I went for a walk today. The sun was shining and the breeze was cool. I was wearing a jumper but enjoying the cool air against my skin where the zipper was down. I was almost home after strolling around for an hour or so. No one was out an about, the roads were deserterd and the footpaths were free.
I was noticing that the first real signs of autumn are here. Some of the plants are having their last hoorah with bright blooms dancing on the breeze. Others are fruiting and dropping spent fruit on the ground. Perhaps they hope that rain will come and the spent fruit will form young sapplings when the Spring arrives. Here we are, not even in Winter and I am hoping for Spring. Leaves are starting to turn to pale shades of green, some are further along with yellow licking the edges of the leaves.
I really love this time of year. Blankets on the bed, jumpers on at night, a chill in the early morning and a pleasant day. I love watching as the trees settle in for the winter. The colour of their leaves change, and they shed them slowly. The mounds of drying leaves lay on the grass, on the footpath and on the road. They pile up against walls and fill gutters.
Anyway, as I turned the corner for home I walked past this older gentleman. He smiled at me but did not make eye contact. As he passed me, his scent hit me. I was knocked for six. This man smelt like my grandfather. I don't know what it was, but I turned and watched him walk away. He had his hair cut as my grandfather did, short back and sides with a little length on top to allow for a graceful part on the side. He may have used the cream that my grandfather used to slick it down. He was wearing a knitted cardigan. He had dress pants on, iron with a crease down the legs. This is how my grandfather always dressed. I watched him walking away with a tear in my eye. A car drove past and I realised that I was staring. I turned and walked towards home.
I closed my eyes and was transported to my childhood. I could smell my grandfather in my mind. To me, my grandfather is a combination of 4 smells:
He is the smell of the earth when the rain has just fallen - rich, dusty and earthy.
He is the smell of the stranger who passed me on the street - clean and fresh.
He is the smell of peppermint on his breath as he would lean forward to kiss me hello or goodbye - sweet and minty
And he is the scent of old style cigarettes, the kind that you roll yourself - lingering and slightly bitter.
All of these would envelop you as you hugged him tight. This always made me feel safe and secure.
I miss my Pa. Today just reminded me how much this is true.