Smells...

I just returned from a walk along the boardwalk near the beach-Henderson State Park, Destin, FL. It is 8:30 pm and the air smells so wonderful. Spicy from the pines, moist from the gulf, fresh on the breeze. I think each state-or parts that I have been to- have a unique smell. New Orleans smells old, you have to admit that. It was a fresh mild day, so none of the gross summer smells. I camped outside of Baton Rouge and it had that same smell: old trees; earth composting; a life that had been around awhile. Texas--big, open, fresh, green, and dry. I am sure that had to do with the time of year I was there. Cotton fields were ready to be picked in early November and by the time I left after Thanksgiving, they were stripped bare. I wouldn't have known what had been there except for the fact that I had driven by earlier. But also there I was along the Gulf in Texas; moist air, fresh breeze but so different from Florida. There was no pine or spicy fragrance in the air, just ocean air with no earthiness connected to it. 

I was going to say this might be a December aroma for Florida, but I have been here in summer. Even though the wall of humidity that greets you as you walk off the plane is intense, it still has this earthy deep green smell. I think Hawaii does too. Some places you visit might smell of; food, fresh air, forest, dry heat, urine-what can I say-, spice of trees...For me it is the smells that help me remember the places and feelings I had while visiting.  Sniff, sniff!!!