The siren song of a single moment

I stood on tiptoes, barely able to reach the top shelf of the linen closet in our bathroom. I was looking for a few special bars of soap I kept hidden to use in the outdoor shower all summer long. As soon as my fingers found the thick square block, I lowered it to my nose, making sure it was the scent I wanted – goatmilk and basil, an olfactory delight of sweetness and spice.

The package, covered in sturdy floral wrap, yielded the tape that held it together, making the paper reusable. So, I care...