | March 17, 2005 at 12:57 PM
Yeah, you're right James. They're CD's now, aren't they? This just shows how old and old school I am.
Posted by: Marshall | March 17, 2005 at 01:33 PM
yeah, music is very memory-rich. That's why they teach lessons in songs to kids (like the ABCs). And it seems esp when we're younger, songs and lyrics really stick and capture time.
Posted by: marian | March 17, 2005 at 08:35 PM