“Smell is a potent wizard that transports you across thousands of miles and all the years you have lived……”
Helen Keller
That four months turned out to be a God-send.
Finally, Julius had time to catch his breath.
Although it wasn’t without its challenges. He seemed very flat and I was wracking my brain to think of something that would lift his Spirit.
Daily sleep-ins, afternoon’s lazing by the pool, daily coffee’s at Baker & Cook, but still something was missing.
When the two of us were in the throws of passion and young love the one thing I remember more than anything was the scent of his cologne.
It actually used to drive me wild.
From memory Julius’ mother bought it home from a trip Overseas.
Jacomo, was its name.
This was it. The key to turn his frown upside down and get his mojo back. I had to track it down. He only had one bottle but the memories that scent evokes are as fresh to me now as they were 30 years ago.
It was easier than I thought! Hop on to Google, enter Jacomo and there are your choices.
Hundreds of them.
It was a week before I had all those memories at my fingertips.
I waited for precisely the right moment to unveil my gift.
I was off to get my hair done as we were going out with friends that night. I had wrapped the bottle of Jacomo and popped it on the bed with a hand-written note.
As he kissed me goodbye in the driveway, I said I had left him a little gift in the hope that it would remind him of himself.
He showered, popped on his favourite outfit and reached for the bottle of Jacomo.
The minute he popped on that scent, was the minute he connected back to his Spirit.
Instantly transported back to Barnard Street, circa 1990, getting ready in the school room, with the rest of the band, beers in hand waiting excitedly and nervously for their gig at The Kent Town Hotel. Mozza, Will, Mikey, Bill and Vinnie – with Jules and I – bonding together in this exciting chapter of life.
A love of music.
A love of me.
A love of life.
One filled with the wild and crazy dreams of an adolescent finding his way in the world.
Hopeful and exciting – one with promise and endless possibilities.
In his eyes I could see the excitement of love and life again, and for the first time in a while I saw a glimmer of the Coxy I had known and loved 30 years before.
And for the first time in a long time, so did he.