I prefer the mystic clouds of nostalgia to the real thing, to be honest. – Robert Wyatt
Tina is hosting this week, and she wants us to be Nostalgic. This is a feeling that easily comes to me, touches me, just like tears do. Nostalgia is such a unique phenomenon because it fuses both positive and negative experiences and emotions.
The word nostalgia is a Greek compound, meaning ”homecoming”, a Homeric word, and ”pain” or ”ache”, and was coined by a 17th-century medical student to describe the anxieties displayed by Swiss mercenaries fighting away from home. Today its meaning is a bit different. So, my Nostalgic will be entirely about my own life.
I don’t have any digital photos of my grandmother, but my childhood was so much about her. My nostalgic memories always take me to her garden and the flowering apple trees, pear trees, cherry trees, plum trees and …her sweet voice and contagious laughter.
I always make a distinction between nostalgia and sentimentality. Nostalgia is genuine – you mourn things that actually happened. – Pete Hamill
After my grandmother, my first Lagotto, Mille, evokes my nostalgic memories. He was such an impressive dog who hit all your senses already in the first blow. You did not stand a chance. He will be forever remembered by everyone who met him.
Tropical Pointer
Can you feel nostalgic about one single flower? I can! Many years ago I had a fantastic favorite orchid – a Cattleya hybrid, ”Tropical Pointer”. I had it for several years and it came back again and again with a multitude of flowers. I think of it as a He – don’t know why. He just flowered himself to death (if you can say it that way…). And like everything else in this world, you can never get the same thing twice. I kept searching for a new Tropical Pointer, in every garden center, in every country I visited, but new hybrids come every year – and the old ones are forgotten…
Nostalgia is a very human trait. – Stephanie Coontz
My beloved apple tree – a bit of a warden tree for this house (about 100 years old). Nostalgia hits me when looking at it in its former glory. You who follow my blog know it is the same tree (but lying down, 2019) in the Creepy post.
Finally, we had some foreign guests in town when the children played in different orchestras, some 15 years ago. A big meeting with other European countries brought a couple of young guys our way. They stayed at our house for some nights while the festivities lasted. This young man was an avid accordion player – every time I look at the photo, I can feel his love for music and for his instrument warming my heart.
In the header, one of the very few photos of my whole family together. Nostalgia over all those years we still traveled together, and how excited we were over reaching our dream – Tibet.
Thank you, Tina, for hosting this week instead of me! And, as always, Amy, Tina, Patti and I thank you for your continued support of our photo challenge.
Leya 
Yes, you captured the memories all tinged with that unique kind of sadness. Thank you for sharing your special memories. xx
Thank you for a beautiful comment, Wendy.
Now I know how you got the name ”Leya” for your blog! A wonderful post with great personal photos and memories, A-C. I love your thoughts about your grandma, your dogs, and of course your family shot in the header image.
Thank you, Patti – it was a great challenge!
Lovely response to the challenge 🙂
Glad you liked them, Amy! Personal, but warm
Such lovely photos – my favorite kind of nostalgia. Yes, a single flower can be an example! Mine is the lily-of-the-valley. Sweet family photo too 🙂
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Thank you for sharing these beautiful memories Ann-Christine xxx
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Loved your trip down memory lane Ann-Christine, especially your little pups! Hope you’re enjoying your trip!
Thank you, I am. Back again Sunday.
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Superb collection Christine, indeed nostalgic. You know what I was able to imagine your grandma walking there in those flowered gardens. I felt it… great memories!
❤Now you made my day, Raj. My grandmother was my everything!
That’s sweet! ❤️🌹
I greatly enjoyed your memories, A-C, and I finally understand your blog name. 🙂 My grandparents lived on a farm and I have many good memories of visiting there. Although I don’t have a special tree, my mom built us a tree house in the backyard which was a lot of fun. I hope you have a wonderful week.
janet
A tree house must have meant many hours of fun! I am having a beautiful trip so far, but the rains are coming!
You wrote that your post would be about your own life, but your words and photos resonated and touched something in me that was long-buried, and for that I thank you! My grandmother’s plum tree, a cherry, a crab apple, a dogwood and Japanese maple. Who know that nostalgia for trees was a thing? Thanking you and all the Lens Artists for everything you do to inspire us all. Here’s my submission: babsjeheron.wordpress.com/2019/12/08/peace-on-earth-goodwill-from-great-blue-herons-not-art-nbr-23/ I feel nostalgic for the hours spent photographing that juvenile Great Blue Heron six years ago. Besr, Babsje
Dear Babsje – a touching and beautiful answer – much appreciated! I will be back from travels soon to enjoy all posts. Thank you for always being a positive power! I will enjoy your Great Blue as soon as I am back💙
You’re welcome and thanks for your thoughtful reply. I hope.you have safe and wonderful travels! Best, Babsje
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What lovely memories:)
Thank you – memories to live on for years to come!
Isn’t it amazing how you can be nostalgic about a tree? There are some trees which I knew as a child, which I remember to look up when I’m in their neighbourhood.
That is the way I do as well. Trees speak to me. 💚
Thank you for sharing your sweet memories, A-C! Nostalgia is beautifully expressed. 🙂
Glad you liked it, Amy! Parts of my life, so your positive comment means a lot!
Lovely post!
Thank you, Ana!
You’ve picked some interesting pegs on which to hang your nostalgia, and I’m struggling to see where to go with this theme. Let’s see!
Glad you enjoyed the pegs, Margaret! I will come back to you when I am back home again!
This just reminded me how my mother once had a cattleya that she, too, loved to look every morning when she went out to water the plants. Lovely post and memories.
How great that my post brought some good memories back, Therese!
What a cute dog!
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