Thursday, July 12, 2012

food and memories associated with it



As the anniversary of my dads death approaches, I am reminded of that night.  My cousin and I had walked down to an ice cream store and each bought an ice cream cone.  My favorite flavour at the time was mint chocolate chip.  As we walked home, eating our ice cream I started to feel sick - so sick, that I threw the ice cream cone away (and for anyone that knew me then - knew this was odd, I would continue eating ice cream even if I felt sick, never would I waste it)

As we reached my street, a car pulled up and my mom flew out of it - and she practically shoved my cousin in with the driver (who was a friend of my moms, but my cousin didn't know the person).  My mom needed to find me before I got home, because she didn't want me arriving home and seeing police, fire and ambulance in front of our house.

My father had died. It was a very surreal experience, and I am sure that is why I felt sick - it was as if I had been punched in the stomach.....something I haven't felt since that event.  It was a very long time before I could eat mint chip ice cream again.....I tried once or twice, but would end up feeling ill and just not able to take more than 1 or 2 bites.  It has been 17 years (almost) since he died, and in the last year I have finally been able to enjoy mint chip again.

It just amazes me how the brain associates certain things. When I was a little girl, I ended up with a stomach flu. The last thing I had eaten before getting sick, was mint brownies....for over 10 years I couldn't eat a mint brownie because it reminded me of that flu I had as a kid......

Do you have any memories (good or bad) associated with food?

12 comments:

  1. Yes, I experience the exact same thing. I completely understand what you are saying about mint choc chip ice cream. {{hugs}}

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    1. thank you! most people find it odd when they hear that

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  2. :( HUGS!!! This post made me cry!! Yes, I totally know what you mean. I can totally relate. xo

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    1. I am sorry - didn't want to make anyone cry.....thanks for visiting

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  3. First off, I am so sorry to hear about the loss of our Father.

    While I don't have any good or bad memories associated with food, I don't find it odd at all.

    I have other triggers like when we take the same route to the hospital that remind me of my son, Alexander.

    Besos, Sarah
    Zookeeper at Journeys of The Zoo

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    1. thank you - I also have memories of when my oldest was born (the week leading up to his birth etc) not so much my youngest, but my oldests entry into the world was slightly traumatic

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  4. I am so sorry about your dad. I lost my mom 11 years ago to alcoholism (she was 41, I was 20 turning 21). Now, whenever I try to have just one drink, my stomach gets upset. I totally know how you feel. *hugs*

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    1. thanks for your reply, and sharing your story also

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  5. Corn on the cob. I worked at a KFC for a couple of years in high school. At the time they did corn on the cob. The back was really small and corn was always going right near us. Between the heat and the smell, I was put off corn for a very long time.

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    1. ughh.... I worked next to a KFC for years, and ate WAY too much of it at one time....the smell is enough to keep me away now

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  6. I'm sorry about your dad too. What a traumatic experience for you. I think our bodies often relate tastes and smells to strong emotions so it makes perfect sense to me. It is the same reason why many of us have "comfort foods". Thanks for sharing your story xo

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    1. thanks for your reply! Yes - I have certain comfort foods also...cinammon toast is a fav.

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