Remembering is as good as a strawberry dipped in salt

I remember the first time Omie really allowed us to play under a heavy rain. My youngest brother and I just came home from school and we told Omie we wanted to play outside, and because our uniforms were already a little bit wet, she agreed. We ran around and played like crazy people. Best days of my childhood.

I remember joining this quiz bee when I was 12. It was quite a huge thing that time for me (or for the school?) to be in a different city for a quiz bee. I didn’t win. I got eliminated when I wasn’t able to answer this question of which the word Hajj was the answer. I was the only one who didn’t get it.  I was also the only Muslim.

I remember being bullied for the first time in my life. I was manning our sari-sari store one afternoon. I hated being alone in the store because I was awful with counting (and numbers in general) and I was scared I’d make a mistake. I don’t remember why I had no choice that time. Anyway, this group of girls who were still in their high school uniform, signifying their IQ levels, came to the store and started picking up pencils and erasers. Then one of them asked me something that I wasn’t able to answer as astutely as I should. The other one mumbled something to herself about my being really stupid. And then the others laughed (or in the words of the great: LOL-ed). I realized then that a) bullying is very, very hurtful, b) I was a coward kid, c) your uniform would not say much about your IQ and more importantly, your EQ, d) being smart is the least of your concerns if your attitude is that of a barbarian (an evil barbarian, at that).

I remember in elementary we were addicted to playing street games. I'd arrive at school at six or so in the morning and I'd immediately go to the field and run around like it's the last game I'd ever play in my life. And then at lunch time. And then before going home. Too bad I never got my energy to last enough to make me a varsity player at school.

I remember the first time I saw a mascot. I was five or four, I think. Does anyone remember Susy and Gino of the chocolate milk ad? Yep, those two. They were creepy. I cried. I felt like being near them was a punishment. Worst day ever. 

I remember this wall that stood at a shoulder length near our house. We'd religiously go there when there's no school, mostly during the aftenoon. There'd be a competition among us on who's the first one to finish tiptoeing on top of the wall right at the end. It was a pretty long wall so it was like a survival course. I learned a lot about determination, speed, focus, and perseverance because of that wall.

I remember how I got a shot for... I don't remember what vaccine that was. But I was a bit big already because I remember until now. The clinic was in the second floor of a building with walls painted with white, the hospital kind of white. Anyway, the pediatrician completely promised to give me an ice cream if only I'd allow her to do it. So I agreed. She didn't give me the ice cream. She must have forgotten about it. Or people just make empty promises like that to kids. I seriously thought that was mean.  There goes my trust issues. 

"…forgetting is the hardest thing in the world — remember that." - Warsan Shire