The season evokes nostalgia...

The air these days is tinged with a sweet and pure chill. People hastily wrap scarves around themselves and pull up their collars, but their hearts are filled with unnamed emotions. Their feet want to hurry to be on time, but their minds linger, wanting to feel more deeply the delicate, "romantic" chill of the last month of the year. Perhaps that's December for you, always making even the hardest hearts soften, become pensive, and strangely prone to emotion. The sun seems to spread a shimmering golden layer of honey over the old tiled roofs, the trees, and the familiar places we often frequent. It is in this quiet space that people suddenly find an excuse to dialogue with themselves: about past successes and failures, unfinished plans, and belated regrets.

The atmosphere on the last day of the year - Photo: HH

December is also the perfect excuse for reunions, even if belated. Friends call out to each other, sitting over a steaming cup of coffee, reminiscing about old times, recalling names long forgotten, and laughing together at the naive clumsiness of the past. Amidst the biting cold of the winter wind, the thin wisp of smoke from the coffee cup is a gentle reminder: It turns out that just a smile, a handshake, or a tight hug is enough to warm and dispel all the unease in one's heart. I often wonder why December makes people feel so melancholic? Is it because the calendar on the wall is almost at its last page, or because of the characteristic dry, crisp air of the late winter days? Occasionally, I find someone quietly sitting on a balcony, letting an old melody guide their wandering thoughts. December awakens feelings of nostalgia for those who are no longer present, for unspoken words of love, and for genuine affections that were lost.

As a child, joy was simply being allowed to choose a new outfit from my mother, the aroma of freshly baked cakes wafting through the neighborhood, and the exhilarating feeling of flipping through the last pages of the year's calendar. The biting cold of the weather didn't make us shiver; on the contrary, it became a catalyst for everyone to come closer together, to snuggle under a warm blanket and listen to Grandma tell fairy tales. I still vividly remember my little brother. Every time he saw the decorative lights strung up at the end of the street, he would run to me, his eyes wide with hope: "Sister, is Tet (Lunar New Year) coming soon? We're going to get lucky money again, aren't we?" That innocent excitement made me laugh. Back then, it seemed like the whole world shrunk to the size of a black and white TV with special music programs. All the anticipation was so pure and sweet.

In the final month of the year, no longer a frantic race against time, we allow ourselves to unwind after a long journey, easily forgiving ourselves for unfulfilled goals and plans, and becoming more tolerant of others, gently overlooking unintentional mistakes. Because, looking back on the stormy path we've traveled, we suddenly realize how short life is and how few opportunities there are to give love.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the year-end, December generously offers moments of quiet reflection. Moments to admire the glittering streets, to listen to the slow pace of traffic as if weary, and to feel the chill touch our skin… And then we realize how resilient we have been in navigating a year full of upheaval. December is like an old friend, reminding us to close worn pages and open a fresh new one. Eleven long months filled with smiles and tears, and promises forever dormant in the past. Now is the time to pack away all the unfinished business and regrets, tucking them away in a corner of our hearts, and smiling to ourselves: “It’s okay, the old year is almost over!”

Hello December, hello season of nostalgia and longing!

Linh Chau

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/van-hoa/202601/mua-cham-vao-noi-nho-dc60a70/