One of my favorite buttons is labeled, "chokecherry jam".
You see, my Grandmother made this jam, and the power of its taste has the ability to transport me to another time and place.
I am a child again feeling the excitement when my Grandmother tells us that the chokecherries are ready to be picked. Surrounded by many cousins, we race outside and enjoy a day of fun picking the cherries from the trees. I can see her so clearly, showing us how the jam is made and allowing us to help, even though I'm certain that we were really in the way. I can smell the wonderful aroma that is present throughout the house, and I can hear the sounds of family all throughout.
My Grandmother left us only six months ago, to my great sorrow, but the taste of her jam today was able to transport me back in time to share a wonderful memory of her.
Another of my favorite options is a special button similar to an mp3 plater that, in itself, has dozens of destinations to chose from. One such destination, labeled 'Bachman Turner Overdrive' can take me back to a wonderful and carefree time in which my dad would pop in his good old 8 track cassette (I wonder how many of you will know what that weird sounding contraption is). He would turn the volume up loud and take us for a ride in his 1957 Chevrolet that my grandfather had given to him many years before.
I could also set my mp3 controller to a destination called 'Olivia Newton John' or even 'Jim Croce' and experience once again the lovely sound of my mom singing as I looked through the record collection to see what to play next while we were cleaning the house together. Although it was work, and cleaning house was would not appear to be a significant memory, it was a special time shared with my mom. Yes, it's the little things that count, right mom? (She taught me well ladies and gentleman)
I certainly cannot forget the button called 'Pancakes' either. My mom is a nurse, and has been for many years, and back when we were really young, goodness knows how, she worked graveyard so that she could be there for us during the day. Upon getting off of work, especially on Sundays, she would make a big wonderful breakfast for all of us, complete with towers of pancakes. To this day, every time I smell or taste pancakes, it immediately transports me to that 'when'.
The button labeled 'Christmas Cookies' immediately now, and forever will transport me to a happy time when my mom and my aunt Carol and Debbie would all get together and bake Christmas Cookies. It would be a day full of fun and laughter, messes and taste testing.
Within my magical 'Time Machine', I can conjure up dozens - no hundreds of different destinations to visit, and even now, I am smiling and my heart is swelling. Yes, I know that it has been scientifically proven that there is a real link between the senses and memory, and that when one sense evokes a memory, it triggers the other senses as well.
I chose instead to believe in the magic of my own personal "Time Machine' and will endeavor to travel often with one of the many buttons on my controller.
I'd love for you to share the buttons on the controller for your magical "Time Machine' so that we can compare our journey's together.
