Calm and Sweet — A sensory trigger grabbed my attention as I sat peacefully alongside the soccer field. The sun was blazing and smiling upon me, attracting gnats and mosquitos as my body naturally expelled my sweat. I prayed for a breeze to whisk by and dry the beads of moisture off of my inner thighs, the folds of my arms and my neck. I swear if I had on one of those candied necklaces, a rainbow explosion of sugared waterfalls would soak the front of my tank top.
I sat quietly as I watched the kids run back and forth down the field, kicking up dirt, sparking a pollen attack. But suddenly, a calming breeze enveloped my sneezing torso. I paused and inhaled deeply. There was a sweet sensation that covered my nostrils, forcing me to quickly rotate my pupils in search of the calming fragrance.
My eyes drew close to the tall trees behind me. Trees that I would often pass by on my quest to jog or walk while my youngin’ practiced his soccer skills. It was like a flash of nostalgic energy pulling me close to the trees. I remember…I remember I whispered to myself. I remember riding my bike in the summertime down the gravel roads at my family’s home in Ohio, or playing hopscotch in the alley with my childhood friends and our innocence was surrounded by large trees with honeysuckles dangling from the leaves. I remember…stopping in the midst of speeding down the alleys and driveways on our bikes or skates, panting like wild dogs for a drink of water. I remember…the calm and sweet goodness of sucking on the nectar from the honeysuckle plant.
I walked over to the tree, snapped a picture and before jumping into the nostalgic pool of eating anything before researching the dos and don’ts…I googled honeysuckle trees to make sure my childhood risks weren’t really close calls. Apparently, honeysuckle has a lot of health benefits. It is good for inflammation, skin infections and rashes, colds, circulatory issues, asthma and colds. Who knew? No wonder I didn’t have colds and asthma growing up.
I took a moment and pulled a leaf and sucked on a small honeysuckle plant. The sweet nectar sparked a lifetime of memories. Memories that make you smile and appreciate the simplistic wonders of life. I sat patiently in the heat, enjoying being bitten by mosquitos and tormented by gnats, as I was confidant my recent dose of honeysuckle would ward off any inflammation and irritants from the hostile atmosphere that surrounded me.