Scent is the Strongest Sense Tied to Memory

The above statement never ceases to amaze me.

How one smell can transport you somewhere that you were 5,10, 15, 20 years ago in a split second, is amazing to me. I mean, you don't even remember that smell.....until you are surprised with it again.

You don't even have to think "where have I smelled this before?" Whammo, it transports you there immediately. Bam.

Sometimes I get on the elevator at home and it smells exactly like the lobby of Royal Solaris in Cancun...when I went there in 1991.

There are a thousand other instances, but the other day I experienced a memory that I had completely forgotten about for 30 years.

I had to go through the lobby to pick up/sign for a package at the concierge desk. I arrived at the desk via a different route. As I was walking towards the elevator, I passed the small party room which had a few people getting ready for a holiday gathering. There was a man outside speaking to another gentleman. As I walked past him....I went on a journey.

I was six or seven years old.
Living on Shaughnessy Blvd.
It was a Saturday night
Hanging with Laurelle, likely practicing our dance steps for the babysitter, listening to "Trash" on the Sesame Street album
My mom and dad were getting ready to go out
My dad had put on cologne. I don't know which cologne. Some sort of after shave.

This man smelled exactly like my dad used to smell on Saturday nights when he was ready to go out with my mom.

Unbelievable. I couldn't find this scent if I tried, because it would have to be perfectly matched with the oils of this man's skin, as it was.

Either way, I walked past these two men and took in the scent as much as I could.

I smiled to myself, got a little teary-eyed and made my way back upstairs.