In Joan Didion's "Goodbye to All That," the author reflects on a moment in New York where the atmospheric details, like the scent of mildew, evoke a profound sense of nostalgia. This sensory experience triggers a realization about the city's transformation, hinting at a loss of innocence and the inevitability of change.

Didion suggests that our perceptions of places are shaped by cultural narratives—from movies to songs to stories. This intermingling of imagination and reality underscores the emotional weight of her connection to New York, ultimately leading to the understanding that the city will forever be different from the way she once knew it.