Trip Down Memory Lane

We finally made our way to a park recently. It’s been quite some time since we last did that – erratic weather, Kenan being sick and errands to run had kept us away.

There’s a place that I long wanted to bring Kenan but didn’t do so as there always seem to be a place more ‘interesting’ to go to. But since it’s been something I wanted to do for a long while, I thought why wait? So there we were at Labrador Park two Sundays ago.

The park holds special memories for my husband and me. But before I go into that, see what I discovered when we were there…

Wonder of nature

The day before our visit to the park, I was attending a photography workshop. Inspired to improve my photography skills, I went looking for some ‘worthy’ subjects (not that my son isn’t!). I thought of taking some ‘artistic’ shots and figured a tree trunk may offer something because of its texture. So I walked to a tree nearby and something immediately caught my eyes…

 

 Did you see what I see?

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Did you see the leaf that looks like one of the angry birds? I was so amazed when I spotted it! Or you might be like my friend and saw the ‘cobra’ instead, which I didn’t until she pointed it out.

Either way, it’s amazing what interesting things await us in nature, if we will just take the time and look hard enough. So the next time you’re in a park or somewhere in nature, see what surprises you’ll find.

Treasure trove of memories

The main reason why I wanted to bring my son to Labrador Park is because of how special a place it is for us…

That’s my husband and I eight years ago. Some of the photos for our wedding album were taken here at Labrador Park.

Before that, the park was just another park. We had not even gone there for a single date. If I didn’t remember wrongly, the venue was suggested by the photographer, since we were at another venue nearby before this.

Eight years later, Kenan is leaning against the same railing (it’s close to the same spot I think) as we did.

Eight years ago – my ‘playground’.

Now – Kenan’s playground.

When I look at these photos, I feel a sense of amazement and a warmth in my heart.  I’m so glad we’re able to bring Kenan here even though he’s too young for us to share with him what’s special about the place. I’m especially thankful that the changes hadn’t been that drastic, as compared to many other places in Singapore.

I look forward to the day when Kenan’s old enough for us to bring him to places and start sharing with him our stories. I hope that it will give him a glimpse into our lives, of where we came from,what we did in our younger days, our joys and our triumphs. I suppose he probably won’t appreciate them at first, but I believe someday when he’s older (maybe at my age now), he would be glad that we’ve shown and shared with him our stories.

Because that was what I wished I had done with my own parents, especially my dad, before he passed away. I was never really interested about his past when I was much younger. Now that he’s gone, Ill never be able to know all that I wanted to know about him. And I wished I knew more, because when I go to those places (even if the old architecture is gone),  I will feel like in some ways that he’s still close by, that the connection between us has not ceased. After all, places are only as meaningful as the memories we have of them.

On the same note, I wish that we would not be too quick to do away with the old in Singapore.

When I was not yet a parent, it didn’t quite seem to matter that much. Now that I’m a mom, I wish that I can show my son exactly how a place was like when I was young.

And in those same places that hold special meaning for us, I hope to share new experiences with our children, weaving together a new tapestry of memories to be cherished and preserving ties of love that bind. So that some day when we are gone, they will still remember us as they walk pass some of these places, perhaps even sharing with their children stories about their grandma and grandpa.

How about you? Are there some places dear to you heart that you feel strongly about sharing with your kids?

Tagged as: Special memories