It has been raining during the last four days and has not stopped. This continuous rainfalls are some what strange to me because I have not experienced it before. This bountiful lands filled with so much fruit plantations; grape, persimmon, plum, orange, cheery, and strawberry do need quite abit of rains. But why so much? It is expected that this whole week will be raining non-stop until the end of the week.
When I am faced with gloomy weather, cold wind, dark cloud...I think about nothing else but home. Home is where my heart is..It will forever be. Nothing more and nothing less.
I remember those younger days; when it rains, my older brother would take me out to catch frogs, farm crabs and fish that were just abundant and every where.
If I tell children now about those days, they will find it hard to believe that I can catch fish, frogs and crabs by just walking outside of the house. In less than 30 minutes, we were able to catch enough for the family and enough to sell to the market.
I wonder whether it is still like this? I wonder whether I would be able to catch such frogs, crabs and fish like I used to where the lands were free of chemical, pesticides, fertilizers and such?
It has been raining for the last three days in the valley...I am feeling very homesick and could only have imagined those days where we would be out with our flashlights hunting for snakes and other critters. The sound of frogs croaking and crickets singing after rain make me feel like I want to turn back time.
I remember those cold nights after the rain, we would be wrapped in our blankets sitting by the bond fire under our wooden home that had been standing there close to two generations. In the midst of the drizzling rains, noodle cart would be crossing through. It costs less than a nickel to buy the mobile kuy teov. I can tell you, nothing is better than kuy teov when you are cold and shivering. Then the fresh catch of frogs roasting in the bond fire with hot rice, hot sauce mixed with young mango, for sure made the night closer to heaven.
Those were the days, I shall remember them for the rest of my life. Our lives were nothing but full of simplicity. Our livelihood was much depended on how much we were able to grow. Vegetables were all around. Livestocks were just enough. We did not have to think much about gas nor electricity because woods were our natural sources of energy.
The night would be lit with candle lights. For those that wanted more, car batteries were readily available to power televisions, fans, and other basic electronic items around the house. And they were cheap to recharge.
Our ways of life was simplistic yet comforting. I wonder whether I want time to be frozen so that things would be the same? For I know that development has taken all of us by surprise; but the prices that we have to pay for are much higher as well.
I am yet ready to comprehend whether or not development is in favor of humanities? But I know it is a modern phenomenon that is widespread and unstoppable. I could only wish that development will be for the good of humanities and not a destruction of it.
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