Nostalgia for Childhood: Missing Those Special Memories

Looking back at the golden days of childhood, one vivid memory that stands out for me is the desire to own a pair of 'light shoes'. Back then, I aspired to have a pair, but as I grew up, I realized the responsibilities of taking care of a family, and I tried to forget that incident. My daughter’s light pink sandals, given to her when she was 6, somehow helped me relive those cherished moments. However, there’s still a part of my heart that wishes I had owned a pair during my childhood.

Childhood Milestones

My Childhood and Family

Our childhood was much like that of every normal middle class conservative family. We had plenty of love, caring, and food. My loving mother, who stayed at home to take care of us with whatever little knowledge she had, was an endless source of cooking recipes. My caring and hard-working father worked in his office and took us to his workplace to show us what he did, often staying late to do extra work. Even though my mother was married off at a young age, she still took excellent care of us. The stories she narrated to us during moonlit meals were still fresh in my mind.

Father’s Typing Skills and Typing Lessons

My father was exceptional at typing. He could type correctly even when looking in different directions. We used to challenge him, and he would impress us by typing numerous sentences accurately in a short time. I still remember how he taught me to type, holding my tiny fingers to place them on each key of the typing machine. He taught me during my undergraduate holidays, and now I am skilled in typing just like him.

Holidays and Family Gatherings

During every holiday, we would spend time at my maternal grandparents' home, where there was plenty of nutritious food. My grandfather ordered special nutritious foods whenever we visited during holidays. We would wait eagerly for our maternal uncles to bring us something to eat and play when they visited. They would give us money to buy snacks, a tradition we cherished.

Neighborhood and School Days

Our neighborhood was bustling with children playing and studying together. We had neighbors' children as friends, and we studied in a single school. The strong bond we formed stayed with us even after years of schooling. We all siblings used to play together, and this bond strengthened as we all went to the same school until we finished our schooling. Even now, we are in touch after so many years.

Daily Life and Traditions

Life was filled with simple but sweet traditions. Riding bicycles, sitting in the cold winter nights, and chitchatting during summer nights under mosquito nets were our favorite activities. We would catch butterflies and insects during the rainy season and witness the transformation from caterpillars to pupae. The quarters were lush greenery, and the big trees provided shade all the time. Even autumn and spring were beautiful, but the harsh winters were challenging.

Family gatherings and traditions like calling our friends' parents by affectionate terms like 'Mavayya' or 'athhamma' were an integral part of our daily life. My parents always brought us the best things, and we never felt lonely as there was a sense of togetherness.

Our Family Entertainments

Our household had the tradition of watching cartoons, and I remember shows like Duck Tales, Adventures of Tintin, Flinstones, Popeye, Alice in Wonderland, Heidi, and Little Women. Even during my undergraduate years, I would watch episodes of Heidi without missing a single one. X-Files, Animal Planet, and Discovery Channels were popular during that time too. My brother and I would watch live cricket matches in the early mornings, our mother would bring us snacks and water to the playground.

Lessons from Father

My father would take me to functions occasionally, teaching me etiquette and other social manners. He would play pranks on me on April Fools' Day. These moments, along with the stories my mother told me, remain the fondest memories of my childhood. Even though it wasn't always ideal, it was all innocence and bliss. Looking at the photos and remembering those days, I sometimes wonder if I should have grown up so quickly!