Memories unfold like scents carried on the wind—one breath of lilac, crisp bacon, coffee, or freshly toasted bread can transport us back in time.

For me, the scent of mothballs lingers strongest, forever tied to the narrow, enclosed staircase in my grandparents’ farmhouse. That dark passage, designed to keep the main floor warm, held the scent of stored goods, protected from tiny pests by the sharp odor of mothballs. It was a place of mystery, a gateway to adventure in a home that stood firm through the Great Depression and the harsh Dakotah winters.

Winters were so fierce that children, including my parents, were sent to stay with town families where school remained open. Meanwhile, my grandparents and other farmers kept their coal-heated homes running, waiting for the plows to carve paths through the deep snowdrifts.

Even in summer, the house carried its secrets. The coal cellar and hidden storage areas held the whispers of the past, each one an invitation to adventure.