Heightened Memories

I went outside for a breath of fresh air during a 12 hour shift this last Tuesday Night. It had recently rained and the smell of wet grass brought on many memories of high school march band. We would practice early in the morning and the grass was always wet from the morning dew. There was a distinct smell that plagued the band hall for the entire football season. This smell brought back memories of marching on the practice field, road trips, half-time performances. I find it interesting that something as simple as an odor can instantly bring back memories. I've noticed several different "smells" that do this for me. The smell of any type of burning incense brings back to me a series of worship services my youth group at church had one month. There is an air freshener that was used in bootcamp that still brings back haunting memories of endless pushups and receiving an ass chewing over not properly making my bed.
I think the sense of smell probably can define events better than say hearing or feeling. I can hear a sound that sounds familiar, but it doesn't really do anything as far as bringing memories instantly to my mind. I don't know, maybe I'm just weird that odors do it for me.