Better late than never

I started writing this several days before the New Year which is the now year but never got to posting it.

So here...

I never tried to put down a list of resolutions. Basically because it is an evidence of what I planned to do or started to do and then failed or just did not try. Here are some examples of what I have not done but might do one of these days;

1. Quit smoking.
Sad really. Although I want to at times, I just can't seem to just quit like a lot of people tell me. Easy for some and hard for me. Believe you me, I tried. For now, let me just enjoy my sticks.

2. Have a healthy lifestyle.
I am too lazy to exercise. I do not care about how many calories I take in each day. I love eating! And then refer to number 1.

3. Be organized.
Harhar! My days (and life) can never be planned like planned with a Starbucks organizer. But I do have plans you would not like to know about.

4. Be a better person.
Looking at others around me, sometimes, I can say I am one of the best already without even trying. I know, I know there is always a room for improvement, of course.

5. Learn to be more patient.
It comes with age so I'll get there, someday.

Bonfire thoughts

I know I have gained a year older whenever Christmas comes. With the change that comes in every celebration of it, which is evident in the faces of my relatives. Yup I look at them not me for signs of ageing.

The bonfire is different every year. Some years we used pine wood, some years we used scrap wood, some alnos. It smells different every time, the stories, the people around the fire, the food and drinks. When you see someone whom you used to wash clean after changing his diapers now holding an almost stranger's hand. Funny when it was my hand he held and tugged. When it was on my back he rode and holding so tightly on my neck to keep from falling.

Those would be King and Joey my first boys.

Baguio is where I will be during the holidays, home sweet mountain home where I have spent all of my Christmases.

If there's one thing I will always forever be grateful for it is being born in the best place in the entire country to celebrate Christmas in.

Decemberry Gloomy

Looks like nobody is in the mood for Christmas.

Left and right I hear comments how last year was better and the last one and the last, last one and those were the days when we were the ones receiving and were not required to give. Except in school.

Perhaps the child in you can be checked at this time of the year.

If you get my drift. As they say, Christmas is for children.

Remember?

Wordless Day

On my days off, unable to go home it is usually spent in my red walled dwelling. It would be my impromptu general cleaning day. I try to stay out or up late the night before so I’d wake up later than usual.

One such day, right after getting up and going through my version of breakfast I buckled up do the chores. Alone and armed with cleaning paraphernalia with the radio playing in the background I tie my hair to get it out of my eyes. Suddenly I realized I have not said one word since getting out of bed. It occurred to me to test myself if I could survive the day without uttering an expression not even a giggle or a laugh. Inaudible sighs, coughing and sneezing excluded.

Crazy, the things I do in my solitude.

It was not hard because there was no one to talk to anyway except when and if somebody calls. What do I do then? Right on cue, my mobile phone alerted me of a message. It was one really funny joke and I could have laughed except I remembered what I put myself into. A little challenge is welcome, boring if there were none anyway.

An hour after noon, I faced a cold lunch with a cold shoulder treatment. Not exactly fun but it was amusing. After resting for a while it was time to finish my duty and put things in order.

There. Everything in its proper place. Nothing more to do. Tired and lazy to go out.

So, I decided to watch some DVDs, at least, there would be no need for me to talk. In front of the tv I sat with a blank expression on my face, it helped that it was a documentary about prostitutes and was quite a drag. After that, Amy Tan’s Hundred Secret Senses was in front of me but unfortunately cannot hold my attention long enough. I watched again as it was starting to get dark. It was getting lonely. Not a message in my cellphone inbox either.

With a sigh followed by a smile I dialed Malen’s number. “O! Napatawag ka?” (Why’d you call?) that’s Malen for you. I said, “Wala naman, kailangan ko lang magsalita na at kanina pa ako walang kausap hindi ko na maramdaman yung pisngi ko.” (Nothing much. I just need to talk to someone because my cheeks are already numb.) We were laughing so hard even before I finished what I was saying.

Thank God for friends, for the sounds (especially the laughter) and the silence, for the voice we were given to communicate and express ourselves, for the senses the we were given to enjoy life with.