Biting into a crisp apple took Katherine back to the time when she could relive the feel of the cool apple tree bark and the fragrance of the apple blossoms and apples themselves.
Even stronger than the memory of biting into an apple was the strong sensory memory of putting her face right into an armful of apple blossoms cut from the tree to take to her teacher. From then on, those memories and pleasant sensations were as alive for her late in life as they were in her youth.
Each season brought Katherine images of her own sensory experiences being in that tree. Every one of her senses would be electrified when any picture or thoughts triggered the memory of being in her tree amidst those intoxicating blossoms.
It would be difficult for Susan to say whether the delicate scent of the apple blossoms in late Spring was better than the sweet intoxicating smell and taste of the ripened apples in Fall. The sensory experience of climbing and sitting in that tree was not limited to taste and smell. The feel of the texture and temperature of the tree bark beneath her hands was still a memory Susan carried with her after all these years.
"Those intoxicating blossoms!" Katherine thought while she rocked in her chair that afternoon.
Katherine didn't need a photo album to take her back to a particular summer when she was a young woman. Victor Hollingsworth stood with her beneath that tree and the combination of those spring apple blossoms and Victor Hollingsworth was enough to make any woman lose her sense of balance and good judgment.
"Breathe them in, deep and long, Victor," Katherine had said. He did and Katherine did the same and luxuriated in the fragrance of the blossoms contrasting with the firm texture of the bark on the palms of her hands.
"Let's climb!" Victor pleaded. Katherine didn't hesitate and with Victor close behind, they were climbing up to the higher branches of the tree, almost away from anyone's view. The canopy of the blossoms convinced her that she and Victor were alone.
She felt perfectly natural being up in that tree. The texture and cool feel of that apple tree brought her such sensory pleasure. Her entire body was already feeling light and airy, even before Victor pulled her close to him and kissed her as though a soft breeze had freed a cluster of apple blossoms from its branch, sending the blossom up, up, and, off to some distant place of softness and wonder.