What are two of the best things in the world?
A watermelon and an ice-cream.
I grew up in a region named Srem in Vojvodina, famous for growing watermelons and honey-melons. During the summer, farmers would load agricultural tractors and cars with melons and drive them to the surrounding towns or areas for trading. They would drive those tractors and cars around the streets and they would holler: “MELOOONS”… So everyone could hear and go out to stop them and buy one. Sometimes you could negotiate with the sellers and make a good deal. As everybody likes melons, people invite friends and family to join them for the “royal enjoying”. I really enjoy when my family calls friends or our relatives or neighbors to share this sweet vegetable with us. Usually we put that big melon into the freezer or in the well to cool. And then we ate that melon shaped like the big letter “U”. They look like smiles and you have to have your mouth wide open to make a big smile when you want to bite into a melon. Of course you can use a knife, but it’ s much more fun without it. But this time of sharing wouldn’ t be complete without ice-cream, and the bonding sharing makes our lives worthwhile.
Now I have moved. I am far away from home. I live in the big city of Bratislava and people are different there. They usually buy smaller pieces of melon which are not even close to being as sweet as our melons. We have abandoned this time of sharing. People do not buy thinking of others. We moved to another level of living. More and more we become individuals. Yes, we like to have some friends, but in the distance, especially on Facebook. There we can share EVERYTHING! Especially if it is for free.
Now, you probably notice that I was talking about summer season. That´s because the summer is my favorite season, and many things happen in the summer. Just like here around the lakes. In my town called Stara Pazova, which means old elder or elderberry, we have lots of bonding events such as cultural and sport events. People like to go to the beach on the river Danube or to the nearest swimming pool and to enjoy in the sun. They talk about the meaning of life and family.
I look back on that time of sharing our watermelon and ice cream with our family, friends and neighbors, and wish I could capture that time, could relive it, but time doesn’t stand still.
I feel blessed that I have now this time in Whitehall to share experiences. Just as I remember my summers at home, I will remember Whitehall and people from Lebanon church.
I will carry with me to whatever my future holds.