Summertime
The buzz of cicada insects is deafening. It’s a sign that summer is here or the very hot season is arriving. Together with it is the unstoppable sweat because of the sun. However, the summer brings with it a very upbringing feeling.
Many people who work from far away will be going home for a vacation or maybe for a beach break. Of course, summer is usually the school vacation so a lot of students are going home. The once lonely Brgy.s, towns or regions will be crowded. Obviously, summer will be full of fun and entertainment.
When I was young and active in the sports basketball. I was always excited when summer was coming because I could play basketball many times in different brgy. I was not that good or the best player but still, I was invited to play. So whatever it was, it was one of the reasons why I was happy when summertime came.
Oh, remembering how my life was before kind of reminds me how hard life was before. I’m not regretting how my past was or blaming my parents for it. I’m just stating the life I had before when I was young. Even so, life was joyful before despite the hardships and shortcomings; I could say I was thankful for that time. I enjoyed the time with my family during summer because I had time to be with them all the time.
Why the memories of the past were still fresh for me like it was just yesterday. A little bit aching in my heart remembering how happy we were before but couldn’t have that experience again. Well, father and one brother already said goodbyes to go to heaven. Mom is already old enough to go to the river to wash clothes with my brothers and sisters.
There was that time when my mother accepted laundry manually. Yes, washing clothes through hands and she brought the dirty clothes to that river. We didn’t have our own source of water or a faucet where we could fetch it. Even so, it was fun to fetch water from afar where many people gathered.
So yeah, we helped mother wash clothes in the river. We thought we had a picnic at that time because we brought food so that we didn’t need to go home if washing clothes was not finished. I don’t understand why the food was so delicious that time. We only had sardines, it was like soup cooked from a pancit-like dish named “odong.” Even though we were so tired from washing clothes, we couldn’t help ourselves but having fun while walking home and while mother was accepting the small amount of money she received from washing clothes.
It was hard to believe but the payment for almost a whole day of washing was just 150 pesos or 3 USD only. Well, long ago, the value of money was bigger compared to now. Life was different compared to what we had right now. I’m not saying we are rich right now but our life status compared to now was better.
Now, I’m thinking when I have a chance to go home I will tell a story to mom. A story of us from before, I wanted to see her smiling but maybe she’d cry as well. I wanted to see her reminiscing about the sweet and bitter past.
There are so many stories about summer but one thing is for sure. Every season has its beginning and its ending. They all have characteristics and meanings but we are still thankful in every one of them. It’s part of life so of course, it flows whatever happens. There’s no stopping it, so the best thing to do is enjoy it. Now, keep in mind that today is summer, make sure to enjoy what nature has to offer each in our life.
Thank you for reading
All content is my own unless otherwise noted
If images are being recycled, I just found it fit in my article.
ABOUT ME
Paul was born in Macrohon, Southern Leyte but currently living in Cahayag, San Francisco Southern Leyte. He graduated the course of a BS Mar-E or Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering in 2019. Although writing is his passion so instead of sailing he decided on writing.
He writes occasionally about random stuff he would see in the outside world. He loves to express what he feels through writing because he's not good at speaking personally.
He also writes fictional stories and emotions because he thinks life matters. He is hoping that his words could reach someone who might be feeling down.
Join me and support me through my adventures not just to the world but also to the human minds not to hate being alive.
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