Smells and Sounds
Posted on July 15, 2007 - Filed Under Got Me Thinking
It’s often remarked how scents can strongly evoke memories, especially good ones. But a remark I made in a comment the other day got me thinking. Isn’t it also true that sounds can do the same? Do you remember as a young child, riding in the back of your parents car after a long ride home - how you could recognize the sounds of the tires on the pavement and the familiar turns of the vehicle that would signify the approach to your childhood home? You could be off in the land of nod, but you would be fully aware when the family car had hit territory close to the homestead, and that comfort would make you all cozy and not want to get out of the car so you’d even pretend to still be asleep, making Dad have to carry you into the house. I can still hear the crunch of the gravel and almost feel the motion of the old family car when the tires turned onto the street I grew up on. And who doesn’t recognize the call of that particular tinny ice cream truck music?
There are other sounds that don’t really evoke memories, so to speak, but they do bring their own crazy little satisfactions. Such as the whirling noise that the blades of an old-style rotary lawnmower make, or the sound of a typewriter key hitting the paper. There is something satisfying about those sounds. You had to expend effort in order to get the sound so if you didn’t hear it you would almost feel robbed. I still like to hear a sound when I hit a key as I type. I don’t look at the keys when I type, (my old typing teacher would turn over in her grave if I did, and I don’t even know if she’s passed away, LOL) so the little click sound it makes is like a small positive reinforcement, notifying me that I’ve actually hit the key and don’t have to go back and put it in later.
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12 Responses to “Smells and Sounds”
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Yes, I agree that sounds can evoke memories. I also have strong memories of the sounds driving down our driveway, the garage door opening, the car stopping inside. And yes, I pretended to still be asleep so I could get carried inside
There are a few sounds that always make me think twice - like a baby crying (still a relatively fresh memory for me, even though my boys are older, I still notice it and hear it and wonder whose baby it is), the dishwasher going, buses going past, fire sirens, etc.
Hannah, I guess once you are a mom those types of sounds always have an effect on you, huh? I’m not a mom but I remember my sister speaking of going through something similar to what you described when she heard a baby’s cry. Always made her do a double-take.
You bet! Sounds are VERY important to our memory..
I don’t remember the sound of our car though!
I do remember the sound of sea water lapping against a boat though(as we went out every summer for our holidays in our old wooden boat)..a lovely feeling..
Ooooh, Merri, what a nice memory. I WISH it was one of mine! LOL.
Animal sounds have a strong effect on me. Mourning doves always make me feel comfy and at home. Other sounds that I have control over don’t, so much. Maybe smells are so often tagged as being evocative of memories because they’re so difficult to replicate.
Good point, Snapdragons! I love the sound of doves also. Nothing beats waking up to their gentle cooing.
Good point, Snapdragons! I love the sound of doves also. Nothing beats waking up to their gentle cooing.
Your correct sounds can evoke memories.
I have many pleasant memories associated to various sounds. Excellent post!
Certainly!!! I could type for hours about some of the ones that come into mine but goodness I’d bore you! lol
Actually that might be a neat topic for the village if you’d like to post it sometime…I’d post a few in there…
Hope all is well
Wonderful post!
…yes, many sound memories for me. One is the sound of car wheels rolling over a particular type of paved road that I’ve only found in the deep south. When I was a little girl, we’d sometimes go out to pick pecans…I remember the trip there always sounded like a galloping horse because of how the roads were paved, big sections with tar-filled groves. I was back down that way a few months back, rolling over those same paved roads. The sound was rather soothing and old thoughts and memories came flooding back. Yep, lots of memories that way.
it’s interesting how each person here has favorite sounds that evoke memories and familial ties. What a great conversation starter Teeni!
OMG - I really AM a Schmoozer! LOL.
How interesting that we thought of the same subject ( they say great minds think alike) I am so glad you did not have the same reason as myself for putting it in print. I love your thoughts and it is so interesting how many different things come to mind.
Thanks for the visit and the comment.
Blossom
[…] sounds like baby crying - A comment on my Smells and Sounds post led to this […]
Exactly…my grandmother had a creek running threw her yard (I guess it’s still there) and a rope swing. I remember the plop noise that you would hear when someone would fall in the water, sometimes on purpose. It’s not like another noise around that I can think of.
Oh - that rope swing sounds like so much fun. I always see those in movies and wish I had one.