Connie's Corner

Pine Needles

I found this list of scents somewhere, I can't remember where. It must be universal because each scent comes to me complete with a scene and a place in time. Scents are very powerful to me. Here is the list:

pine needles
cut grass
sunscreen
rubbing alcohol
cinnamon
stale beer
pencil erasers
vinegar
newly vacuumed carpet
orange peel
mothballs
roses
a new car
frying bacon
damp paper

The scene that came into my head when I read "pine needles" took place when I was around 30 which would make it somewhere in the 70's. I am walking with Jim and the kids in some woods near where we lived in Delaware. Jim is looking for a place to hunt and on this particular Sunday, we are traipsing through this woods looking for wildlife, deer in particular. It is spring and the ground is thick with damp pine needles, which makes our footsteps quiet. In fact, I hear nothing at all. The sun is high overhead casting few shadows even though the trees are dense. There are some fallen logs we have to step over, and as usual I lose my sense of direction. Jim never gets lost so I am not worried. Eric and Erica are maybe 10 and 11 and seem timid today because they do not run ahead but stay close to our sides. I am the one who steps out when I see some interesting tree fungus. As I do, a huge black snake slithers across the pine needles directly in front of my feet. One more step and my foot would have been on top of it. I freeze. Jim grabs my shoulders and pulls me back as the snake continues on into the underbrush.

until next time...c