The smell of nature

By Darren Weeks

Children really have a way of putting things into perspective.

My wife, Michelle, had run out of gas the other day. I was just coming back from town, having rescued her. My two daughters — Jessica, 10 and Hannah, 9 — were in the car with me. They were chattering as usual.

It was a very nice evening; the evening dew had already started to fall. It gave way to a beautiful aroma. It was a fragrance that one usually smells just before a fresh rain.

Not ever being one to ignore an opportunity to ask a question, Jessica says to me, "What's that smell?"

"That's the smell of nature," I replied.

So then Hannah weighs in. "I've never smelled nature before," she said.

Jessica then retorted, "Get sprayed by a skunk and you'll smell nature!"

I laughed. "Nature" from the perspective of a child. We should all enjoy it while we can.

Just watch out for those skunks.