Poem: Over and Done

OVER AND DONE
July 23

It’s over and done

I let you go

Like the wind I can’t hold you in my hands

Now go on your way and I’ll go mine

Like the length of a string

Our lives will unravel

Until we discover who we really are

As different as day and night you and I

No more common ground to stand on

It used to be love

But now it’s gone

Yes...it is over and done...

Good Read: The Crooked Smile

After the negative feelings I've been having the past few days, I need something as a pick-me-up. To start my day in a positive way, I browsed through the net and looked for an inpiring story to motivate me to look at the positive side. Here's what I found. I hope it will also inspire you.

This story is entitled The Crooked Smile.

The Crooked Smile
As we rolled five-year-old Mary into the MRI room, I tried to imagine what she must be feeling. She had suffered a stroke that left half of her body paralyzed, had been hospitalized for treatment of a brain tumor, and had recently lost her father, her mother and her home. We all wondered how Mary would react.

She went into the MRI machine without the slightest protest, and we began the exam. At that time, each imaging sequence required the patient to remain perfectly still for about five minutes. This would have been difficult for anyone - and certainly for a five-year-old who had suffered so much. We were taking an image of her head, so any movement of her face, including talking, would result in image distortion.

About two minutes into the first sequence, we noticed on the video monitor that Mary's mouth was moving. We even heard a muted voice over the intercom. We halted the exam and gently reminded Mary not to talk.

She was smiling and promised not to talk. We reset the machine and started over. Once again we saw her facial movement and heard her voice faintly. What she was saying wasn't clear. Everyone was becoming a little impatient, with a busy schedule that had been put on hold to perform an emergency MRI on Mary.

We went back in and slid Mary out of the machine. Once again, she looked at us with her crooked smile and wasn't upset in the least. The technologist, perhaps a bit gruffly, said, "Mary, you were talking again, and that causes blurry pictures."

Mary's smile remained as she replied, "I wasn't talking. I was singing. You said no talking." We looked at each other, feeling a little silly.

"What were you singing?" someone asked.

"Jesus Loves Me," came the barely perceptible reply. "I always sing `Jesus Loves Me' when I'm happy."

Everyone in the room was speechless. "Happy? How could this little girl be happy?" The technologist and I had to leave the room for a moment to regain our composure as tears began to fall.

Many times since that day, when feeling stresses, unhappy or dissatisfied with some part of my life, I have thought of Mary and felt both humbled and inspired. Her example made me see that happiness is a marvelous gift - free to anyone willing to accept it.

Something's Wrong...

Something's wrong...I don't know why, but I've really been feeling this unease...restlessness since Wednesday. Last night I found myself crying again when I said I won't cry anymore. It's really difficult to find the solution when you don't even know what's really wrong and you just feel this "something" nagging at the back of your mind! I wish I know what it is...all I know is what I feel. And I feel that there is something wrong...

I couldn't sleep well again last night. It was past 12:00 a.m. again when I got to sleep. Good thing I didin't have to go to work today and I was able to sleep until noon. I tried to divert my attention, tried to keep myself busy so that I won't notice this bad feeling I'm having. I'm hoping it will just go away...

I'm also hoping that by writing it here, I'll find release from this nagging feeling and my thoughts will be made lighter.

Just Been Tagged

This is the first time I took time to do this tagging thing thanks to Nays over at A Celebration of Life. I must say it's fun, especially that this strictly requires a single word answer to all questions. This got me sweatin' some hehe. But take a look at what I came up with.

1. Where is your cell phone? Bed
2. Your hair? Tied
3. Your mother? Strong
4. Your father? Shit
5. Your favorite food? chocolate
6. Your dream last night? Weird
7. Your favorite drink? tea
8. Your dream/goal? Happiness
9. What room you are in? Bedroom
10. Your hobby? Music
11. Your fear? Rejection
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Home
13. Where were you last night? House
14. Something that you aren’t? Contented
15. Muffins? Chocolate
16. Wish list item? House
17. Where you grew up? Muladbucad
18. Last thing you did? Texted
19. What are you wearing? Pajamas
20. Your TV? MyScreen
21. Your pets? Dog
22. Friends? Many
23. Your life? Routine
24. Your mood? Sad
25. Missing someone? Yes
26. Car? Someday
27. Something you’re not wearing? jewelry
28. Your favorite store? None
29. Your favorite color? Red
30. When was the last time you laughed? Earlier
31. Last time you cried? Now
32. Who will resend this? Me
33. One place that I go to over and over? Church
34. One person who emails me regularly? Bhong
35. My favorite place to eat? McDonald's

After answer the last question I came to realize that there's more to this tagging thing than mere word-play. In a way, it gives insight to one's personality. Well, this particualr tag anyway.

So, now I'm tagging Tinny.

Post-Birthday Lunch

A post-birthday celebration also transpired here in Manila. I didn't have the time nor the inclination to cook anything, I just decided to treat my friends at work to lunch. Red Ribbon was the place we went to. A week before, Glady also celebrated her birthday and treated us to lunch at the same place. Yeah, I was the copy-cat but that's alright. At least we got to try the different food there.

I was able to persuade Dex to bring his Nikon cam so we had some great shots there. Have a look-see.;)

Another Year Added To My Life

Well, the 22nd of June is over, which means I’m really one year older. So how do I feel about being at this age? Frankly, I feel older too, though I don’t look it haha. It’s but natural I guess. No one goes through life unscathed as they say and these experiences can make one feel and even look older than his years. But I’m thankful that even though life hasn’t been that good to me lately, it doesn’t show that much on my face. (that said with a smug look;))

Anyway, I had a very nice time at home. Saw my family, my nieces who are really getting bigger each time I see them. We had a nice celebration on Sunday. By we I mean my cousins Yagz, Gold, and I. Although none of our birthdays fall on the 21st of June, we decided to hold our bit of get together that day. There was great food and what we love most - videoke!:D We sang our hearts out til late at night.

See some pics of how I spent this year's birthday.

Counting the Hours

I'm counting the hours. Five hours more to go and I'll be heading back to where I belong, Frankly, I really miss home, my bed, and all my creature comforts when I'm there. Need I mention the fresh air? the morning sunlight streaming through my window when I open my eyes? It's been 2 months since I last saw my family. I don't know but this time it feels like it's been forever. I miss my nieces.

One of them, Thea, has started school last Monday. Time really flies so fast. She used to be just this tiny baby I could carry in my arms, but now she's a young lady already.
The other one, Gale, I think she'd be naughtier now too. Well, I'm counting the hours that I could be with them again.

And I can't wait for the get-together we're going to have on Sunday. It's going to be our birthdays again. Three of us will be celebrating - Yagz, Gold, and I. It's going to be a busy weekend for me. But I have to say, this is one busy time I'm so looking forward to. :)