Emily's blog

Walking in the streets
     It’s a brilliant sunny day in first spring. I’m walking along in the campus, on the wooden sidewalk beside the green, green grass field and Hundred-Flower Stream Path. I see families having great fun in their different kinds of ways. Frisbees are thrown back and forth between kids and seniors in some of the families. Pieces of clothes being comfortably lain upon by people are unfolded and laid smoothly on the ground. Under the tree shades, some families are sitting laid-back on the benches, sharing their lives with big, relaxed smiles on their faces. There’s no walls between them. Balls fly high up in the clear blue sky without a cloud - just like their crystal-clear joyous minds at the moment.
     Under the surface of this lively scene lies domestic bliss, happiness shared by blood relationship people, trust built between family members(as people play balls as team works and pass the balls to the ones of whom they trust) and peace that can hardly be found in this busy city life. I feel completely at ease watching this peaceful, wonderful scene. I remember the time when I was little and my family picnicked like they do now, and when we played badminton and rode bicycles in the oil refinery in my hometown, Kaohsiung. The activities we did/do are different, but we share a mutual core spirit. We’re families who love one another with our hearts and are always willing to spend quality leisure time with one another.
     But in the meanwhile, I feel a little bit guilty and sorrowful, too. Because even though I’m certain about the fact that my family and I still, and always will, love each other deeply, the time we spend with one another is sharply decreased as my time is split into fragmentary pieces by myself ‘cause my friends play a more and more important role in my life. It’s definitely not those families who are enjoying their time together who put me on this guilt trip, but this beautiful scene reminds me of this seem-to-be-inevitable phenomenon which is actually a decision made by myself. I miss the good old times I shared with my family. We still do share, but the frequency is not enough for me.
     Observing what’s happening outside around a person can make the effect of stirring up the inner emotions or memories inside that person, too!