What Reminds You Of Summer?

These photos made me laugh and smile and remember those long-ago summer days of my childhood. I’ve often blogged about those times we spent in the province more than half a century ago. We only migrated for good to Manila when we were all in high school because dad’s job was here.

I asked permission from one of our members at our gardening page on Facebook to copy some of her photos that reminds me of how I spent those days long, long ago. Provincial life – simple and carefree. These were during those times when internet and gadgets like cell phones, Ipads, color television were not yet in the picture and all  we had was a simple transistor radio to get in touch with the world.

I used to do this too, fishing during the summer months and the early part of the rainy season. The only difference was that I used to tag along with Mom and my some of my aunts to fish in the river. We would dig earthworm and place them in empty cans with holes at the bottom, use them as baits to catch fish. Those were the days when you learned that observing silence was one activity that you enjoyed.  You must learn to hold your fishing rod and feel the pull of the line once you catch something deep in the river. I remember those woven containers with cover tied to our waist where we place catch for the day. Mom and my aunties would bring either rice cakes  or boiled sweet potatoes for our snack along with a bottle of water, raincoats in case it rains and extra shirt or two when we get drenched.

Would you believe that during the summer months, we did this too? Gathering firewood, those dry branches that we used for cooking.  We usually bring rope to tie those we have  gathered in vacant lots in our barangay. I normally would go with my cousins in the afternoon to gather firewood.

We did this too, my brothers,  cousins and I, using coconut palms as sort of rides  when we played. The only difference was we didn’t need someone to pull the dried palm since the place where we played was downhill. You can pull yourself down and what a joy it was. We usually come home with dirty shorts.

Here’s another one that makes me smile remembering. We called it luksong tinik. Once you hurdle that height, they make it higher by raising their hands upwards. The players are divided into two equal teams. Two players are chosen as mothers of the teams. The rest of the players are children. The mothers are supposed to be high jumpers, for the object of the game is for players to able to jump the height of the hands placed one on top of the other without touching them.

By the way, I updated my garden blog, you can see it here.

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