At small group the other week we had a ice breaker question.
We do ice breakers a lot, even though our great group doesn't really have much ice to break. They are fun anyway, and help us get to know each other.
The question was: " What is the change in weather reminding you of?"
I love that question! I love it because I think that our brains are so cool that the littlest things like smells, tastes, words, sounds, songs or even the weather can bring back so many memories and distinct feelings!
Anytime I smell a old book it immediately brings be back to my Grandy and Mammaws house. Standing on the green linoleum in the tiny room connected to their garage that we called "the library." I loved that room! Lots of books with sermons that I never read but I'm sure I opened many times just to smell. And lots of my dads old books and magazines that he read when he was little. I don't remember all the books but I do remember reading Archie for hours.
This was my answer to the ice breaker.
I love to open up the windows, and the first chance I get every window I can get open is open. Sometimes even the doors! But it has to be a big change in the weather cause in SE Texas opening the doors invites in the mosquitoes as well as the great cool air.
One of the houses that I lived in growing up had an attic fan. So we had the windows open a lot, even at night, which sounds scary to me now, but it wasn't then. We probably turned off the AC and used that fan more than half the year! I have since wished that I still had an attic fan even though people now have AC and there is not really a need. But I love them!
I also said that the cool weather reminds me of high school football. My dad was a high school football coach. So I guess that's where that comes from.
It's also so cool how when you think of something, the high school football games for example, you can immediately experience what you experienced long ago. Aluminum stands, popping popcorn, peanut shells, tobacco, mud, sweat and cigarette smoke. All things that I can distinctively feel and smell.
It's funny how the Fall, and the change to cooler weather brings good feelings and good memories. Holidays, sweaters, sweet spicy smells, stews, cozy blankets! I love it all!
But I really just love the fact that no matter when...spring, summer, fall, winter...there is always a memory waiting around for the trigger that will bring us back to who knows when.
