Memory as a Way of Life (Memory Triggers Day One)

I've always been a nostalgic person. Memories, to me, are almost as important as the things that happen to me in the present. I'm always thinking about memory, and its function in my life. What has made me this way? I want to know why I dwell so much on the past and build the future on it. I want to know what things trigger memories in me. Why do I remember certain things over others?
Also, I want to know what it is that makes something a memorable moment for me. Do I know, as something is happening, that I will remember it for the rest of my life? Do I create memories of events that wouldn't otherwise be remembered by blogging about them?
I have now begun the thought process that explores all of these questions.

The first part of my exploration is a five day series on my tangible and intangible memory triggers, divided into the five senses: Smell, Sight, Sound, Taste, and Touch (in which I have encompassed Feel).

Day One - Smell

Wet pavement, right after the rain
Freshly cut grass
Dew
Fallen leaves
Flower stems
Satsuma
Cologne (depends on the kind, but most)
Freshly baking cookies
Pen ink
A very specific aftershave my dad used to use
Roses
Fresh new books
Mud
Rain
Starry night air
Ocean
Jazzy
Instrument brass
Reed
Old piano wood
Snow
Twizzlers
Airplane fuel
Goldenrod
Eggo Waffles
Campfire
Yellow school bus seats
Working computer
Snowstorm
Wet paint
Whatever Andrew's mom uses in the dryer

Smells bring back bad memories and good memories, short occurrences and long periods of time in my life, strange happenstances and sometimes just atmospheres. To some it may seem like smells are trivial, but to me, they are pivotal. They make me remember things. If I smell something that I haven't smelled in a long time, that I subconsciously related to something that happened to me, smelling that scent will bring everything about that event back. The problem with this is that if I smell the wrong thing at the wrong time, you've got a bad situation. However, at the same time, give me the right smell at the right time, and I'll love you forever.