By Jason Paulsen, Executive Director
While not concluded by way of a scientific survey, I think that the period from mid-September through mid-October is the time of year when casual conversation here in the valley most often includes someone saying “…this is my favorite time of year.” Or, perhaps I’m just more receptive to these remarks because the autumn season is my favorite time of year.
Regardless, I was giving some thought the other day to why I feel such a strong connection to this time of year. Crisp mornings, clear blue sky days (at least some days!), less traffic on the trails, the beauty of the low angled light at sunrise and sunset, or the satisfaction of getting firewood secured for the coming winter…there’s no end to the list of great attributes that the autumn season brings.
For me it is all these things, and something more.
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| Harvest and views on a conserved property in Mazama |
While stacking firewood the other night, I concluded that it is the frequency of what I’ll call “memory triggered by scent” episodes that make this season so intense and enjoyable for me. Those moments where a scent in the air triggers an immediate memory, transporting me back to a previous time and place, often one I haven’t thought about for years. I seem to experience these episodes more frequently at this time of year for some reason.
Over the past couple of weeks, the smell of fresh cut alfalfa has taken me back decades to time spent on the tractor on my grandparent’s farm. The smell of fresh snow in the mountains brought back a memory of waking up unexpectedly to a snow covered tent near Mount Rainier . The first smell of wood smoke evoked memories of past Septembers spent smoking and canning salmon with my family. Even the smell of the skunk who met an untimely demise on Highway 20 near Big Valley the other day triggered a humorous memory of trying to evade a one of its cousins while camping last year in British Columbia
I hope to find some time this winter to research the science behind this “scent/ memory” connection, but until then I’m already looking forward to being outside this evening after a day of rain, to see what memories come drifting by. And I’ll look forward to hearing if any of you experience these “triggers” more often at any particular time of year?
- Jason
Many thanks for starting this blog, and for such great writing. It matters! Those of us scattered about the country are fed by your words while we plot visits. I live in Maine where we also have delicious fall weather. But I'll get a few sweet days in the Methow later this month. I can't wait!
ReplyDeleteThank you for starting this blog. It's lovely and I'll be sure to check it out. I caught a whiff of the skunk too and kind of sort of liked it. Sensory Recall is the sensation you write of and it's very real. I find it to be very positive, but for some it triggers Seasonal Affective Disorder.
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