robbysama

[robbysama]

Reminiscing Childhood

Having a sharp memory is such a gift, moreover if you can transform it into writings that can be real documentation about your past which transcript and documented forever. Sometimes I wonder at what aged people can recall their oldest memory. According to a study, averagely people can recall their childhood memory at 3.5 yo. But many only could remember before 6 yo. Like Laura Ingalls Wilder for instance, she had very sharp and beautiful childhood memories. Reading all her book stories will give us a time travel sensation which also gives the knowledge about how our people in the past ran their life.

This thought leads me to a basic question in my life, what is the oldest memory can ever be recorded in my mind because mostly we easily forget. So, based on this question, I tried to recall my own childhood memory. I was born in Dumai, Riau, and raised in Payakumbuh, West Sumatera. I have zero memory through Dumai, because when I was 1, we moved to Payakumbuh for good. I entered kindergarten at 5, but I still remember some precious moments in my life before that. So, I conclude the oldest memory I could remember must be at 3.

One of the oldest childhood moments that I still clearly remember was when my sister be the bridesmaid in a wedding of our neighbors, so there’s a wedding reception near our house and Ni Pit my oldest sister brought me a slice of delicious rainbow cake and I peal the cake based on its color layers. I remember Ni Pit wearing traditional Minangnese clothes with unique headpiece that we call “tangkuluak”. Nah, the wedding couple having the first daughter names Arini, who is only 4 years younger than me. Therefore, based on this year’s consideration, I conclude the oldest memory that I can recall must be when I was 3.

Another moment was when I was embraced by my mom to the nearest market in our town, then somebody called me “Botak Zio!” I don’t know the story or what all about this name is, what I knew it is something related to a movie character or someone who had bald hair at that time. This girl called me Botak Zio repeatedly while grabbing my hand. Later, I was told that the prior day my oldest brother cut my hair near the pool in our back yard, and I became totally bald at that time. And people called me Botak Zio ever since.

Another little memory I had was a golden boot. I had a pair of cute golden boots that I wear everyday to accompany my dad to work in our farm. Those boots bought for me when I was 2. And it was captured in a photo. Until my Junior high I still could find this boot. But as the time goes by, it’s already gone but the memory remains in my mind.

Another classic story that I still remember was when I cried my eyes out to my mom because I wanted to go to school too like my brother and sisters. There was a storage room in our house and I took the bag and shoes as if I was wearing school uniform and forced my mom to send me to school. Since I was too little, my mom couldn’t help laughing. Probably this is the only reason why I entered the school early. If mostly children join Kindergarten at 6, I joined at 5.

Talking about traumatic experience, I still remember when I was waking from a nap and found that I was alone at home. While on the TV, in the only channel TVRI at that time, there was a song “ Aku cinta, semua cinta buatan Indonesia….” This melody sounded so horrifying to me. Can you imagine how a kid can be traumatized waking up to an empty house and you think the whole family left you and the TV played a creepy song. Every time I listen to this song, the feeling is still the same. Lingering in my head even I’ve already grown up. Later in my adult time, I figured out that the song written my Bimbo, an old Indonesian band as government program for national campaign to use local products.

Uniquely, I also remember the first days in Kindergarten. Funny how I forced my mom to send me to school but when the D day came, it’s like a hysteria day at school hahaha I cried and asked my mom to take me home because I am not comfortable with the crowd. I am not comfortable with other random kids, the old school building and the teachers, everything was so strange to me. In the next day, I went to the school with da Leo, my third brother. He took me to school riding his bicycle. As I saw him outside through the window, it was calm knowing he was there waiting for me, but when he moved and I could see that he planned to leave, I cried hysterically again until he told me my third sister Lila was already there to accompany me. Lila was waving to convince me that she’ll stay, thus I felt safe again. It took a while until I got used to school and I was no longer accompanied.

One day, school was over but sadly no one picked me up. I was the only student left; I was so worried and solemnly cried. I sat on the swing at the school playground and started overthinking. Bu Dewi, the teacher checked me repeatedly and assured me that I need to stay and not going any further until someone comes to pick me. It felt so long until I saw my dad’s car approaching the school. As he arrived, Dad opened the window and smiled at me. I yelled happily and jumped into the car. It was the most relieving day ever in my life.

Another remarkable day from kindergarten when I asked my mom to put the chili inside my lunch box, because I am the only one student in class who didn’t have chili in it. In my point of view, other kids were so brave and cool because they had chili on their food. I wanted to be like them too.

Traditional dancing in Medan nan Bapaneh, Ngalau was also a memory that I still remember. A neighbor girl who went to the same school hitched in our car since she had the same performance with me. Her name is Tria. Apparently, that was a good performance since everyone praised us. The school drum band was also mesmerizing. We participated in carnival in Lapangan Poliko, a big sport Stadion in our town. We had the photo session in Monaco photo studio across masjid Ansharullah. The photo is saved in our family photo album.

Actually, there are many other memories linked with my childhood moments, like visiting Jakarta for the first time, barber shop with my dad and others. I'll try to collect them again and write it someday.

So, which old childhood memory that you still remember most?

[robbysama]

The only look that makes my heart warm and smile from ear to ear ☺️😊😘#superwife #throwback (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwLa2FqnzbI/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1fc317dh369w8

[robbysama]

Tersayang 💕 (at Kota Payakumbuh) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv5fnHVH9Le/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1otvkizjaepxt

[robbysama]

Walking in the rain! 🌧 #tb #uk (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvsq0ITnDni/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1dlwogjo4jd0t

[robbysama]

Re-posting the old photo since I'm too jelly seeing people having spring break 🌷#throwbackthursday #france #grandpalaisparis (at Grand Palais Paris) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvQJ_rgH9uX/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1g3d9jyzvxyrb

[robbysama]

Makan salad pake blueband, I'm so glad to be your husband 😅😝 . . . 📷 @rzqy https://www.instagram.com/p/BvDZqZWnEaq/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=gmtqn4h7q44f

[robbysama]

Old but gold 🌾🎈 https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu5K8Y3nXbv/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1fpp11m7g94fp

[robbysama]

To a single-digit temperature, unforgiving winds, icicles on the floor and a bleary sky, how can I still miss this place and wishing to come back? #tb #seoul #winter (at Lotte World Tower, Seoul Sky - 서울스카이) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu2XEK6ntA8/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=2e39rga7g7zo

[robbysama]

Petite pose pour la photo! 🌏🇳🇱 (at Amsterdam, Netherlands) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuvToJ0H1Bm/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=q7w9loqxh216

[robbysama]

To me, you are a perfect wife 😘🎈#sydney 🇦🇺 https://www.instagram.com/p/BtpJ1FynRVI/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=142x9g16rt5p3

[robbysama]

Good to remember how good it is to be in London 💕 #littlethrowback (at South Kensington) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bthd1I_n-FO/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=6cjc77lvracf

[robbysama]

Delete soon! 🤦🏻‍♂️ https://www.instagram.com/p/BtNedFEn-Zg/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=lshc4eu1tgiu

[robbysama]

My everyday dose of happiness 💕#tb (at Salzburg, Austria) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs_4ZySgJAh/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=y0bic3otoxnz

[robbysama]

Although Big Ben is under renovation, he still looks good, you will see him accomplished in 2021 🇬🇧 #london #bigben #throwback (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs4ztJmgsaO/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=846xgxf0tnki

[robbysama]

The center om my gravity, the source of my sanity! 🎈 (at Payakumbuh, West Sumatera.) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsrqseAgzIS/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=9ptt5kgismjp

[robbysama]

A good creed for functional adulthood: I hope I won't owe a grudge to people thus my heart is free from hatred. Amen 🙏🏻 (at Buckingham Palace) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bspmsm-gpcs/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1nw1om5ma7wo3

[robbysama]

Another level of cuteness 💕 #tbt #disneylandtokyo (at Tokyo, Japan) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsb4oSngrKw/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=8fmrbbvxd8i0