Smells of San Francisco
I’ve only visited San Francisco one time, but my memories are
filled with its sumptuous smells. Practically the first thing my
wife and I did there was ride a cable car up Hyde Street (no,
not named after me!). I was lucky to stand near the operator and
could easily smell the oil at the base of his huge hand lever
along with the scent of old wood in the car. The city itself has
a seaside odour, salt mixed with damp air from the bay. Another
vivid memory concerns the fragrances wafting from our many boxes
of take-out Chinese food obtained from the restaurant around the
corner from our hotel. Powell’s Bookstore smelled musty as we
wandered up the many dusty old staircases. But the best moment
came when, celebrating my wife’s birthday, we went to one of the
famous seafood restaurants, held up a glass of white wine with
its gorgeous bouquet and drank a toast to our life together.
(166 words, first draft writing)
Christmas Smells
Christmas dinner, to be held at my house this year, is
full of favourite people and smells. On Christmas morning, the
predominant scent is of the fir Christmas tree in our living
room. But soon, the aroma of fried onions and celery, along with
sage, oregano and garlic, fills the air as I cook the turkey
dressing in a large wok. As I stuff the cavity of the bird, a
faint whiff of raw poultry fills the air. After the turkey has
been in the oven for a couple of hours, its scent has reached
the farthest corners of my home. Later that afternoon, my
relatives begin to arrive. The older ladies use perfume,
something my younger friends rarely do these days, but it is
pleasant to have the air perfumed for one day. Soon, as we
gather to have a Christmas drink together, the smells of warm
bodies fill my home. That, along with the laughter, and the
presence of people whose lives stretch back into the beginning
of the past century, make Christmas dinner a joyous (and
smelly!) occasion.
—181 words; first draft writing on November 6, 2002
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