Thursday, May 13, 2010

Grandpa's Hat....

I would like you to meet Dinni B Stinnett. This is My Grandpa....came to California during the Dust Bowl era, and stayed to be a Share Cropper, growing cotton on 40 ac. It would take a book to tell all I know and love about Grandpa. So for now I will share this on thing... Grandpa's..........Hat
I believe that smell is a powerful trigger for our memories...One of the things that stands out is the smell of my Grandpa's Hat. The only time it was off his head was when he was sleeping, and it hung on a hook near by. When I was a little girl we would set on the old cot that was under the Mulberry Tree near the front porch. I would set next to him and talk none stop. I was known by my family as the chatter box. Grandpa was a man of few words. He would nod his head now and then or make a sound like he heard me. He would take his hat off and use a handkerchief to wipe off the sweat from his head and face. The California Valleys are very hot in the summer. I would put that old hat on my own head and he would laugh. I could smell the sweet sweat mingled with tobacco and earth. My Dad would buy him a new hat when he saw that he needed one. I would so love to have one of his hats hanging on a hook in my house right now. Do you have a smell that reminds you of a time, place, person? I bet you do if you think about it......Happy memories!

5 comments:

Queen Bee's Musings said...

Wonderful story... Scent is one of our most powerful memory triggers. they quickly take us to a past memory.

Lynn Cohen said...

Yes, my father's Mennens' after shave lotion! Thanks for the memories!
xoox

Janet said...

My grandma's pantry, which was almost another room it was so big, always had a wonderful spicy smell....like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, etc. I can be right there in that pantry every time I smell those spices.

Elizabeth Golden said...

This is so cool that you are taking the time to write all of this down. I too have memories like these and try to pass the on. It sort of keeps those who have passed on alive. Thanks for sharing your memories and encouraging all of us to remember ours.

Julie said...

This story about your grandpa's hat was so good it made me cry. I hope you get to publish your memoirs someday, Mary.

The smell of lilacs always brings me right back to my childhood.