stillbecoming.studio

I’m in Karaburun-Mordoğan right now, at the westernmost tip of Turkey…

I’m in the place where the best days of my childhood happened. Back when troubles weren’t really troubles, and the biggest problem was just a little jealousy between friends…

Whenever I think about those days, Sıla’s famous song “Zamanında” (Back in the Day) always comes to my mind:

Summers were long back then, losses hadn’t found us yet.

Our joy was real, and hope always came after tears.

I was as beautiful as those summers, back when my family was whole.

I was as beautiful as those summers, back when summer didn’t bring so many tears…

She said it so well. When I look back at my childhood, so many people who were around then are gone now.

Most of all, my dad…

Every summer, we used to come to this house and spend wonderful times together. Left to us by my dad, it’s been standing strong for almost 40 years thanks to my mom’s huge efforts and great taste. Of course, not every memory in this house was happy. We had tough times too. Life isn’t simple or smooth all the time, but I guess that’s the beauty of it. Still, the good memories always win.

For example, I’ll never forget the day my mom’s cousins gathered in İzmir, packed a whole bus full of people, and came here! My dad’s kindness and warmth while hosting them was really something to see. I don’t think we even had a phone in the house back then. So 20 people—plus kids!—showing up at the door out of nowhere, laughing and singing, was a complete surprise.

Back then, people just thought: “Well, they’re here now! We’ll eat whatever we have, enjoy the day, and catch up.”

Life was simpler and easier. Visitors weren’t a heavy burden, and nobody tried too hard to impress. What did you need anyway? A couple of watermelons, a barbecue, some meatballs, lots of salad, bread, and of course rakı, beer, wine… Laughter was everywhere. The women set the table, the men had a few drinks while grilling, and as the kid of the house, I looked after the other children. The day just flowed naturally and happily.

We had so many days like that in this house. Long rakı tables set at sunset would last almost until sunrise. If you have a mom with a beautiful singing voice, an uncle, a few neighbors, and a dad who loves to sing even if he isn’t very good at it… those tables always turn into music sessions.

After a certain hour, I always loved falling asleep in my upstairs bedroom, listening to their songs.

At my age now, taking in every corner of this garden, those days keep coming back to me. We forget the bad things quickly and hold on tight to the good memories. And if you miss the ones who are gone… those good memories become your best friends.

In my childhood, if you had a summer house, you were lucky. Instead of melting in the İzmir heat, the day school closed, we would pack up, close the city house, and move to this house by the sea. We’d only go back the day before school opened.

The day school closed, I would fly home with excitement! Mordoğan days were starting, and I was going to have a whole summer of freedom! I had only one problem: my curfew at night.

My dad never backed down on this rule for years. While all my friends walked the streets until 2:00 AM or stayed out at discos, I had to be home at 11:30 PM. I cried so much at the garden gate saying, “Dad, please, just a little more…” Even with group begging sessions with my friends, my dad didn’t change his mind at all.

He had his own reason, of course… One night he said to me, “You’re out all day and night anyway. I miss you, my girl…” Maybe he really just wanted me by his side.

When work life started and I couldn’t be the kid of this house as much, the baton passed to my nephew Kaan. He had wonderful summers here just like me. And then came my son Baran… Generations keep growing up with the summers of this house.

Like I said, this house is still standing strong thanks to my mom’s endless hard work and love. It’s a wonderful home that brings us all together. I believe houses filled with memories have a special soul. You can’t just call it a “house.”

It was left to us by my dad, but now it’s a real cozy home built by my mom…

Thank you, Dad. Thank you, Mom…

With love,

Nazan

If These Piece had a Color : It would be ”Agean Blue”.

If These Piece had a Song : It would be ”Sıla – Zamanında ”. https://open.spotify.com/track/3U5JVgI2x4rDyHGObzJfNf?si=f9047821d23d42ac

If These Piece had a Scent : It would be ”Jasmin”