Reminiscence of an Internet-free Childhood

When my daughter asked me to create a blog for her, I was amazed. Although it is not fair to compare childhood in my times with this internet-savvy generation, I was still caught in great awe. I am thankful that I was born at the time (and a place) when no television and internet have existed yet.

I miss the simple and naive life where the only way to find enjoyment was in the neighborhood. I was a product of a very cohesive community where everyone knew everyone else (although I am no longer expecting that it would be the same around 20 years past). I loved the childhood playtime where we never yearned for plastic and ready-made toys. We created our own toys, and we named our own games -- all local but original.

Childhood at that time was long and enduring. At the end of each day, I would look forward to another day again. It feels good to yearn because I was the only child in the family, and there was nothing at home that would make life fulfilling. Of course there were toys, but at a young age, I have realized that toys could only bring satisfaction when two or more kids play with them. This is a personal opinion. I had those typical locally-written comics -- Tagalog, Pinoy Comics, Wakasan (LOL!) -- name it and I had all of them. However, the interest was short-lived. I still wanted to sneak through the back door and run to the neighbors' houses where my playmates were waiting.

I was taken aback when I discovered that my childhood playmates where already scattered all over the nation and the rest of Asia. When family needs demand for more in order to send children to school and provide a good life to their respective families, all that is left on us is reminiscence.