Summer

Triggered by a Sprinkler

There was once a time, in what feels like the depths of long ago, when summers were endless bliss... a glowing, vibrant sunny and refreshing tumble of mirth and play. A time when sunshine shafted like liquid gold and burned my fair skin so it peeled revealing darker freckles underneath. A time when swimming pools were merely wet playgrounds, swim suits were my only uniform, and sprinklers were liquid magic. A time when smells would awaken all my senses: the sweet refreshing smell and taste of pink watermelon stirring memories of digging out pips, burrowing into the ripe gritty flesh with my fingers to remove the offending black aliens. The clean smell of fresh-cut grass, sticking to my wet feet and body as I rolled down a hill at my friend's farm. And, oh, my favourite... the anticipation of a thunderstorm, the heat swelling the tarmac that felt hot, even through sandal-soles, that would be sliced into by cool refreshing downpours, releasing a soft steam and a smell of tarmac and rain. I love those smells.

The sound of the bell ringing at hometime on the last day of school, and the feeling of elation as we ran to our minibus, climbed aboard and enjoyed the bumpy ride home. The gleeful faces as we arrived home and ran inside to change out of our uniforms ready for hours of play that seemed to stretch on into eternity... bike rides at the local "wasteland"; shooting over bumps at what felt like a-hundred-miles-an-hour, and for one heart-stopping second, experiencing flight! Running barefoot and wet across the tarmac to refil our water pistols, or better still, get the hosepipe for our giant waterfights. Nobody ever won, but winning was never the purpose.

I remember going to bed with light streaming through the useless curtains, and birds singing outside... and not being able to sleep for the sheer excitement of another day.

And in December... staying up late into the evening, dressing up smartly to go to Church, having a candlelit service with sunlight still blazing through the tall frosted windows, crying with joy at the story of our Saviour's birth, then running home to wait for daddy, and mummy going accross the road to buy us cans of Coca-Cola and Sarao Chips (the finest Chilean Crisps around). I remember begging mummy to let us open just one present under the fragrant tree, but to no avail. Trying to sleep but not getting a single wink until at least 3 am. Waking up at unearthly hours to be told by our groggy parents to wait a few more hour, then finally, ripping open the brown-paper packages that had come all the way from England and Canada just for us. Being told through shouts of joy who they were from, as our mummy made a list for thankyou letters.

Popping bubble wrap, stuffing our faces full of English chocolates that had melted and solidified on the way, posing for pictures of us with our presents, all while still in our pyjamas and bed-hair. :)

It makes me so sad to feel that I lost this on my return from Chile, during my time in England. Those years my feelings seldom peaked beyond merely happy, my excitement was seldom awoken. I came to hate summer because of its heat that would require me to wear less clothes, and the thought of anyone seeing my figure would make me constantly self conscious to the point where I simply would say I coudn't swim in order to get out of going to the swimming pool. Treats aren't treats anymore... chocolate is ten-a-penny and Coca-Cola has lost its fizz from over-drinking. Bubble-wrap is discarded with the rest of the wrappings and parcels are rarely a surprise. Even my delight in Christmas has diminished year after year... to the point where now it just seems like any other day...

But God, through Spain, is awakening my inner Child again. God said that we should be like children.. and I am very much looking forward to Heaven because there I know I will recapture those childhood feelings once more.. however, I never realised that God intended to help me to get those back before Heaven... and now I begin to see it. I feel so happy, so light, so delighted with things. The sun seems to be making the difference, but then the way I am feeling wooed by God is as well. God is restoring the joy of my salvation!!!!

Even with the simplest touch, He can say the loudest things...

This whole post was triggered simply by seeing a sprinkler on my way to school the other day. :)