I was walking the dog, when I passed a lovely big yard scattered with leaves. I found myself reminiscing, “Wouldn’t that have been a wonderful yard for….”

Suddenly, I was a kid again, no longer walking the dog, but galloping next to my sister on our “horses,” their manes streaming in the wind. Of course, passersby would have thought we were riding around on bikes, but they’d have been wrong (at least in our imaginations). The two of us worked at rounding up cattle until dusk, when it was time to head on over to the chuck wagon for some grub (I doubt Mom would have been flattered by a comparison of her kitchen to a chuck wagon).

Isn’t it amazing how a sight, a sound or a smell can take you back in time?

For example, the sight of Bonomo Turkish Taffy takes me back to Mr. Burch’s filling station and candy store in Sennett, NY.  My sister and I sometimes rode along when Dad went for gas. As an occasional special treat, we got to pick out candy for ourselves, Mom, and our little brother. In my mind, I can still smell the magic of that candy store, where Mr. Burch still lives on, inviting us to go behind the counter and choose just the right treat.

I always think of November 1^st as the launch of the holidays, a season rich with memories and traditions. As you gather together for meals or parties, decorating or cooking, crafting or baking, why not share some of those memories with loved ones? You just might be delighted to discover how many you have in common. Sometimes, it’s fun when you bring up a memory that someone else who was there recalls differently. One of my favorite surprises is when someone else brings up a memory you’ve completely forgotten, and you get to rekindle it together.

As you share those stories, don’t forget to mark the moment, because today becomes tomorrow’s cherished memories.

Originally written for the November 1 issue of Beyond the Nest.