One of my favorite things about living in St. Louis is that there are four distinct seasons. There is no question though that Spring and Summer are at the top of my list. As the weather warms up and I get to sweat while working in my yard a bunch of sensory triggers are set off that remind me of my youth. They allow me to remember how much fun I had riding my bike, playing Indian ball with kids in my neighborhood, and helping my dad cut the grass. As the temperature rises so do those memories which become so vivid I can almost taste them.

The first sensory trigger that comes to mind is the smell of a freshly cut lawn. Recently cut grass has a sweet aroma that is undeniable. It will fill your nose with a fleeting scent that dissipates as it dries in the warm air.

Then there is the smell and the feeling in your bones of an upcoming rainstorm. There is such a heaviness in the air as the rain approaches from the west. You can smell the air as it is about to be washed with millions of droplets that are about to descend from the heavens. It’s such a wonderful and simple thing that some people unfortunately take for granted. The next time when it’s about to rain on a warm summer day take walk outside and smell the air. It’s so calming to the soul.

However, there is one special thing while working outside in the hot sun that is an unforgettable experience which makes me feel like a little boy again, drinking from a garden hose. Why is this so memorable you may ask? Good question. Here’s my thoughts on the matter.

The Special Qualities of Drinking Out of a Garden Hose:

That water is so darn cold!

I don’t know why it is that way but if you let the hose run for a couple of minutes before taking a drink, the water comes that comes out is so cold! It quenches your thirst like no other beverage. It’s so good!

What a unique taste!

Even though I’m so appreciative that the water is so cold it is not the reason that drinking out of a garden hose is so special to me. No, it’s the taste.

The taste of the water is unique because it is not being delivered out of a can, or a bottle, or a glass rather through a tube made of rubber. When else in your life do you drink out of a rubber tube? Never…. The taste is just different and so memorable. It just has that rubbery after taste that is impossible to describe unless you’ve experienced it yourself. I could close my eyes and take a drink from a glass filled with water taken from a hose and I’d identify it every time. I bet some of you have never taken a drink out of a hose. Wow are you missing out. Try it sometime and taste the odd but special flavor that is unmistakable.

I love having things remind me of my past. I really don’t know why that is. Maybe it’s because I have so many fond memories when I was a kid. Life was a lot simpler back then and I love to relive those moments. Drinking out of a garden hose always takes me back to those wonderful times that were so special.