I was walking to La Calesita, for Tete's birthday party milonga. La Calesita is a lovely outdoor milonga with a big parrila grill (barbeque). Loads of people old, young and famous turned out for that occasion.
That very night the wind was gushing. So it was a surprisingly cold summer night. I was wearing my white linen shirt and it really wasn't very warm. Silvina was walking in front of me hugging on tight to Andrea, hurrying along to the taxi. As I walked behind them looking up towards the starry sky and feeling the cold, suddenly I was brought back to the times as I was walking in the cold starry nights of Taiwan, as a soldier, on those countless night missions.
It brought a smile to my face. I close my eyes and I can almost smell the river banks of Chi Nui Ling, hear the footsteps of my fellow soldiers walking behind me; taste the combat ration butter biscuits; feel the cold cold taiwan nights blowing on my tired body. As I look up to the stars above me they looks exactly like the ones I looked up to so many years past.
Why do I miss those days? Days that remind me of the brash youthfulness, where men bare their souls to one another. Comradeship and caring for one another in the most simple and direct way.
As I get lost in this big city, I miss those days in the wild, the green, the nature. Where people are closer to their natural temperament as well. Days where everyday was a challenge to find the best in oneself, finding the true being in you.
In times like these, where most run away from the unpleasant sensations, I took a moment to savour the chill and thought about the good times...
