I live in the midwestern United States, in a suburban area. Although I wouldn’t consider this a rural community, you don’t have to drive far to be “out in the country.”
I consider myself a country girl at heart. I grew up on a wooded lot in rural Wisconsin, and loved playing outside without worrying about traffic. It was nice to sleep with the windows open, and not hear the noise of the neighbors’ televisions. We had room for a big garden (although we hated it when Dad made us pull weeds), and lots of space to explore and play. The ditches along our road were full of berry bushes, and we picked and ate all we wanted in the summer. I think I’d like to move to a nice, quiet piece of land again someday. But for now, we’re stuck in the ‘burbs, conveniently close to shopping and schools, and a little too close to a few obnoxious neighbors…
However, there are a couple of times each year when the country seems very near, and I am taken back to my childhood in my mind. Today, I opened the windows to let in the fresh breeze, and clear out the last of winter’s stale air. The weather is perfect today. The pear trees are in bloom, the daffodils have finally opened, and my purple and yellow pansies are smiling at the sky.
As the gentle current of air swirls through my house, I take a deep breath. Ahhhh.
Wait. What’s that smell? Oh, I know.
Even though I can’t see any fields from my window, I can smell the aroma of agriculture. Somewhere, some farmer is working today. Perhaps he is turning the soil or spraying on some kind of organic fertilizer (manure?). The odor is faint and dilute, but unmistakably earthy, and somewhat sour.
Should I close my windows? No. I will leave them open. Let in the air. Let in the smell of agriculture; the smell of good, honest, dirty work. It may not be an entirely pleasant smell, but the memories it brings are sweet, indeed. 
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
book_it 04.18.08 at 7:11 pm
I was raised in WI and IA and really enjoyed this post. Unfortunately no windows open here for me today…. it’s been raining heavily for the better part of the day.
book_it’s last blog post..Panic Priorities Askew?
Margaret 04.19.08 at 8:31 pm
Ahhh that wonderful earthy smell! Someone cut a hay field yesterday and the smell of newly cut grass with the warm sun on it almost sent me into rapture….
Love living in the country!
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Ann Clemmons 04.19.08 at 10:30 pm
I love this post, and I love how a smell, song, or place can carry us back in time as if we’re in the moment again- it’s so cool~
Well written post- great job~
Ann
A Nice Place In The Sun
Elliott - 21st Century Dad 04.19.08 at 11:24 pm
This is a little conflict that rages on inside me all the time. I love the country and I love city life. I want a big ol’ blanket of stars at night, but I also want my 1am sushi delivery.
I’ve never lived anywhere but the suburbs, but whenever I’ve tasted city life or country living, I felt just right.
Jaz 04.20.08 at 12:40 am
While I did not grow up in the country, I lived in a town, I loved the country when we visited relatives. I did grow up in Iowa where the smell of the black dirt is so awesome! I love that smell. But now, I live in a state south of that and the dirt isn’t really dirt, it’s red clay. Not the same.
Your post reminded me of when I was growing up. Thank you!!
Cindi-Moomettesgram 04.20.08 at 1:12 am
Oooh, such a nice post. Scent is so sensory. To me, it’s the smell of lilacs and iris that remind me of my childhood. Lilacs that were outside the kitchen door, and the iris that were planted underneath my bedroom window. I planted all types of iris in my backyard now, specifically to remind me of those days. Thanks for sharing.
ettarose 04.20.08 at 6:33 am
I lived in the city most of my life. Yet certain smells do remind me of spring time. Newly mowed grass, the smell of rain on a hot city street. I now live in the country and am fortunate enough to enjoy all 4 seasons, where before I swear there was only two.
pam 04.20.08 at 8:21 am
Your youth reminds me of my own, out in the country, except I grew up in Texas. I’d dearly love to go back to the open spaces, and open windows. What a nice post, really took me to another place!
Like the new/improved layout, as well!
GeekMom 04.20.08 at 8:34 am
Thanks everybody! I wasn’t sure about whether anybody would read this non-geek post, but I couldn’t resist when I smelled that spring air.
And even though I didn’t mention it, I did half my growing-up in Iowa! After Wisconsin, my family moved to Iowa, surrounded by corn, soybeans, and a small farm with hogs. I loved it, except for those days when we were downwind from the hogs.
nancypants 04.21.08 at 10:13 am
I loved this post! I know how you feel about livin’ in he burbs. I did grow up in the burbs but we lived on a big lot on a small private street so it didn’t feel quite as squished in as our neighborhood is. Still, there are farms literally three miles from us, even though we live inside the city limits of a city of a million people, so we sometimes get that wafting smell too.