It's funny what reminds you of things. I know someone who kept every single belonging when their mother died, even boxes of bills and junk. I suppose that's what my friend likes to hang on to.
However, on my brother's fridge is my grandmother's fridge magnet bearing her name, Gladys. Every time I see that one thing it brings back all the memories of a lovely, barmy woman.
Having been cursed with chronic sinus problems* it's not smell that that gives me a Proustian remembrance, it's other stuff. I'm a collector of totems, much like my brother and that fridge magnet; single items that invoke a place and time. I have one of those printers blocks on the wall with mementoes in each cubby hole, including far too many broken ends of brake levers, etc. from crashes.
GC
* At the risk of steering this post towards the Rants section, any linking of this comment about my sinus problems to cackling remarks about my snoring will not be appreciated. I'd go so far as to say that anyone making fun of what is becoming a very depressing condition can f*** off.
