My fondest memories are tied to the Drava river. In the summer, we went swimming every day – the whole village, a mass of children. The Drava was huge back then, wild, with whirlpools. Once, my friend and I, afraid of being late home, swam across the entire river. It was terrifying, but also unforgettable. Today, the Drava is no longer the same; it has retreated into reservoirs, and the places of our childhood are overgrown with thickets. I miss that nature, the socializing, and the carefree feeling. The streets were full of children; we played without worrying about cars, which were almost non-existent. That doesn’t exist today. Only images and nostalgia remain for the times when the river was the heart of village life and when we explored nature without fear and with joy.