Loved this, Natalie. I related so much to spending all day long in the neighborhood pool. Not sure we were so good about sunscreen, but the smell of chlorine and hot asphalt remind me of the long walk my sisters and I took up the hill to the neighborhood pool in Tucson nearly every summer day. Summer memories also included the smell of hamburgers cooking on the grill, juicy watermelon, and so many more. Thanks for bringing all of them to mind for me!
Oh I love this, Natalie!! And I'm with you on the Coppertone — we could actually get that here in the UK in the 80s, that and the yellow, milky Piz Buin (another nostalgic smell of summer!) and Bergasol sun oil, which smelled of English Earl Grey tea (due to the bergamot). And it's so funny, when you asked the question, I immediately went to push-up frozen ice sticks, which we'd eat on repeat, and the taste of cola Sodastream in my friend Katherine's back garden. Thank you so much for sharing your memories, and inspiring us to reflect on ours! 🩷
I’m not familiar with the other sunscreens you used. Did you have Bain de Soliel? That was another one we used. Oh yes, those push up frozen ice sticks were delicious! I’m so glad you found this essay inspiring. Thank you, Jenni 🩷🩷🩷
I loved this.. I closed my eyes and I could smell and taste the summer... the smell of fresh laundered bed sheets hanging to dry on the clothes line in the backyard, and the taste of popsicles that I'm pretty sure my mom gave us to get us out of the house for a few moments of peace. (haha.. smart lady)
Congratulations on becoming a Grandma, how exciting.
Ooh, I love the smell of bed sheets hanging to dry on the clothes line! Thank you for that reminder. I'm sure my mom gave us popsicles to eat outside for the same reason! Summers can feel long to the parents 😂
Congratulations on the arrival of your new grandson! It's so funny, in the memoir class I lead on Monday evenings, we've been talking about the senses in terms of memory jogging and all your descriptions were so lush and lovely - they took me right back to my childhood too!
Ok Natalie - this one made me cry... congratulations on becoming a Grandma for the first time! And wondering what future summer would smell and taste and feel like for him. I, too, distinctly remember the scent of Coppertone sunscreen, Palmers Cocoa Butter moisturizer, the sheer joy of backyard swimming pools, running through sprinklers, slushies when that glorious sound came floating through the air. The joys of simple childhood fun. I hope those memories never fade. Thank you for a reminder of the simple pleasures of life and the joy we can share with the next generation. Keep writing!! Xx
Loved this, Natalie. I related so much to spending all day long in the neighborhood pool. Not sure we were so good about sunscreen, but the smell of chlorine and hot asphalt remind me of the long walk my sisters and I took up the hill to the neighborhood pool in Tucson nearly every summer day. Summer memories also included the smell of hamburgers cooking on the grill, juicy watermelon, and so many more. Thanks for bringing all of them to mind for me!
Oh, I’m so glad the essay evoked such wonderful memories! ❤️
P.S. and ENORMOUS congratulations on the arrival of your beautiful Grandson! 🙏 💙
Thank you. We are over the moon!
Oh I love this, Natalie!! And I'm with you on the Coppertone — we could actually get that here in the UK in the 80s, that and the yellow, milky Piz Buin (another nostalgic smell of summer!) and Bergasol sun oil, which smelled of English Earl Grey tea (due to the bergamot). And it's so funny, when you asked the question, I immediately went to push-up frozen ice sticks, which we'd eat on repeat, and the taste of cola Sodastream in my friend Katherine's back garden. Thank you so much for sharing your memories, and inspiring us to reflect on ours! 🩷
I’m not familiar with the other sunscreens you used. Did you have Bain de Soliel? That was another one we used. Oh yes, those push up frozen ice sticks were delicious! I’m so glad you found this essay inspiring. Thank you, Jenni 🩷🩷🩷
I loved it, and no, we didn’t have Bain de Soleil, but I remember the name from Seventeen/the other US mags I adored! 🧴🩷
I loved this.. I closed my eyes and I could smell and taste the summer... the smell of fresh laundered bed sheets hanging to dry on the clothes line in the backyard, and the taste of popsicles that I'm pretty sure my mom gave us to get us out of the house for a few moments of peace. (haha.. smart lady)
Congratulations on becoming a Grandma, how exciting.
Ooh, I love the smell of bed sheets hanging to dry on the clothes line! Thank you for that reminder. I'm sure my mom gave us popsicles to eat outside for the same reason! Summers can feel long to the parents 😂
Thank you! We are thrilled!
Congratulations on the arrival of your new grandson! It's so funny, in the memoir class I lead on Monday evenings, we've been talking about the senses in terms of memory jogging and all your descriptions were so lush and lovely - they took me right back to my childhood too!
P.S., I just pre-ordered your next book! Can’t wait to read it.
Oh thank you, Natalie! I hope you enjoy it!
Thank you, Liz! We are thrilled with this new bundle of joy.
Senses are huge memory prompts, aren't they? Your memoir class sounds great! 😊 I'm so glad this essay brought back your childhood memories, too!
Ok Natalie - this one made me cry... congratulations on becoming a Grandma for the first time! And wondering what future summer would smell and taste and feel like for him. I, too, distinctly remember the scent of Coppertone sunscreen, Palmers Cocoa Butter moisturizer, the sheer joy of backyard swimming pools, running through sprinklers, slushies when that glorious sound came floating through the air. The joys of simple childhood fun. I hope those memories never fade. Thank you for a reminder of the simple pleasures of life and the joy we can share with the next generation. Keep writing!! Xx
Thank you for this sweet comment, Ashley. Running through the sprinklers and backyard swimming pools are part of my childhood memories, too. ❤️