the art of remembering

I don't have many  
fond memories of my childhood  
but nature calls to me
the ocean, lakes and rivers
watering holes and waterfalls  
 
I walked along the beach today
among the holidaying families  
and I remember...
 
I remember long trips and country music
I remember car sickness  
and vomiting lemonade  
through my nose  
I remember the word "delineater"
and how my dad always won eye spy
 
I remember forgetting my teddy bear
and crying half the way to the camp-site
I somehow managed to sleep okay with out him
but I hated that he was missing out  
on the adventure
 
I remember cloud shape animals  
and staring out the car window  
imagining I could find faeries  
and elves in the undergrowth  
 
I remember sitting in a boat
atop a trailer  
we weren't allowed in the water
but my dad braved it
every time  
and never got eaten
by a crocodile
back then my dad had a glare
that could stop any monster  
in its hungry stalk  
to make the rest of a snack
 
I remember hooking a giant cat fish
and not being strong enough
to reel it in
and my brothers spent  
the rest of the trip
telling me it wasn't a real catch
but it was still better
than the parental wrath
of what would have happened  
if I'd dropped the rod
 
I remember eating fresh crab
and crying after my dad  
whacked a shark on the head
so hard on the head with a mallet  
it's eyes popped out of its head  
 
I remember sitting on the safe  
remote shore of some place
without crocodiles
and picking wildflowers  
and drawing in my sketchbook
 
I remember the first time I smelt
the aftermath of a bushfire
and somehow found the  
acrid stick and blackened landscape  
beautiful  
 
I remember campfires  
on cold nights  
and how my mum  
made the best damper  
 
I walked along the beach today
among the holidaying families  
and I remembered  
 
© Indie Adams 2022