The Smell of Hot Pavement

The smell of hot pavement makes me crave a new skipping rope.  A brand new, pink plastic, skipping rope.  I can feel myself stretching it, my right foot holding it on the ground while I pull up as hard as I can on both handles.

I can feel myself swinging and skipping and tripping and looking around to see if anyone notices. Hoping no one did.  Stopping to stretch the rope a little if there was anyone watching, as if the 1/4 inch give was what caught up my feet and not my winter of unused skipping muscles.  Stretch, stretch.

Then starting all over again.  Back and forth. Forth and back. skip, stumble, skip, skip, stumble, stretch, stretch, skip, skip, stumble.  Until I can skip the whole block without getting out of rhythm.

All sensation triggered by the smell of hot pavement.

Dad says that for him the smell triggers memories of new lacrosse sticks.

Where are you transported when you smell the sun on the pavement?

photo - lili skipping - thanks to: phitar

Technorati Tags: smell, spring, skipping rope, childhood, pink skipping rope, lacrosse, memory, scent memory, play

Comments

[Vicki]

Fast bicycles!

[andrea from the fishbowl]

When I was small I spent a lot of time just sitting and looking at the pavement. It sounds weird, I know, but I'd study the cracks, the ants, the leaves. A boy down the street used to burn ants with his magnifying glass. Even as a kid I found this kind of odd. I wonder where he is today? ;)

[J.]

I smell spending hours and hours outside with sidewalk chalk. I think I'll put that on my list of things todo this year. :)

[Lex]

Vicki - Of course! ;->

andrea - what do you mean "weird"? I did that all the time! Though more on the concrete deck around my grand parents pool than the street. I was always confused by the ants with wings. (and people who tortured bugs too)

J. - sidewalk chalk! I have some of that in the sun room. I'll get it out soon.

[Junkii]

It's actually wet pavement that triggers memories for me. It was my chore to wash the car every weekend (as a teen) and I'd always start by cooling the pavement with the hose so I wouldn't burn my bare feet.