I turned to where the shout came from but then it was already gone. Damn! I would have wanted one, or two, especially in this rainy weather. To my further irritation, I realized that the vendor was selling his balot while riding a bicycle. Hmp! How'd he expect to sell anything when the next time he shouts, he's already 30 meters away???
Hmmm (smiles)... The last time I got to eat this was after one of those happy binges of, ah... SMB, or was it RH? OK, ok, so I know this is not healthy. But, as most unhealthy grubs are, sometimes you don't think anymore but just indulge on what you want.
May 2009... It was already early dawn... a little bit inebriated... a little bit hungry... and so the trip with a new friend to the pier area where a lone vendor was crouched on the pedestrian lane with his basket of balot. With just three pieces of balot consumed between us and a tsismis now and then with the balot vendor, the time spent on that unhealthy habit was a healthy dose to a new friendship. Life indeed surprises you sometimes.
“Life IS like a box of chocolates. You never know what you gonna get.”-Forrest Gump
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
2008
A whole year when my blog page lay dormant and yet plenty of significance happened in that 365 days that was 2008. To remind me...
I lost a friend.
Funny... it would have been better to deal with if he'd actually died. Fond memories in the long run would have eased the pain. But believe me, it is a lot worse if you lost a friend because you lost respect for him. Try as I might to get things back the way they used to be, but some things are just irreparable. I can't even convince my mind that it was a huge loss, let alone my emotions. But, then again, maybe it was meant to be a good riddance? Good luck, bad luck, who knows?!!
I started a new way of life.
I have left the big metropolis and have opted to embrace small city-life. There were tearful goodbyes as I have indeed established good friendships in the 12 years I was there. I left a work environment to which I have adapted well. I gave up a fast-paced and carefree life of anonymity in a huge city. I will surely miss my weekly ritual of passing away the time or the afternoon metropolitan heat in those huge malls where window-shopping is a favorite activity. I will miss more the unplanned gimik with friends in the early evenings with a few bottles of beer or a glass of mojito. I will miss most those girls-night-out escapades where we talk about all that is sad or happy or naughty over a big bottle of Red Horse or a cup of over-priced coffee. I was away from home for a long time and somehow I have learned life's lessons on how to be an independent person in a very dynamic and unpredictable society.
And now.... I am home. It may take time to get-to-know once again old acquaintances from high school, or track new establishments where old buildings once stood, or adjust to a new set of differing personalities at my new workplace. I may have to find a new set of barkadas with whom I can share hobbies or while away time “golfing” with my good friend Miguel. Hmmm..... I may even have to adjust to inherent family squabbles and disagreements that distance has largely, and thankfully, protected me from all these years. But...... it is good to be back with my family again. I'm sure it's going to be a whole new adventure!
Oh yeah.... I became a "tangible" aunt to my nieces! I get to see them grow one day at a time. :-)
I lost a friend.
Funny... it would have been better to deal with if he'd actually died. Fond memories in the long run would have eased the pain. But believe me, it is a lot worse if you lost a friend because you lost respect for him. Try as I might to get things back the way they used to be, but some things are just irreparable. I can't even convince my mind that it was a huge loss, let alone my emotions. But, then again, maybe it was meant to be a good riddance? Good luck, bad luck, who knows?!!
I started a new way of life.
I have left the big metropolis and have opted to embrace small city-life. There were tearful goodbyes as I have indeed established good friendships in the 12 years I was there. I left a work environment to which I have adapted well. I gave up a fast-paced and carefree life of anonymity in a huge city. I will surely miss my weekly ritual of passing away the time or the afternoon metropolitan heat in those huge malls where window-shopping is a favorite activity. I will miss more the unplanned gimik with friends in the early evenings with a few bottles of beer or a glass of mojito. I will miss most those girls-night-out escapades where we talk about all that is sad or happy or naughty over a big bottle of Red Horse or a cup of over-priced coffee. I was away from home for a long time and somehow I have learned life's lessons on how to be an independent person in a very dynamic and unpredictable society.
And now.... I am home. It may take time to get-to-know once again old acquaintances from high school, or track new establishments where old buildings once stood, or adjust to a new set of differing personalities at my new workplace. I may have to find a new set of barkadas with whom I can share hobbies or while away time “golfing” with my good friend Miguel. Hmmm..... I may even have to adjust to inherent family squabbles and disagreements that distance has largely, and thankfully, protected me from all these years. But...... it is good to be back with my family again. I'm sure it's going to be a whole new adventure!
Oh yeah.... I became a "tangible" aunt to my nieces! I get to see them grow one day at a time. :-)
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
AL's Last Flight
A layer of pizza, an assortment of nuts, and two bottles of wine... Three officemates, a couple of friends and an airbus 320 that just took-off...
December 31, 2008... 0910GMT...
Last day of the year... Last flight out of the city... Last instruction for Alpha Lima...
"Philippine 178, contact Mactan Approach 124 7. Have a good flight and happy new year!"
Amid cheers from friends, AL started his "retired" life with that last instruction. It was a fitting end for half a lifetime of government service which can be easily forgotten...
Every retiree deserves one last good memory of what and who are left behind. Happy new year indeed and the best of all luck!!!
December 31, 2008... 0910GMT...
Last day of the year... Last flight out of the city... Last instruction for Alpha Lima...
"Philippine 178, contact Mactan Approach 124 7. Have a good flight and happy new year!"
Amid cheers from friends, AL started his "retired" life with that last instruction. It was a fitting end for half a lifetime of government service which can be easily forgotten...
Every retiree deserves one last good memory of what and who are left behind. Happy new year indeed and the best of all luck!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
