100 words: Sniff

The summer smells are here. Long ago gone are the aromas of lilacs. Fresh mowed grass now dominates. I love tomatoes but not the alkaloid smell of the plants. Horse manure in all its forms, wet, dried, composted. The particular moist and organic odor of a freshwater beach. Greasy-feeling sunscreen, lightly scented. The bug repellent has, itself, a repellent reek. Windows open all the time so the musty house smells are dissipated. Hot plastic smell of a closed-up auto in the sun. And the season’s fresh abundance: strawberries, zucchini, oysters, cherries, corn, and herbs- oh! Basil, parsley, chives, and more.