Friday, May 11, 2007

Lilacs

Our driveway is lined with lilac bushes and they went into full bloom this week. The smell is absolutely marvelous. This is the second spring since quitting smoking and this spring have realized what I've been missing all these years. As a smoker, my olfactory sensors were so numbed I'd have to stick my nose in the flowers to smell them or occasionally I'd catch a whiff of them in the air. This year, I step outside and their perfume permeates everything. It's wonderful! Last night was pure heaven falling asleep to a cool breeze fluttering the window curtains, the sounds of a distant chorus of frogs and the smell of lilacs filling my dreams.

12 comments:

lime said...

most excellent! a surprising benefit from no smoking, glad you are able to enjoy.

RennyBA said...

Lilac is my favorite too and they are in full bloom in south of Norway too. I must admit I smoke cigars, but still can smell them:-)
What a lovely way to fell in sleep. Spring is lovely and I wake up every morning around 4 (when the sun gets up) listening to the birds and are thinking: Ohhh what a wonderful world:-)

Unknown said...

I LOVE lilacs. I missed them in South Carolina. Now I'm growing one of my own ...

Jocelyn said...

This is one of the best arguments I've read for giving up smoking. I should print it and hand it out to all my smoker students.

Balou said...

lime: It's but one of the many benefits!

actonbell: Thank you! We are surrounded by beauty, always.

renny: One more reason to love Norway! I agree, the early morning birdsong is a great way to wake up.

DD: I don't think I could live where lilacs & peonies don't grow.

Jocelyn: Feel free to copy! If it helps one person merely to think about quitting, I'd be happy. I believe one of the keys to quitting is to think about quitting more than you think about smoking.

Anonymous said...

I love spring! It's a feast for the eyes and the nose...unless you have allergies. One of my neighbors has lilacs and it's all I can do not to filch a big bunch of them! teehee

Fig said...

I love lilacs too... and this is the first time in 10 years that I've been around them because "someone" was allergic to them.

My other springtime fav is Lily of the Valley... go figure. There were huge bunches of them blooming next to my grandmother's house over the past weekend. The smell was beautiful!

Dan said...

Wow! and yet another cool bonus for quitting smoking! Awesome, isn't it?

Logophile said...

ok
I love em, they are gorgeous,
but LORDY how they make me sneeze!

Anonymous said...

I miss lilacs. I haven't seen any in AZ. Maybe I can plant some in VA to remind me of home. :)

RennyBA said...

Miss you - hope life is good to you!

Anonymous said...

You paint a compelling reason to quit. Congratulations on your second spring being more devine.