Brida

I bumped into Paulo Coehlo’s book entitled Brida.  On my way to Pangasinan, a total stranger interrupted me and asked… "Anong religion mo, Miss?"
"Catholic", I replied.
And he casually said, "Bihira lang ang alam kong Catholic na nagbabasa ng libro na yan.  Akala ko Baptist ka."  Then the conversation went on and on.  I was supposed to ask whether or not the book is worthy of time reading but I cannot interrupt him from sharing about his life, his family and his faith.  Even lectured me about the versions of Bible, King James, NIV, etc.

“A soulmate is someone who has locks that fit our keys, and keys to fit our locks. When we feel safe enough to open the locks, our truest selves step out and we can be completely and honestly who we are; we can be loved for who we are and not for who we’re pretending to be. Each unveils the best part of the other. No matter what else goes wrong around us, with that one person we’re safe in our own paradise. Our soulmate is someone who shares our deepest longings, our sense of direction. When we’re two balloons, and together our direction is up, chances are we’ve found the right person. Our soulmate is the one who makes life come to life.”

About courtship with Leslie Parrish

 Richard Bach quotes (American Writer, author of ‘Jonathan Livingston Seagull’, b.1936)

The conversation was very engaging.  But still he hadn’t answered me when I asked him about the essence of the book…  

When Venus and Jupiter connive

I can talk of a hundred and one stories about friendship. But this one’s entirely different…

I cannot tag the word “best” to it but this is somewhat “special and close” to my heart.  It’s something that could make me smile, leaving a trace of tears on the eyelids J

“It’s meant to happen. And we have to be there…”

It’s not us who made it all possible.  I rest not on each other’s laurels to bridge the gap.  Given our own free will, it wouldn’t have flourished.   No one likes each other to be friends, in the first place… anyway. But there’s “Someone” who would want us to be who we are now despite the many odds that hurdle the way of being friends….  “Someone” higher than us.  I can tell you, it’s not easy.  We’ve been into several unusual tests, almost making it totally broken, even to the extent of compromising and questioning individual sense of being and preference … only to bring us back together, standing at both ends of the road… curious at how it all happened… smiling silently and saying “we shouldn’t have tried the other way around… look it all messed up.”  

If there would still be more questions to be answered and situations that cannot be easily figured out, our hearts know and understand which has to be answered and which has already been answered even without asking and which should be kept unanswered because it’s not the mind capable of telling answers.  It’s meeting eye-to-eye and talking silently heart-to-heart.  The bond is platonic yet amazingly just platonic.  There’s just something that connects.. J

There’s always a time to sit down, discuss and confirm whatever it is that make each of one doubt the other.  It was not us who scheduled that time… I always treat it.. a magical moment… We tried to escape and decided to just leave it there only to put us in the same situation with renewed views.  The path towards discovering the friendship seemed like an amazing race, only to find out that we can just simply laugh it all out and cry our hearts out and understand one another without having to succeed on it.

One heartfelt conversation made all the walls disappeared leaving no traces at all that somewhere, somehow, a great wall has been built all along.   There’s an indirect means of telling “we’ve got to be friends, even we like it or not.  For some purpose, unknown to us, we have to be friends.”

Who would’ve thought it would bring us into this stage?  Why me?!  Why not?! 

Don’t try to analyze or understand this.  For at the time of writing, even the writer is smiling that these words came out.  It’s my heart sharing this story.  I don’t mind being understood or misunderstood.  I know myself very well… Thanks to that Astrology book and the many signs pointing me to the right answers and the many reasons why J

*wink!*

Everyday sweet sunshine :)

This week has been one good week to celebrate “friendships”… 

Years had passed and it’s good to see Maan and Gerald, Matto and Arnold, Jacq minus Evy in one very casual dinner at Conti’s.  Known for my being a certified rule-breaker, I was the one who organized this as per Matto’s constant request and yet I came up sooo late and super hungry.   

Almost everyone missed the bonding moment.  That’s what we usually do when we were still busy with our lives in USTe.  This was one friendship that I never thought would prosper seriously.  I thought of it as something “there because we’re there”.   

Now, it’s different.  We talked about lives, the kids, the parenting, the child-rearing, relationships on a far more serious level.  Seeing them made me feel happier.  I love seeing and being a part of acquaintances growing into friendships… and bonding moments like these have to be scheduled and least prioritized now that majority have kids. 

Matto is hesitant to go on beach party because of the pregnancy stretch marks and Maan had 101 techniques to show it off.   “When you’re in a beach and the stretch marks are showing, go and carry your baby… it’s one proof so people will not bother again to question your stretch marks!” 

Maan made mentioned of how I made fun of our professor.  And I recall just how this professor had her life-changing personal look and makeover.  And how this professor remember us and our friendship. 

Talk about the smartest among us and our heads automatically turns to Jacq.  How this seemingly conservatively-looking lass will amaze you with her liberated outlook. 

Almost all of us are excited to have that “gorgeous” makeup be delivered to us… going gaga over that mineral makeup hehehe… 

One thing good about us, their husbands know a lot about us… so they understand and wouldn’t feel aloof seeing us laughing so hard and talking about senseless topics…  

Surely, Evy is missing a lot of good times…  

It’s not just the laughter; we also had our share of tears.  But everytime we’re confronted with these, assurance of having good friends around make you just “shrug it off”. 

These are what great bonding moments are made of!  I always remember them everytime I see the long dinner table placed outside while playing “everyday sweet sunshine” on the background. 

We are sisters … 

Old Friends

May dalawang matandang lalaki.  Iyong isa ay drayber at ung isa ay pasahero na nakaupo sa mismong harapan ng jeep.
Ansaya ng kwentuhan nila.  Inassume ko na matagal ng magkaibigan ang dalawa base sa nasasagap ng radar ko sa kwentuhan nila.  Hindi nga nila halos naririnig ang “bayad po!” o “mama para!” dahil sa sarap ng kwentuhan.  Kung kumita man o hindi ang drayber, sa tingin ko ay mas masaya cia sa kwentuhan nilang magkaibigan.
Naisip kong bigla, sana dumating din ako sa puntong ganon.  Sa pagtanda ko, meron pa ring kaibigan na walang sawang magpapaalala sa akin ng magandang pagsasama at magandang mga alaala ng kabataan na malayo sa anumang pagdududa at intriga.  Yung mga simpleng tawa lang ba…
Iba ang tunog ng halakhakan pag totoong magkaibigan… at iba ang dating ng kwentuhan pag ramdam mong totoo ang lahat-lahat …

Forever has no end….

"Sometimes in life, you find a special friend. Someone who changes your life just by being a part of it. Someone who makes you laugh until you can’t stop. Someone who makes you believe that there really is good in the world. Someone who convinces you that there really is an unlocked door just waiting for you to open it. This is forever friendship. When you’re down and the world seems dark and empty, your forever friend lifts you up in spirit and makes that dark and empty world suddenly seem bright and full. Your forever friend gets you through the hard times, the sad times and the confused times. If you turn and walk away, your forever friend follows. If you lose your way, your forever friend guides you and cheers you on. Your forever friend holds your hand and tells you that everything is going to be okay. And if you find such a friend, you feel happy and complete because you need not worry. You have a forever friend, and forever has no end."
—Unknown

The Meaning of Love

Both light and shadow
are the dance of Love.

Love has no cause;
it is the astrolabe of God’s secrets.

Lover and Loving are inseparable
and timeless.

Although I may try to describe Love
when I experience it I am speechless.

Although I may try to write about Love
I am rendered helpless;
my pen breaks and the paper slips away
at the ineffable place
where Lover, Loving and Loved are one.

Every moment is made glorious
by the light of Love.

- From Love Poems of Rumi

Wedding …

Thanks to Friendster again for informing me that Zhet is getting married hehehe   Zhet is my sister in Singles for Christ way way back  

While reading their wedding site at http://zhetnoel.weddingannouncer.com/ I can’t help but smile on how their story started and how the magic of love brought them together to be Mr. and Mrs. Noel Dela Pena on April 19.  For all the love stories made in heaven must be proclaimed..

Best Wishes and Congratulations, Zhet and Noel …

Too late now

I heard it again… the song that would remind me of things that should have been said before the chance of saying that is over.

Apologize by One Republic 

I’m holding on your rope,
Got me ten feet off the ground
I’m hearin what you say but I just can’t make a sound
You tell me that you need me
Then you go and cut me down, but wait
You tell me that you’re sorry
Didn’t think I’d turn around, and say…

It’s too late to apologize, it’s too late
I said it’s too late to apologize, it’s too late

I’d take another chance, take a fall
Take a shot for you
And I need you like a heart needs a beat
But it’s nothin new
I loved you with a fire red-
Now it’s turning blue, and you say…
"Sorry" like the angel heaven let me think was you
But I’m afraid…

It’s too late to apologize, it’s too late
I said it’s too late to apologize, it’s too late

Bridge (guitar/piano)

It’s too late to apologize, it’s too late
I said it’s too late to apologize, it’s too late
It’s too late to apologize, yeah
I said it’s too late to apologize, yeah-
I’m holdin on your rope, got me ten feet off the ground…

It could have been happier and sweeter… If not for the many fears and doubts… Too late… :’(

Thank God

Last night, a text from a close friend made me uneasy and scared for a time… a car accident along Mother Ignacia in Quezon City. I phoned her and asked immediately.. “c Izzie?” I forgot to ask how my friend is doing at that time… I have nothing in mind but Izzie.. Izzie is her only daughter and my inaanak…

Glad to hear that when the accident happened, it was just her and her husband inside the car and Izzie has just been brought home.  Sally, her car was severely damaged and the impact was greatly felt by my friend…

Still saved by Minette   Thank God you’re both safe… as well as Izzie

"Part of Us"

Just for today, I was touched by this line posted by someone…

“Each of us becomes what we really are because of how different people we meet in our lives touched our hearts….they become part of us…” 

And for every turn of events, I would always be very grateful to the people who have become a great part of who I am now.  I can never thank you enough
For I will never be the same old Sheggz, if it weren’t for the goodness and warmth of your love and friendship..