Amihan

The dry, cool northeast wind from Siberia and China blows at us at this time of the year. Around the house, it carries the smells more powerfully. Citronella oil from the burner, lit up to repel mosquitoes. Detergents and fabric softeners, laundry redolent of the sun, hanging in the clothesline. D.'s cooking: coconut milk, breaded chicken fried in canola oil. Batangas coffee in muscovado sugar.

The winds ferrying the smells, teasing your nose and carving out a smile.