A Memorable Vacation

Going over to my Uncle’s home is something that my whole family looks forward to every summer. Unlike other American families, ours do not spend the whole day sitting outside under the scorching heat of the sun barbecuing meat which heaven knows could give us cancer. Instead, the whole family, including the little ones, spends the whole vacation playing games even physical and dirty ones such as mud race, tug-of-war and newspaper dance – all with different twists. For instance, our mud race would not just be racing in all that muck.

My Uncle would usually place another twist in the rules like having to catch a piglet while doing the mud race. Of course, the basic rule in all these is to have fun.  So it does not really matter whether who won as long as everyone had fun. One might say that say that our family are a bunch of dim-wits. But our parents believe in having fun and learning at the same time. These games we play are not just games for physical exertion but games that teach us to take things with a happy heart including obstacles.

            However, this outlook in life was tested once when my Uncle, the leader of our pack tumbled over while feeding his dog. When the relatives learned of this, we all rushed over to find out what was wrong with him. The adults were anxious of what the doctors might find while the young ones were worried of the lost vacation if Uncle does not get well soon enough.

And so because of Uncle’s sickness, each family member forgot to hold on to the values that each of us cherished while Uncle was still well.  Our parents quarreled among themselves as to who will watch over my Uncle while his wife is taking care of their kids and who will shoulder the day-to-day expenses while Uncle is still confined to the hospital. Instead of being strong and united in this time of trial, we crumbled and lost sight of what should have been a perilous journey.

            On the third day of my Uncle’s confinement and after a series of tests, we found that he suffered a mild stroke that’s why he stumbled over.  Immediate medical attention saved his life because if he was not administered medications for his shooting blood pressure, he would have been dead by now. When his nephews and nieces, those of us who were old enough to be allowed to get inside the hospital where brought to his room, we were shocked to find a very gaunt and deathly white man.  Our once robust and jolly Uncle lay stiffly in that cold hospital room surrounded by those horrible looking machines which keep track of his vital organs.

            A little cousin, grumpy because of the postponement of our annual games and fun asked my Uncle if he could stand and get dressed because we were going home and get back to our usual games. His mother clucked and shooed him out, turning pink from embarrassment. But Uncle will always be Uncle. He assured all of us that before our vacation are over, we will be going back to our games.

            True enough, when Uncle got out of the hospital the next day, we all gathered at the living room and expectantly waited what will be in store for us for the remainder of our vacation.

“This time”, he started, “we will be doing another kind of fun. In which I will also be able to join in the fun despite my temporary sickness. The girls will help your mothers in the kitchen and prepare your most exceptional recipes for sick people like me, while you boys go with dads to shop for the things we will need for our games later on.”

            We excitedly took to our respective assignments and amidst lettuce, carrots and spinach and smoked fish, we happily gathered once again in the living room to hear what we are doing next.   As the men brought out the luggage, Uncle one by one opened them and brought them out, we could not believe our eyes:

            We are playing scrabble and monopoly. Finally, we are turning into geeks.