The Scent of Shalimar


My mother wore the perfume Shalimar.  The bottle, with a crystal, triangular top  a red label and round flat shape stood on her dressing table.  When she wasn't home I would sneak into her bedroom, carefully lift the top and dab on a little perfume, some behind my ears, always using the top, as I had seen her do.  I replaced the top and would quietly leave the bedroom. It seemed as if I were doing something forbidden and dangerous.

Last year I read that Shalimar was being re-issued and I had the idea of buying a bottle to evoke those memories of my mother.  With much anticipation, I walked into Nordstroms, and asked to have a whiff of Shalimar.  It was not the same. They spray scents on little white cards to sample.  I asked for another.  No, not the one I remembered and not even one I liked.  I was so sure I could buy a bottle and reenact that long-ago scene and bring back my mother in this small way.  But it was not to be.  I later learned that the formula had been changed.


Perfume is magic to me.  It's romantic, evocative and makes me feel feminine, glamorous and younger.  A friend who just came back from Paris said one of her favorite memories was all those wonderful scents in the air, especially in the shops, where French women congregate.  My oldest son gives me perfume for my birthday.  He chooses the scent and it is always one I like. I am so flattered that the gift is not something useful.


To all the mothers and grand mothers in my life, I wish you a Happy Mother's Day: my step-daughter; my two daughters-in-law; my friends many of whom are grand mothers now; and all those mothers who I don't know and who may read this.  What you do everyday for your children and other children is priceless.




Is there a scent that you associate with a time, a place a person?

Russian Girl Revisited


I think most of us want to know more about our heritage.  Where did our parents, grandparents come from?  This connection to the past is sometimes hidden, sometimes not discussed with the unspoken understanding that questions are not to be asked.  We either turn the pages, close the book to our history or?


For years my father's past was and still is a mystery.  I have a few clues, but not much more.  He was a young White Russian (White Russians supported the Tsar  during the 1917 Revolution and during the Russian Civil War 1918-1920).  My father did not want us to know his real name or anything about his father whose picture was cut from the few photographs we have.  I am not sure of my father's real name which he changed when he came to this country.


Many Europeans and others who came to this country fleeing famine, hard times, political changes, and fear for their lives, preferred to begin again and to hide their past.  My father became a citizen of the United States under his new name.  Both my parents died when I was in my 20's, and I was not interested in asking the sensitive questions before and then it was too late. Through a class I am taking in Russian History before 1917, my interest is renewed.


Any bloggers interested in Genealogy?  Is it important to you?  And, what was your most helpful source of information?

PS My Russian relatives visited last week and I was hopeful that I would gain some information about how I could learn  more about my dad. My cousin said, "N. no one in Russia, at least the younger population cares what happened before 1917."  Hmm, I thought.  And. . .I have a friend who will vacation in Moscow and St. Petersburg soon.  She was told that as you enter the restaurants, they look at your shoes.  So, for some it's designer dresses, shoes and bags.  Now that the economic situation is better for those with good jobs, that is how it is.  And drinking expensive Scotch, I heard.

Reflections on the 2012 A-Z Writing Challenge


*It was more of a challenge than I thought it would be.  Writing something every day that would be interesting to readers was difficult, because I do not blog regularly.


*The "theme" thing.  I did not do this, instead I  wrote a different piece every day, but if you wanted to know something about me, read my A-Z blogs.  I have an grandson who has autism, am first generation Russian, have written book in  a lions's voice, etc.


*The "ageism" thing.  I am aware and self-conscious about my age and time in life and hesitated to say that I had grandchildren, as it would turn off some who would follow my blog.


*I like the idea of being able to dip into other interests and themes and there were many: astronomy; YA Fiction; Swedish; French; short-wave radio; movies; poetry; and more.  I found that I am interested in other bloggers and finding out more about them.  I do have one favorite among all my favorite, The Clay Baboons.  How she manages to write and then illustrate her stories with those figures is her secret, and  I want to see what she creates every day.


*My goal is to become more adept at the manipulation of the technical aspects of blogging, illustrations, etc.,  I know there is more to learn, and being part of this writing challenge introduced me to a new world, the blogging world.  Thank you!


*Please don't emphasize the "popularity" aspect of the blogs.  I am thrilled with 76 followers and hope I can maintain contact with many of them.  I don't want to feel that my contribution is any less because I don't have hundreds of followers.  I appreciate everyone who commented on my blogs and who became followers.


*Favorite part:  meeting with all those bloggers--it was like a big party: "So, what do you do?"   Or to quote Cole Porter: 


    " Have you heard? It's in the stars,
     Next July we collide with Mars!
     Well, did you evah?
     What a swell party this is!

     What a swellagent, elegant  blogging party this was!"

*Blogging is a reflection of who we are and I am grateful to the editors  for the effort and time they gave so that we could be part of this "Moveable Feast."


Attribution:  Photo from:  "Vanity Fair" May 2012, Ad for Ritz Carleton