Monday 10 November 2008

Sweet Little Mystery



Inside my head I am in my twenties, sometimes in my late teens. On Friday night when we went to the concert I was in my mid twenties, living in my very grotty flat in London with M in the nest that was our bedroom (the flat being so small and grungy that neither my flatmate nor I made any attempt to do anything with the cupboard that passed for the living room and our bedrooms became our "worlds"). Listening to John Martyn sing his beautiful haunting lyrics was like watching those years play before me. Could it really have been twenty years ago? Looking at the faces of the people sitting around me, I could see the same thing was happening for them. So I sat there listening and gazing - gazing at a much changed John Martyn in front of me and the people around. We had all grown, time had passed, the years had brought experiences, new life, changes and perhaps a little wisdom, but what hadn't changed was the beauty of his music and the tenderness of his voice.



Whilst it is not too good a thing to dwell in the past for too long (and Mr Ragged Roses has reminded me that I am in danger of becoming too nostalgic as the days pass) I can't help but treasure moments like these, when the past and present entangle. On Saturday night I was in the kitchen making a pudding. Early evening, a bleak day demanding sweet sugary treats. As I stirred the grated apple, sugar and cinnamon, it's spicy sweet fragrance transported me immediately back to my mother's kitchen, I was there standing beside her eagerly waiting her wonderful cooking. Later on when we sat and ate our pudding I could see the same look on my daughters' faces and I wondered if in years to come the same will happen for them. What will be their soundtracks I wonder?

29 comments:

MelMel said...

I do love the pictures you take of your home....sweet!

I know what you mean....time flies....sometimes i really feel 18....today not....every bit my 36 yrs..bless me!
x

Selfsewn said...

Isnt it strange how music and fragrances brings on the nostalgic feelings!

Love your shelf, I have some rusty brackets waiting to be painted for just the same purpose, though they are not as nice as yours!

clare

LinenandRoses said...

I spend much of the time reminising and feeling like I'm still a teenager. Still can't quite believe I'm going to be a married lady in less than four months! Music is such a memory maker. I can't hear a Simon and Garfunkel without thinking of my Dad doing decorating. Mum and Dad listened to much less music when I was growing up than they do now but Dad always seemed to have on S and G or sea shanties when he was decorating!

Amanda and Tim said...

Oh gosh I'm only 24 and already I think nostalgically back to times gone by - times which were no better than I am living now but in retrospect all I remember are the good times - how lovely!

What a wonderful memory to be whisked back to - remembering your mother's cooking :o)

Anonymous said...

Funny how I couldn't wait to grow up and now . . .

Simone said...

When I was small I thought that when you reached 16 years of age you knew all there was to know about life! The older I get the more I realise how much I don't know about life. Certain songs bring back all kinds of memories to me - good and bad.

Sal said...

I'm always thinking back to the past,especially when I hear certain tracks on the radio.
Lovely post Kim! ;-)

Tracy said...

Such a sweet and tender post...Our songs, our scents, or raptures may be different, but what is amazing is how we recognize in each other such moments of nostalgia...a very human experience, and very human bond. My 20's were a tough time, but I am very happy now in my 30's...but so many things remind me of times past, that even tough times no longer seem so tough as they once were...guess that means growing up--LOL! Happy Days to you all ((HUGS))

Willow said...

What a truly lovely post .. I'm very sentimental about the past, and love to hear an old song that reminds me of special times, or open a box of treasures that can transport me back to being 16 again!! There's nothing wrong with nostalgia ... it proves that we can all still be whatever age we want to be in our hearts!
Willow xx

MrsL said...

Ah - that was lovely - I came here to read and found the wonderful mr Martyn singing jsut for me........LOL Great stuff, brought back memories of college years and beyond. Thanks :)

MrsL
xx

Cape Cod Washashore said...

A sweet, nostalgic post! Sounds like you had a marvelous time at the concert! My hubby's and my first date was at a Scorpions concert of all things! I'm not quite sure how nostalgic it would be for us to go to a Scorpions concert now - it might make me feel even older than I am! heehee

(PS - that was an archived summer photo on my blog you saw... we actually have the woodstove going right now!)

A Thrifty Mrs said...

I still feel like I am at school somedays. I feel like I am a groupie to bands again when I smell teenage scents like CK One and soft and gentle deoderant!

aromatic said...

I act and feel as if I am only in my 20's but I am nearly 51... It just doesn't register and I guess at the end of the day we are as old as we feel...
My children often think I am a slightly crazy mamma... but I don't mind I will take that as a compliment...
Music does bring back so many memories as do aromas. You can suddenly smell something and it will instantly take you back to a childhood event...
Love your post Kim and love your home.. Glad you enjoyed your night out!!
Love Jane xxx

Sea Angels said...

Give me nostalgia in HUGE bucket fuls, whats the point in having memories if you can't pour all over the good ones whenever you want!!!
I think you are doing just fine, and I love these photos especially the last one, that is gorgeous...I just love it!!!.
Have a super week Kim.
Hugs Lynn xx

A Bun Can Dance said...

If nostalgia for the past helps us to make today truly special and memorable then I'm all in favour. And I think that's what was happening in your kitchen as you made the pudding. Rather like weaving some golden threads of the past into the tapestry of today. Those threads are what keeps the cycle of life turning. Enjoy your memories! Happy days. Denise

Poppy said...

Thank you for your kind words! the smell of home made cooking, and cake mix left in the bowl, always brings back memories of my Nan. x

Cowboys and Custard Mercantile said...

Mr Martyn's music has defined landmarks in my life.. my life as an art student in the 70's was accompanied by John's music, then heartbreaks and heartaches along the way..each song having great significance..
He is a legend in my lifetime and one I would love to see again.. So pleased you could hear him for me..

Nostalgia... nothing better!

Dxx

Lisa said...

Smells can be so evocative and stir up all kinds of memories.
I get a shock when I look in the mirror and often wonder why my mum is staring back at me and not the face I see in my head!
Lisa x

Rosezilla (Tracie Walker) said...

What a sweet post. It is fun to reminisce, and you are right, certain things just take you there. Ironically I use to daydream about the past much more than I do now, I seem to do it less as the years pass. But then I always was backwards.

Anonymous said...

Lovely post, as always.

French Knots said...

A lovely post, you are so right. Music, especially from our teenage years, transports us right back there. The soundtrack of youth, so evocative.

Thimbleanna said...

Another beautiful post Ms. Roses! (And btw, I LOVE the little red birdy fabric from your last post!)

It sounds like you had a wonderful concert trip. Now that my boys are grown, I often wonder if I made enough memories for them. I know there's at least one -- if we even try to alter the holiday menus they have a big fit. I'm hoping there are everyday memories too!

A time to dance said...

What a lovely post - I know just what you mean. In my head I still feel young and then I mention something like 'Some mothers do have 'em' or Ian Dury or 'the six million dollar man' as an example -and the kids look at me and go eh? Then I feel old, I also fel old when a student says - you used to teach my Mum! I am only 44 - must have been a child bride (I hope) love your blog! H

ShabbyInTheCity said...

Coldplay I think!
Just today I was cooking a skillet of apples with cinnamon and sugar thinking of 'home'. Funny you should say it. OH, and I am 17 ;)

Gone to Earth said...

Oh! I love John Martyn. I sooooo annoy my children with music - my son reminds me that he's the teenager not me! So, please would I keep it down. I'm suffering from Rose envy now. They are simply beautiful and such an antique looking pink too.

dottycookie said...

This time of year always makes me particularly nostlagic for my childhood. I reassure myself whenever I feel I'm making mistakes in parenting that I only remember the good bits about spending time with my mum - and I make sure to tell her that too!

Petticoat Lane said...

When you were transported back to your mothers kitchen did it bring back memories of licking out the bowl?!! I remember always feeling annoyed at my mother for not leaving enough in the bowl! When I see my two little girls eagerly awaiting the 'best bit', I always try and leave a little extra in there for them to enjoy!
Glad you had a lovely time at the concert.
Jane. x

The fabric of my life said...

Good to know that John Martyn still sounds good. I saw him a few times but the last time must have been 15 years ago.

meggie said...

The scents of our lives are very strong memory joggers!