episode_0169

VLOG

VLOG is short for video log, which literally means leaving a record through video. However, in today’s widely used meaning, it refers to the act of recording one’s daily life through videos to share on social media.

Just like how daily life is portrayed on social media, most of one’s mundane daily life is edited to only show the shining moments, or the boring parts are edited out. It was questionable whether this could be considered leaving a record of daily life.

“Well, what can you do. Humans are full of contradictions.”

“Dayoung, every time you say that, Mom seriously considers cutting off the internet at home.”

“Ah, I’m not a kid anymore, and I know everything. Our generation may be a bit faster, but still.”

Indeed, the amount and quality of information that high school students receive today is different from the past. Unlike our generation, who only received information flowing through one-way communication on TV, today’s youth can absorb an overwhelming amount of information without filtering through their smartphones, handheld computers.

It is said that the ability required of young people today is not memorization like in our time, but the ability to search for information and discern it.

“But still, Mom worries.”

“Haha, but didn’t we start filming? Shouldn’t we talk about something special?”

“Do we have to? Just relax. I’ll categorize it first, and the senior will edit it again. Mom will give feedback on the final version, so don’t worry and just say whatever.”

Two teenagers and a not-so-bright 30-something woman gathered for SNS or YouTube, and it seemed better than not doing anything at all.

Anyway.

“It’s been a while since we went out this far by car, how does everyone feel?”

“We went to Grandma’s house not too long ago.”

It was Davin, not me, who answered Dayoung’s question.

“We all went together with Auntie last time. It’s been a while since the three of us went on a trip like this. Yeah. Wasn’t the farthest place we went to recently when we went to the outlet?”

“Oh, right. Yeah. When Mom went to buy a swimsuit. Mom looked really pretty in a swimsuit back then. Hehe.”

Dayoung’s mischievous laughter, like a sixth grader, sent a slight shiver down my spine.

“Don’t laugh like that. You look like an old man.”

“Old man is more… always cracking dad jokes.”

“You, hey. Do you know how humorous Mom is at work? When Mom makes a joke, everyone around her bursts into laughter.”

“Who laughs like that?”

“Manager Kwon or Taehyun.”

“Ugh! They’re all subordinates!”

“Ah. Mr. Sungyeol, Taehyun’s brother. What kind of life are you living?”

“Ugh! How funny are you guys?”

“Me? Well, do I really need to be funny? Being natural is better. There’s no need to be funny. Laugh when you need to laugh, and if you want to show a gap, crack a joke. Anyway, that’s how old men are. They seem to have this compulsion to always be funny, don’t they?”

“It’s inevitable. Nuna. Most middle-aged Korean men in their 40s and 50s don’t get treated well at home, so if they don’t fill their self-esteem in that way…”

“Stop! Stop the fact violence!”

Oh, it hurts too much. Being constantly hit in the bones without rest, I feel like I’ve turned into boneless chicken. Just listening to something I vaguely knew being logically organized and presented makes me feel so miserable that tears are on the verge of falling.

“But, Nuna, can we talk about this kind of content? Mom may be an old man, but isn’t it a bit too much to say it so blatantly?”

“Is that so? Then let’s edit this part and make some comments at the end. Okay?”

“Yeah, that sounds good.”

I couldn’t quite get used to the sudden shift in attitude from casual conversation to a more business-like tone in the middle of our conversation.

-Beep-

With the sound signaling the editing point, Dayoung continued the conversation.

“Anyway, it seems like my mom, having worked for a long time, has ingrained values that are no different from those of men in their 40s.”

“But you’re still in your 30s, right?”

Even though there are only a few months left, I’m still in my 30s. Yeah.

“Hmph! Every time you’re about to turn 40, you say you’re 40, but then at times like this, you say you’re still in your 30s. Which side are you on?”

“Ah, come on, sis. That’s what happens when you get older. I saw it in a movie somewhere.”

“You guys are really… Geez. Is this why you wanted to start a vlog? Making fun of mom. Making fun!”

“Yeah, I’m making fun, right? Can’t argue back? Getting annoyed? Feeling the heat rising? About to cry ‘boo-hoo’?”

“Sis, you’re going too far…”

Dayoung’s sudden nonsensical deal made Davin quickly back off. And then I said,

“Huh? What kind of tone is that?”

I couldn’t understand what was going on and was at a loss.

“Ha, no. Nothing. Let’s just say I made a mistake.”

Dayoung, who seemed to have lost strength due to my inability to understand, waved her hand and mumbled.

After that, our family continued to have a lively conversation. It was a one-sided conversation where I was the one taking the brunt of it.

Suddenly, Dayoung pointed out somewhere outside the window with a happy expression.

“Oh! Mom, let’s go to the rest area. Rest area!”

“Huh? To use the restroom?”

“No, to have a snack.”

I left right after having lunch, and since I had prepared all the side dishes for the kids to eat before going to wash the car in the morning, I assumed the kids had also eaten.

So naturally, I thought it was because of the restroom.

Hmm… Well, it’s a must to have snacks at the rest area when driving far.

I nodded my head and turned the car towards the rest area.

I parked the car at a suitable place at the rest area and got out.

As expected, on the first day of the holiday, the rest area was bustling with cars. In other words, there were a lot of people.

“Ugh… I hate it.”

Dayoung said with a bored expression as she took out a selfie stick.

“Yeah. Holidays are holidays.”

Davin also responded with a similar expression. Seeing them react as if there was some kind of human aversion, I felt a bit uncomfortable.

“Why do you guys hate crowds so much?”

“Who do you think?!”

“Who do you think?!”

As if saying, ‘How dare you ask that?!’

“No, why are you looking at me like that?”

-Tap!-

At the same time, a clear and gentle sound rang out. Dayoung and Davin tapped their foreheads and shook their heads.

Well, I knew it was a joke.

I didn’t like it either.

“I feel drained already.”

I looked at the crowd and, worried that something annoying might happen like at the previous premiere, I opened the car door again. Then, I pressed a little ahead of the part with the interior light button and opened the sunglasses case to take out the sunglasses I bought at the premiere for 269,000 won.

“Whoa, are you a celebrity?”

“Don’t say that. Mom really freaked out at the premiere not too long ago, remember?”

“Oh, right. Yeah.”

Honestly, it might be a bit of an overkill in self-consciousness, but I can’t help it. I almost had a panic attack back then, so it’s better to be careful.

“Anyway! Let’s hurry up and go. I’m craving sweet potatoes!”

“Then I’ll have a delimanju.”

“Mom, what do you want to eat?”

“I… well.”

Oh, right. The fundamental choice is always dried squid.

“Why ask? You always choose that. Dried squid.”

“Oh, right. Because of my age.”

“Why! What’s wrong with my age!”

“Oh, nothing. Just, you know. Hehe.”

Seeing this, Davin seemed to have become more cheerful. He wasn’t like this before, maybe something bad happened with Dayoung.

“Anyway, let’s meet at the square after going to the restroom.”

With that, she headed towards the restroom.

“Mom, not that way!”

Suddenly, Dayoung grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

“Oh, right.”

I almost followed Davin into the men’s restroom without realizing it. That would have been a disaster.

“If Mom goes in there, it’ll be chaos.”

“I know, I just got a little confused.”

Despite a small mishap, we safely returned from the restroom, bought snacks at the square, and returned to the car.

“Don’t you need to buy more?”

-Digging around.

“Yeah, here!”

Dayoung replied with a mouthful of potato chips.

“Ugh, it’s soggy. Shouldn’t have bought it.”

Davin frowned as she put a jelly candy in her mouth.

“Since Grandma has an air fryer at home, let’s save it for later and share Mom’s dried squid for now.”

“Yes. That sounds good.”

Seemingly done with everything, I stepped on the accelerator and started driving towards Grandma’s house.

“Alright, now that we’re going straight to Grandma’s house, everyone can take a nap.”

“No, we have to film a vlog.”

Dayoung lowered the selfie stick she was holding and placed it on the dashboard.

Oh, that’s not over yet.

Thinking that this trip back to our hometown might be quite tiring, I got back on the highway.