The Time of Scented Candles
They say that scent is the sense most strongly linked to memory. Which is why the ocean smells the best to me ... it is probably my first recurring scent-linked memory, having been raised for the first two years of my life in Ocean City.
But another of my favorite scents is a candle scent called "Sex on the Beach." My mom has gotten me that same scented candle for almost 4 years now, and I link it directly to some of the best days of my life - during one of the most painful times of my life.
Three of my best friends would come to my house and we would sit in my room and talk for hours with those candles burning. The smell still brings vivid memories of those nights - the exact placement of all the furniture in my room, the places where each person would sit, and the things we would talk about.
Sadly, all three of those people are far from me now. One by one, they each shut me out in their own way. Sometimes, it was reciprocal - a fight in my senior year, a fight during the summer after my senior year ... and betrayal. Those bonds of friendship quickly faded away - never talking, never seeing each other.
And one by one, the fire of those friendships was rekindled. I rarely ever speak to one of those friends. I did something one day that scared him ... that will never change. Another of those friends I speak to on occasion. I said something one day that hurt her ... that will never change. The third friend I speak to frequently. He betrayed my trust, and yet I gave him opportunity after opportunity to make up for that betrayal. And he did it again, and again, and again. And it will never change.
And that is the saddest part of the memory that the scent brings back. That at one point, we all trusted each other completely. There was no doubt that we would be friends forever. We are still friends, but the bonds of friendship have no strength. We are people who now can only say, "Yeah, I used to be good friends with them."
Please forgive me if I act a little strange
For I know not what I do
- David Gray
For now, I remember Babylon, baseball, Star Wars trivial pursuit and Texas Roadhouse. And better days ...
But another of my favorite scents is a candle scent called "Sex on the Beach." My mom has gotten me that same scented candle for almost 4 years now, and I link it directly to some of the best days of my life - during one of the most painful times of my life.
Three of my best friends would come to my house and we would sit in my room and talk for hours with those candles burning. The smell still brings vivid memories of those nights - the exact placement of all the furniture in my room, the places where each person would sit, and the things we would talk about.
Sadly, all three of those people are far from me now. One by one, they each shut me out in their own way. Sometimes, it was reciprocal - a fight in my senior year, a fight during the summer after my senior year ... and betrayal. Those bonds of friendship quickly faded away - never talking, never seeing each other.
And one by one, the fire of those friendships was rekindled. I rarely ever speak to one of those friends. I did something one day that scared him ... that will never change. Another of those friends I speak to on occasion. I said something one day that hurt her ... that will never change. The third friend I speak to frequently. He betrayed my trust, and yet I gave him opportunity after opportunity to make up for that betrayal. And he did it again, and again, and again. And it will never change.
And that is the saddest part of the memory that the scent brings back. That at one point, we all trusted each other completely. There was no doubt that we would be friends forever. We are still friends, but the bonds of friendship have no strength. We are people who now can only say, "Yeah, I used to be good friends with them."
Please forgive me if I act a little strange
For I know not what I do
- David Gray
For now, I remember Babylon, baseball, Star Wars trivial pursuit and Texas Roadhouse. And better days ...
posted by Dave at 1:49:00 AM
1 Comments:
I remember those better days as well. They were nice. I didn't mean to betray your trust, if I did I'm sorry. We have both done it to each other however. We are still good friends because if we weren't I wouldn't have felt compelled to write this tonight. I miss you more oft than not. I miss the roadhouse, and I just listened to David Gray the other day and thought of you. Your friend -Dan
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