With every visit to Ljubljana, of course, family and friends always come first. This summer was no different. After my arrival, my dad and mom picked me up at Ljubljana airport. I was very happy to see my most loved ones, whom I had not seen for so long, pleased they are still so active, energetic and in good shape, as they were when we said goodbye. The rest of the family was waiting for me in my aunt’s garden with a big poster, saying: “Welcome back uncle Marko”, held and made by my little niece. I barely held back tears. Touched to see them after such a long time, standing there, all smiling, happy and healthy. I first saw my sister’s baby boy, my, now more than half-year-old, nephew, which was really something special for me.
All the moments with family are really priceless. Going for long walks and talks with parents, having lunch with aunt and discuss about all kinds of topics, being with my sister and her, now bigger, family, eating sweets, pizza and doing shopping with a niece, visiting Ljubljana Castle and Tivoli Park together… The moments I miss the most when I am gone.
Of course, here are friends as well. Friends with whom we are more and more difficult to meet. Getting us all together has become almost a mission impossible. Obligations and different lifestyle with each of us took its toll. The times when we were together, killing time every day for hours, are long gone, unfortunately.
Many memorable and beautiful things happened during my visit in home city. But… I would like to highlight one, one I shared with my best friends, who I have shared my life with since I was a kid.
As kids and teenagers, we all played basketball for the same team – for Basketball Club Jezica from Ljubljana. Basketball, at that time, meant everything to us. When we were not in the gym for training or game, we spent all our free time playing outside on “our” legendary basketball court hidden between buildings, known as – Glavarjeva court. At least 15 years have passed, since we, the same group of best friends, threw a ball at the Glavarjeva court. This summer was different…
In order to revive old memories and test our basketball skills, we finally did it. We met on the court, where we spent our childhood – hours and hours every day, for many years – creating beautiful memories, doing all kinds of crazy things, laughing, crying… simply building a friendly bond that will firmly hold us together for the rest of our lives.
It was competitive, just like it used to be in old times. We were a bit rusty, but here and there we played some good basketball, I must say. In the end it is not the result that counts. It is a new unforgettable memory we can share and a short feeling of being able to spin back time – to times when we could forget about all the worries and problems of this world and just play…
I really hope we won’t need another 15 years for the rematch. Friends forever!