Already many of the memories of the previous two weeks had faded: the smell of that small hotel in St. Andrews; that mixture of bacon cooking for breakfast and the lavender-scented soap in the bathroom; the air from the sea drifing across the golf course; the aroma of coffee in the coffee bar in South Street. She should have noted them down. She should have said something about all that and the light and the hills with sheep on them like small white stones.
The passage reflects on how quickly memories can fade, particularly those tied to sensory experiences. The narrator recalls the distinct smells and sights from a recent visit to St. Andrews, suggesting that these moments hold significant emotional weight. The combination of everyday scents, like cooking bacon and lavender soap, along with the serene atmosphere, captures the essence of the place. Regret lingers in the narrator's mind, contemplating the importance of documenting such fleeting experiences.
This realization underscores the beauty of small, everyday moments that might otherwise be overlooked. By describing the natural landscape, like hills dotted with sheep, the author evokes a sense of nostalgia and appreciation for life's simple pleasures. This wistful reflection serves as a reminder that preserving memories enriches our understanding of the places we visit and the feelings they inspire.
