During our life journey, we all have at least one special place that represents the good old day, lingering over our memory, and whenever we think of the place, we probably find ourselves smile with the tears running down the face. The place may be the beach where you gave your first kiss in that sweet summer night, the aged house where your grandparents always warm-heartily received you, or the high school witnessing your stunning growth and transformation during the troubled adolescence which is full of uncertainty and anxiety. For me, the secret place in my memory is a river levee in Tainan; it symbolizes my pure and innocent childhood.

        The river levee, a tall wide wall made of cement, is built along the section of Zeng-wen River going through Xi-gang District, Tainan City. In my childhood, whenever we went back to my mother’s hometown, Tainan, at festivals or New Year, we could meet every member in the big family. My aunts and uncles would always take us children, that includes my brother and cousins, to have a short walk to a small grocery, buy some candy and drinks, and go to the river levee for the stunning sunset. We usually sat on the levee, chatted while having candy in mouths, enjoyed the gentle breeze caressing our faces, or played games ruled by my humorous uncle. From the levee, we could not only see the sunset but the cars driving through Xi-gang Bridge near the levee, and a broad reach of green paddy field with a few farmers and cows working on. I remember that in a spring afternoon when my grand-grandfather was near the end of his life, I once accompanied my mom and her cousins to bring my grand-grandfather, their dear grandpa, to the levee for the beautiful scenery. Then, my mom, aunts, and uncles became children before their aged grandpa, eating candy, frolicking with each other, chatting with their grandpa and, of course, enjoying the sunset. At the end, I took a picture for them; they surrounded my grand-grandpa who sat on a wheelchair, and all of the people in the picture smiled so happily as if nothing can worry them. My grand-grandpa passed away about one month later, and I always remember the precious picture and the spring-day little trip which adds a layer of nostalgia on the levee for me.

        As time goes on, we children are busy at school while aunts and uncles are busy at work and family; gradually, the family do not gather together so often as before, and the river levee is fading in our memory bit by bit. About two years ago, I once went back to the levee with myself only; the stair leading to the high spot of the levee for scenery is submerged by weeds, and the levee becomes narrow so people can hardly run on it as what I did with my cousins when we were still little. I am really afraid the government may want to demolish the river levee. Thankfully, there is a thing does not ever change; that is the magic and magnificent moment when the glittering and soft glow of the setting sun is spreading upon the field. It remains the same as in my memory that belongs to the faraway, sweet old days.