Memories

Do you remember when we moved to Chester, Virginia 11 years ago? We were 'fresh off the boat' as they say and completely lost. But it turned out ok... We adapted, made friends and had a good time. I don't know about you, but those four years in Chester definitely feature among my best childhood memories. So, when I got a chance to go back to Chester, back to that little neighborhood we lived in, I grabbed at it.

I walked around the place for about half an hour, taking pictures and narrating stories to my friends. As I walked around the big backyards, I remembered the many hours we spent there, playing those intense games of kickball with all the other kids - how you were usually the smallest one there, but how I always picked you first to be in my team. The hillocks seemed smaller and less steep than they used to then, and I remembered how we took turns sitting in a laundry basket and sliding down the icy slopes(till it occurred to us to actually buy a sled). I remembered the lopsided snowman that we spent all afternoon making and the rest of the day admiring. At the playground, I remembered how I broke my nose on the merry go round and how we ran back to the house, with blood dripping from my nose and you crying and screaming 'Dhivya is gonna die'. It makes me laugh now, but at that time, you were SO NOT helping! As I walked around the neighborhood, I remembered waiting for the school bus on our very first day at an American school- you, a five year old not knowing a word of English and me, the protective older one constantly wanting to make sure you were okay. I also remembered walking through the same neighborhood on halloween nights and how I always convinced you to wear a costume that you didn't like or felt uncomfortable in. I walked up to the house we lived in, took a picture standing in front of it and remembered the days we spent there: how we used to assemble in front of the Tv on those summer afternoons with our pads and pencils for a drawing lesson from Mark Kistler, how we used to decorate our room and how I used to always trick you into putting up my art in a prominent place and your 'childish' art hidden behind the closet doors. Those were the days!

It was strange that a trip back to Chester made me so nostalgic,It was strange that it made me so emotional. Above all, It was strange that walking around Chester where I spent 4 important years of my life, each and every one of my memories seemed be revolve around you!

Miss you, my lil Chesta Sista! Happy Birthday, way in advance :)



Then

Now