Daddy's Empty Chair

A man's daughter had asked the local minister to come and pray with her father. When the minister arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows. An empty chair sat beside his bed. The minister assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit.

"I guess you were expecting me, he said. 'No, who are you?" said the father.

The minister told him his name and then remarked,” I saw the empty chair and I figured you knew I was going to show up."

"Oh yeah, the chair," said the bedridden man.

"Would you mind closing the door?" Puzzled, the minister shut the door.

"I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter," said the man.

"But all of my life I have never known how to pray. At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it went right over my head."

I abandoned any attempt at prayer," the old man continued, " until one day four years ago; my best friend said to me, "Johnny, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus.

Here is what I suggest. "Sit down in a chair; place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair.

It's not spooky because he promised, 'I will be with you always'. "Then just speak to him in the same way you're doing with me right now."

"So, I tried it and I've liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day.

I'm careful though. If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm."

The minister was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old man to continue on the journey. Then he prayed with him, anointed him with oil, and returned to the church.

Two nights later the daughter called to tell the minister that her daddy had died that afternoon.

Did he die in peace?" he asked.

Yes, when I left the house about two o’clock, he called me over to his bedside, told me he loved me and kissed me on the cheek. When I got back from the store an hour later, I found him.

But there was something strange about his death. Apparently, just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on the chair beside the bed. What do you make of that?"

The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said, "I wish we could all go like that."

God's Way

This was written by a Metro Denver Hospice Physician:

I was driving home from a meeting this evening about 5, stuck in traffic on Colorado Blvd., and the car started to choke and splutter and die - I barely managed to coast , cursing, into a gas station, glad only that I would not be blocking traffic and would have a somewhat warm spot to wait for the tow truck. It wouldn't even turn over. Before I could make the call, I saw a woman walking out of the quickie mart building, and it looked like she slipped on some ice and fell into a gas pump, so I got out to see if she was okay.

When I got there, it looked more like she had been overcome by sobs than that she had fallen; she was a young woman who looked really haggard with dark circles under her eyes. She dropped something as I helped her up, and I picked it up to give it to her. It was a nickel.

At that moment, everything came into focus for me: the crying woman, the ancient Suburban crammed full of stuff with 3 kids in the back (1 in a car seat), and the gas pump reading $4.95.

I asked her if she was okay and if she needed help, and she just kept saying 'I don't want my kids to see me crying! ,' so we stood on the other side of the pump from her car. She said she was driving to California and that things were very hard for her right now. So I asked, 'And you were praying?' That made her back away from me a little, but I assured her I was not a crazy person and said, 'He heard you, and He sent me.'

I took out my card and swiped it through the card reader on the pump so she could fill up her car completely, and while it was fueling, walked to the next door McDonald's and bought 2 big bags of food, some gift certificates for more, and a big cup of coffee. She gave the food to the kids in the car, who attacked it like wolves, and we stood by the pump eating fries and talking a little.

She told me her name, and that she lived in Kansas City . Her boyfriend left 2 months ago and she had not been able to make ends meet. She knew she wouldn't have money to pay rent Jan. 1, and finally, in desperation, had called her parents, with whom she had not spok en in about 5 years. They lived in California and said she could come live with them and try to get on her feet there.

So she packed up everything she owned in the car. She told the kids they were going to California for Christmas, but not that they were going to live there.

I gave her my gloves, a little hug and said a quick prayer with her for safety on the road. As I was walking over to my car, she said, 'So, are you like an angel or something?'

This definitely made me cry. I said, 'Sweetie, at this time of year angels are really busy, so sometimes God uses regular people.'

It was so incredible to be a part of someone else's miracle. And of course, you guessed it, when I got in my car it started right away and got me home with no problem. I'll put it in the shop tomorrow to check, but I suspect the mechanic won't find anything wrong.

Sometimes the angels fly close enough to you that you can hear the flutter of their wings...

Psalms 55:22 ' Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee. He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.'

Bible Verses

You say: "It's impossible"
God says: All things are possible
(Luke 18:27)

You say: "I'm too tired"
God says: I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: "Nobody really loves me"
God says: I love you
(John 3:1 6 & John3:34 )

You say: "I can't go on"
God says: My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: "I can't figure things out"
God says: I will direct your steps
(Proverbs 3:5- 6)

You say: "I can't do it"
God says: You can do all things
(Philippians 4:13)

You say: "I'm not able"
God says: I am able
(II Corinthians 9:

You say: "It's not worth it"
God says: It will be worth it
(Roman 8:28 )

You say: "I can't forgive myself"
God says: I Forgive you
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: "I can't manage"
God says: I will supply all your needs
(Philippians 4:19)

You say: "I'm afraid"
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear
(II Timothy 1:7)

You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"
God says: Cast all your cares on ME
(I Peter 5:7)

You say: "I'm not smart enough"
God says: I give you wisdom
(I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: "I feel all alone"
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you.
(Hebrews 13:5)

Opportunity

LITTLE GIRL REACHING OUT
© Ampyang | Dreamstime.com

Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities.

Seize common occasions and make them great.

—Orison Swett Marden

***********

This is like saying we should do our best in everything we try to do. No matter how small the task is, even if it's not as significant as others.

Life's Greatest

There were things in life, looking back, that I should never have done, but since I've done it anyway, there's no point thinking about it or regretting those decisions that I made. I learned from them, and it made me wiser. It made me see clearer goals, it made me look at different horizons. Those decisions may have had an impact with my life's directions, but perhaps, they were there to give me something to move forward. I may not be the person I dream to be, career and financial wise, but I have the greatest things life can ever give me - the love of my family and friends.

The Light At the End of the Tunnel

My friend Ruby posted this one in her Friendster bulletin board, and I just want to repost this here because this is something I wanted to keep, because reading this made me seek positive thoughts all the time.

"Nothing Is Insurmountable

When our next best course of action seems unclear, any dilemmas we face can appear insurmountable. Yet there is nothing we cannot overcome with time, persistence, focused thought, help, and faith. Whatever the situation or problem, there is always a solution. And if you remember to look within, even as you search around you for the “right” course of action, you will be able to center yourself, clear your mind, and see that nothing has to be impossible.

The first step in overcoming any obstacle is to believe that it can be overcome. Doing so will give you the strength and courage to move through any crisis. The second step is to make a resolution that you can prevail over any chaos. Enlist your support network of family and friends if necessary. The more minds there are to consider a problem, the more solutions can be found. Don’t discount ideas just because they seem impractical or “unrealistic,” and don’t keep searching for the “best” alternative. Often there is no “best” choice, there is only a choice to make so we can begin moving beyond whatever is obstructing our path. At the very least, making a choice, even if isn’t the ideal one, can give you a sense of peace before you have to figure out what your next course of action will be.

If you feel overwhelmed by the scope of your troubles, you may want to think of other people who have turned adversity into triumph. We often gain a fresh perspective when we remember others who have overcome larger obstacles. It can be inspiring to hear of their victories, helping us remember that there is always light at the end of every tunnel. It is during our darkest hours that we sometimes need to remind ourselves that we don’t have to feel helpless. You have within and around you the resources to find a solution to any problem. And remember that if a solution or choice you make doesn’t work, you are always free to try another. Believe that you can get through anything, and you will always prevail."

In life, there are times we feel sad, and at times, we feel anxiety. These things, derived from the unconscious mind, from traumatic experiences, or for just about any thing, can create a havoc in our existence if we allow it to. I've been there, on and off, and getting busy and inspired by people who surrounded me, by reading inspirational thoughts, by remembering how blessed I am made me conquer these negative thoughts every time. We all go through these phases, and the lesson we can extract from it is the fact that it will make us stronger, and become reasonable and more caring individuals. And of course, it helps too that we should always remember that everything shall pass...any problems, no matter how insoluble, will pass...

So smile!

As they say: Don't problem your problem, because if you problem your problem, your problem will problem you. Hehehe.

Till There Was You

Let me introduce you to one of my most favorite song...this song symbolizes a love story of two people, who at one time in their lives, did not know how much they were meant for each other until this song, awakened one of them...

There were bells on a hill but I never heard it ringing. No, I never heard it at all, till there was you. There were birds in the sky but i never saw them winging. No, I never saw them at all, till there was you. Then there was music and wonderful roses, they tell me in a sweet fragrant meadows of dawn, and you. There was love all around but I never heard them singing. No, I never heard them at all, till there was...YOU.

No Easy Way

"Life is difficult" are the first three words in the book, The Road Less Traveled. Those of
us who are Messies can say a hearty "Amen" to that. Living with mess is hard and getting rid
of it seems harder still.

Accept the fact that there is no easy way out of this. You will have to put forth effort that
will tire you. You will have to do drudge work of moving and toting things. Worst of all, you
will have to make hard decisions to discard beloved items. You will have to stress your brain to decide where to store what you keep.

And you will have to change your habits of behavior. Like putting things up immediately as you finish with them, of straightening as you go, of not letting messes begin. You will have to deny yourself things that charm you for the moment but bring disorder in the long run.

Life will be harder if we do not accept the fact we cannot make changes easily. But with more effort and more discipline, we will find a life of order, beauty, and harmony we had never dreamed existed.

- excerpt from the Organizer Lady

Old Photographs

My friend emailed me today and reminded me of what I've been missing: HOME. I've traveled far from home, and although I've been this far - there's nothing like the cozy comfy house that you call your own, surrounded by people you love and who loves you. With old friends who knew your jokes but never get tired of hearing them. And of places that you know your way around even if you close your eyes. Like an old photograph, these thoughts brings a smile to your face.




Credits to brutchhark01

Deviant Artist: KANNAGARA

I've been such a fan of Deviant Art (and a passive member) so I'm featuring Deviant artists who are sooo good with what they do. This week's artist is KANNAGARA.

What I like about his work is that it captures the beauty of simplicity. There's something about his images that's simply amazing.

Christmas Song Favorites from the Celtic Woman

Here are videos of some of my favorite songs (I love it that they use harp):


O Holy Night
credits to jetuber


Ave Maria
credits to davidjepank


Carol of the Bells
credits to Palmie01


O Come All Ye Faithful
credits to Palmie01
I really love hearing this!


Silent Night
credits to Palmie01


The First Noel
credits to mitthus


Christmas Song
credits to Palmie01


The Wexford Carol
credits to Palmie01


Christmas Pipes
credits to Palmie01


Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
credits to Palmie01


White Christmas
credits to Palmie01


Away in A Manger
credits to Palmie01
This sounds like a lullaby! Soo amazing!


Ding Dong Merrily On High!
credits to Palmie01
Have you heard the angels sing?


Let it Snow!
credits to Palmie01
This is a wee bit different but sooo enjoyable!


Panis Angelicus
credits to Palmie01
Heavenly!

More Celtic Woman videos in YouTube.

Helping To Cope With Speech Delay

My youngest is two years and less than a month old, but all he can do at this time is utter a few words. How can I make him talk? Here's what I've read:

Read to your son. Don't read the book straight through. Instead, make the reading an interactive triangle between you, the book, and your son. Keep the reading lively; use your imagination to bring the story and characters to life. Give your son time to talk about the pictures he sees on the pages.

Recite nursery rhymes. These rhymes with their repetition and rhythm provide verbal gymnastics that will help your son improve his language skills. "Hey Diddle the Cat and the Fiddle," "Hickory Dickory Dock," and "Humpty Dumpty" are great starters.

Describe your actions. Whether working on your computer, washing the dishes, changing your son's diaper, or giving him a bath, describe to him what you're doing. Use short sentences but don't shorten your vocabulary. The more words your child hears and sees in action, the better.

Describe your son's actions, too. As your son plays with cars and trucks, put language to his activities: "You're moving your truck along the floor. It's going fast." You provide a play-by-play commentary similar to a sports announcer describing a baseball and or basketball game.

Reiterate what your son says. For example, if he points to the family's kitty and says, "Kiy, Kiy," your response could be, "Yes, that's the kitty. Do you think he's hungry?" With this approach he hears the word "kitty" pronounced correctly and is taught that people need to care for their animals.

Sing songs with your son. Just about any will do. If you're inclined to buy a CD, look for ones by Ella Jenkins or Raffi. These artists provide simple sing-alongs for the whole family. They use dance, song, and instruments for fun and learning.

Make requests. "Give me the ball." "Find your shoes." "Bring me a book. I'll read it to you." Remember that children's receptive language (what they understand) is far better than their expressive language (what they say). That's why they need to hear and see language in use.

Ask questions. "Where's mommy's purse?" "What's the kitty doing?" If he doesn't respond, provide the answer yourself. He will answer you with time.

Make corrections in context. If your child says, "I have two foots," respond, "Yes, you have two feet." If he says, "I goed to the store," simply say, "Yes, you went to the store." If your child mispronounces a letter such as "L" or "R", there's no need to worry; simply pronounce the work correctly. He'll soon improve.

If English is your son's second language, you'll want to use both languages with him. Although two languages take longer for a child to learn, children benefit from learning both languages simultaneously.

Jan Faull, MEd, is a veteran parent educator and the author of four parenting books, including Darn Good Advice -- Baby and Darn Good Advice -- Parenting. She writes a biweekly parenting advice column for this site and a weekly parenting advice column in the Seattle Times. Jan Faull is the mother of three grown children and lives in the Seattle area.

Originally published on HealthyKids.com, March 2007.

Worrisome Mucus

Here I go again.

I am very worried with the mucus that's coming from the back of my throat (maybe a post nasal drip) that really has some blood stained in it.

I haven't seen any doctor yet, I've been wanting to see one, I really have to see the doctor on this one. It seems to be one of my sinuses or something, I don't want things to get complicated.

Health is wealth, you know.

Health IS Wealth

Money can be a problem, but it doesn’t have to hinder your progress or prevent you from improving your life.

Health, on the other hand, can be a significant issue, and it has the potential to turn your life upside down.

I’m not saying I have a specific illness (which I hope I don’t), but I do have health concerns that have been subconsciously weighing on me - endlessly.

In a way, I think my fluctuating lifestyle contributes to this. It’s always changing. I often end up sacrificing things I know are important, like getting a good night’s sleep. I don’t want to wake up feeling tired every morning. I want to feel refreshed. But how can I, when I go to sleep late, or even in the wee hours?

I know I should be drinking more water to stay hydrated, but I’m not very good at it. As a result, I feel fatigued because I’m inconsistent with drinking the recommended amount, at least 8 glasses a day.

My mind races with thoughts, many of which I don’t want there. Sometimes, they nag at me, and other times they pop up unexpectedly. And most of them are far from what I want to be thinking about, like my health spiraling out of control. I’m still working on shifting my mindset and keeping negative thoughts at bay.

Conclusion? It seems like I’m a bit depressed. And anxious. I don’t want to admit it, but subconsciously, I know I am. That’s why I’m making an effort to do something about it.

And just to add to everything, I have a cold.

Alright, I’ll stop this blogging nonsense now.

Taking Care of Yourself

People who lack energy can't rise to the challenge of cleaning up clutter. They just can't work up the desire to "get to it." So day after day they berate themselves for being lazy or not caring and watch the house become more cluttered. After a while it becomes so chronic that it seems natural.

"Fatigue makes cowards of us all" said Vince Lombardi.

If you feel too lethargic to make progress in organizing, you need to try to address the reason for the problem and solve it.

It could be depression, one leading cause of fatigue. If it does not go away within a reasonable time with whatever efforts you give it, seek professional help. It is a serious medical as well as a lifestyle problem and needs attention.

Other things that others have found helpful are protein bars, thyroid medicine, iron supplements, bee pollen, and vitamin B supplements.

Sometimes a lifestyle change or counseling helps. Maybe you need time management that gets helps you get more sleep.

Maybe it is a combination of several of these. Frequently there is no silver bullet. Fatigue is
not natural. Do whatever you need to do to diagnose the cause and find the energy to live
the life you seek.

- excerpt from the Organizer Lady

Passion for Energy

HAPPY AND SMILING © Rgumus | Dreamstime.com

"Passion is energy.
Feel the power that comes from focusing
on what excites you."

Oprah Winfrey

ENERGY OF YOUTH © Upimages | Dreamstime.com

"To be awake is to be alive."

Henry David Thoreau



"Who looks outside, dreams;
who looks inside, awakes."

Carl Gustav Jung

FIRE © Kydriashka | Dreamstime.com

"The mind is not a vessel to be filled,
but a fire to be kindled."

Plutarch



"Life begets life. Energy creates energy.
It is by spending oneself that one becomes rich."

Sarah Bernhardt

The Immaculate Conception of Mary

Ephesians 1:3-6,11-12

The Immaculate Conception of Mary

Blessed be the … Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:3)

Blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing. Chosen to be holy and without blemish. Destined for adoption as children of God. While these phrases describe God’s eternal plan for all of us, they hold a special meaning when we consider the Virgin Mary and her Immaculate Conception.

On this special day, we celebrate Mary as the new Eve, a woman preserved from original sin by a unique gift of God before she was even born. When we wonder what humanity would be like if it weren’t for sin, we can look to Mary for an answer. In her we see a humble trust in God’s ways. We see a willingness to question God, coupled with a quiet, reflective heart that embraces his answers wholeheartedly. We don’t always see perfect peace, but we do see perfect faith. And that’s why we are constantly encouraged to look to Mary as our mother and as the model of the Christian life.

As the first daughter of the new creation, Mary received in advance all of the blessings that are now available to us in Christ. Through the cross, we have been made sons and daughters of God. Through baptism, we are cleansed of original sin. Because of the gift of the Holy Spirit, we too can become bearers of God, bringing Christ into the world.

Just as we have received the same blessings as Mary, we can follow Mary as our example. Every day we can choose to embrace God’s plan, even when it is hard to understand. Through quiet, listening hearts, we can become signposts to the heavenly kingdom, showing people a new way to live. When we give of ourselves to the poor or to help a neighbor, we build the kingdom of God. When we stay close to the Lord, even through times of heartbreak, we receive his comfort and manifest his transforming power. Yes, Mary is blessed above all people, but we too have been super-abundantly blessed! We too have received “every spiritual blessing.” May we never lose sight of who we are in Christ!

Prayer: “Father, as we celebrate the gifts you gave to Mary, may we too be transformed by your grace to live as part of your new creation.”

Readings Genesis 3:9-15,20; Psalm 98:1-4; Luke 1:26-38

AGL QUIRANTE

XWoman

That was weird.

I dreamt about the woman I don't like most in my dream. It was weird because we became friends. I became her confidant in her trying times.

I remember seeing her in my dreams in turmoil. Something she couldn't tell us, she don't have any home, and a friend of her helped her get a home, and a curious me talked to her friend and asked her, whats her problem, and then after some moments I can't quite remember, we became friends.

A silent agreement of us becoming filial. How weird is that?

I had the dream after 6AM (I woke at 6AM and slept again and woke up at 7AM -eeekk!!! My son will be late!).

Helen Keller

If I am happy in spite of my deprivations,
if my happiness is so deep that it is a faith,
so thoughtful that it becomes a philosophy of life,
— if, in short, I am an optimist,
my testimony to the creed of optimism is worth hearing.

One can never consent to creep
when one feels an impulse to soar.





Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement;
nothing can be done without hope.




A happy life consists not in the absence,
but in the mastery of hardships.

Source: Wikipedia/Wikiquote

Sandosenang Sapatos

(This story won First Prize, Maikling Kathang Pambata in the 2001 Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature)

SAPATERO SI TATAY. Kilalang-kilala ang mga likha niyang sapatos dito sa aming bayan. Marami ang pumupunta sa amin para magpasadya. Ayon sa mga sabi-sabi, tatalunin pa raw ng mga sapatos ni Tatay ang mga sapatos na gawang-Marikina. Matibay, pulido, at malikhain ang mga disenyo ng kanyang mga sapatos.

Paano mo ba naiisip ang ganyang istilo? Kay ganda!

Siguro, dinadalaw ka ng musa ng mga sapatos at suwelas?

Parang may madyik ang iyong kamay!

Sa lahat ng papuri, matipid na ngingiti lamang si Tatay. Tahimik na tao si Tatay. Bihirang magsalita.

LUMAKI AKONG KAPILING ang mga sapatos na gawa ni Tatay. Madalas ay kinaiinggitan ako ng mga kalaro at kaklase ko. Buti raw at sapatero ang Tatay ko. Lagi tuloy bago ang sapatos ko kapag pasukan, kapag pasko, kapag bertdey ko, o kung nakatanggap ako ng honors sa klase. Ginagawan pa niya ako ng ekstrang sapatos kapag may mga tira-tirang balat at tela. Buti ka pa Karina, laging bago ang sapatos mo. Ako, lagi na lang pamana ng ate ko. Sa 'kin napupunta lahat ng pinagkaliitan n'ya, himutok ng isang kaklase.

Nasa Grade II na ako nang muling magbuntis si Nanay. Kay tagal naming hinintay na magkaroon ako ng kapatid. Sabi ng Lola ko, sinagot na raw ang matagal nilang dasal na masundan ako.

Naku, magkakaroon na pala ako ng kahati sa mga sapatos! Pero di bale, dalawa na kaming igagawa ni Tatay ng sapatos ngayon.

Habang nasa tiyan pa si baby, narinig kong nag-uusap sina Tatay at Nanay. Nagpa-check up ako kanina. Sabi ng doktora, babae raw ang magiging anak natin!

Talaga! Kung babae nga, pag-aralin natin ng ballet. Gusto kong magkaanak ng ballet dancer! Ngayon pa lang ay pag-aaralan ko nang gumawa ng mga sapatos na pang-ballet.

PERO HINDI LAHAT ng pangarap ni Tatay ay natupad. Nagulat kaming lahat nang makita ang bago kong kapatid. Wala itong paa. Ipinanganak na putol ang dalawang paa!

Nakarinig kami ng kung ano-anong tsismis dahil sa kapansanan ng kapatid ko. Siguro raw ay binalak na ipalaglag ni Nanay ang kapatid ko kaya kulang-kulang ang parte ng katawan. Nilusaw raw ng mga mapinsalang gamot ang kanyang mga paa. Isinumpa raw ng mga diwata ng sapatos si Tatay dahil mahal na itong sumingil sa mga pasadyang sapatos. O baka raw ipinaglihi si Susie sa manika.

Nanay, bakit po ba walang paa si Susie?

Nagkaroon kasi ako ng impeksyon anak. Nahawa ako ng German measles habang ipinagbubuntis ko pa lang ang kapatid mo. At iyon ang naging epekto, malungkot na kuwento ni Nanay.

Hindi na magiging ballet dancer ang kapatid ko. Malulungkot si Tatay. Araw-araw, ganun ang naiisip ko kapag nakikita ko ang mga paa ni Susie. Kaya pinilit ko si Nanay na muling pag-aralin ako sa isang ballet school (dati kasi, ayaw kong mag-ballet). Pero...

Misis, bakit hindi n'yo po subukang i-enrol si Karina sa piano, o sa painting, o sa banduria class? Hindi yata talagang para sa kanya ang pagsasayaw, sabi ng titser ko sa Nanay ko. Nalungkot ako. Hindi para sa aking sarili, kundi para kina Tatay at Susie,
at sa mga pangarap na masyadong mailap.

SAKSI AKO KUNG paanong minahal siya nina Tatay at Nanay. Walang puwedeng manloko kay Bunso. Minsan, habang kami ay nagpipiknik sa parke, may isang mama na nakakita kay Susie.

Tingnan n'yo o, puwedeng pang-karnabal yung bata! turo nito kay Susie. Biglang namula si Tatay sa narinig. Tumikom ang mga kamao. Noon ko lang nakitang nagsalubong ang mga kilay ni Tatay. Muntik na niyang suntukin ito.

Ano'ng problema mo, ha?

Mabuti't napigilan siya ni Nanay.

Isang gabi, habang nakahiga kami sa kama, narinig kong kinakausap ni Tatay si Susie.

Anak, hindi baleng kulang ang mga paa mo. Mas mahalaga sa amin ng Nanay mo na lumaki kang mabuting tao at buo ang tiwala sa sarili. Masuyo niya itong hinalikan.

Hindi tumigil si Tatay sa paglikha ng sapatos para sa akin. Pero napansin ko, kapag sinusukatan niya ang paa ko, napapabuntung- hininga siya. Pagkatapos ay titingin sa kuna.

Sayang, Bunso, di mo mararanasang isuot ang magagarang sapatos na gawa ni Tatay bulong ko sa kanya.

LUMAKI KAMI NI Susie na malapit ang loob sa isa't isa. Hindi naging hadlang ang kawalan niya ng paa para makapaglaro kami. Marami namang laro na di nangangailangan ng paa. Lagi nga niya akong tinatalo sa sungka, jackstone, scrabble, at pitik-bulag. Ako ang tagapagtanggol niya kapag may nanghaharot sa kanya. Ako ang tagatulak ng wheelchair niya. Ako ang ate na alalay! Noon ko natuklasan na marami kaming pagkakatulad. Parehong magaling ang aming kamay kaysa aming mga paa. Ako, sa pagpipinta. Siya, sa pagsusulat ng mga kuwento. At oo nga pala, si Tatay, kamay rin ang magaling sa kanya!

MINSAN, GINISING AKO ni Susie. Sabi niya, nanaginip siya ng isang pambihirang sapatos. Napakaganda raw nito sa kanyang mga paa. May paa siya sa panaginip? gulat na tanong ko sa sarili. Maniwala ka, Ate, kay ganda ng sapatos sa panaginip ko. Kulay dilaw na tsarol na may dekorasyong sunflower sa harap!

Magbebertdey siya noon. At napansin ko, tuwing nalalapit na ang kanyang kaarawan, nananaginip siya ng mga sapatos. Ate, nanaginip na naman ako ng sapatos. Kulay pula ito na velvet at may malaking buckle sa tagiliran.

Binanggit din niya sa akin ang sapatos na kulay asul na bukas ang dulo at litaw ang mga daliri niya. Ang sapatos na puti na may kaunting takong at may ribbon na pula. Ang sapatos na yari sa maong na may burdang buwan at mga bituin. Ang sandalyas na parang lambat. Ang kulay lilang sapatos na may nakadikit na bilog na kristal sa harap.

Manghang-mangha ako sa kung paanong natatandaan niya maski ang pinakamaliliit na detalye ng mga sapatos - ang disenyong bulaklak, ribbon, butones, sequins, beads, o buckle. Inaangkin niya ang mga sapatos na 'yon. Ate, paglaki ko, susulat ako ng mga kuwento tungkol sa mga sapatos na napapanaginipan ko. Ikaw ang magdodrowing, ha??

PAGLIPAS PA NANG ilang taon, namahinga na si Tatay sa paglikha ng mga sapatos. Gumagawa na lamang siya ng sapatos para sa mga suking di matanggihan. Noong nagdaos siya ng kaarawan, niregaluhan ko siya ng isa kong painting na may nakapintang isang pares ng maugat na kamay na lumilikha ng sapatos. Binigyan naman siya ni Susie ng isang music box na may sumasayaw na ballet dancer.

Pinasaya n'yo ang Tatay n'yo, sabi ni Nanay.

Pagkatapos noon, naging masasakitin na siya. Labindalawang taon si Susie nang pumanaw si Tatay.

ISANG ARAW, HINDI sinasadya'y napagawi ako sa bodega. Naghahalungkat ako ng mga lumang sapatos na puwedeng ipamigay sa mga bata sa bahay-ampunan. Sa paghahalughog, nabuksan ko ang isang kahong mukhang matagal nang hindi nagagalaw. Naglalaman ito ng maliliit na kahon. Mga kahon ng sapatos na maingat na nakasalansan!

Para kanino ang mga sapatos? May umorder ba na hindi nai-deliver? ? tanong ko sa sarili.

Pero nang masdan ko ang mga pares ng sapatos na yon, nagulat ako. Taglay ng mga sapatos ang pinakamahuhusay na disenyo ni Tatay. Iba-iba ang sukat nito. May sapatos na pang-baby. May sapatos na pambinyag. May pang-first communion. May pangpasyal. May pamasok sa eskuwelahan. May pangsimba. May sapatos na pang-dalagita.

Lalo akong nagulat nang mabasa ang kanyang dedication sa nakasabit na papel:

Para sa pinakamamahal kong si Susie,

Alay sa kanyang unang kaarawan.

Inisa-isa ko ang mga kahon. Lahat ng sapatos na nandoon ay para kay Susie. Diyata't iginagawa ni Tatay si Susie ng mga sapatos?

Para kay Susie, lugod ng aking buhay. Sa pagsapit niya ng ikapitong kaarawan.

Taon-taon, hindi pumalya si Tatay sa paglikha ng sapatos sa tuwing magdaraos ng kaarawan si Susie! Sandosenang sapatos lahat-lahat.

Handog sa mahal kong bunso.

Sa kanyang ika-12 kaarawan.

Napaiyak ako nang makita ang mga sapatos. Hindi ko akalaing ganun pala kalalim magmahal si Tatay. Binitbit ko ang sandosenang sapatos at ipinakita ko kina Nanay at Susie.

H-Hindi ko alam na may ginawa siyang sapatos para sa yo, Susie. Namuo ang luha sa mga mata ni Nanay. Inilihim niya sa akin ang mga sapatos??

A-Ate, ito ang mga sapatos na napanaginipan ko. Hindi makapaniwalang sabi ni Susie habang isa-isang hinahaplos ang mga sapatos.

Ha??

Noon ko lang naalala ang mga sapatos na ikinukuwento ni Susie. Dilaw na tsarol na may dekorasyong sunflower sa harap. Kulay pulang velvet na may malaking buckle sa tagiliran. Asul na sapatos na bukas ang dulo at litaw ang mga daliri. Kulay puti na may kaunting takong at may ribbon na pula. Sapatos na yari sa maong na may burdang buwan at mga bituin. Sandalyas na parang lambat. Kulay lilang sapatos na may nakadikit na bilog na kristal sa harap.

Naisip ko, tinawid kaya ng pag-ibig ni Tatay ang mga panaginip ni Susie para maipasuot sa kanya ang mga sapatos?

Hindi ko tiyak.

Ang tiyak ko lang, hindi perpekto ang buhay na ito. Gaya ng hindi perpekto ang pagkakalikha sa kapatid ko. Pero may mga perpektong sandali. Gaya ng mga sandaling nilikha ni Tatay ang pinakamagagarang sapatos para kay Susie.

Give Thanks!

Dear Lord, I thank You for this day,

I thank You for my being able to see

and to hear this morning.

I'm blessed because You are

a forgiving God and

an understanding God.

You have done so much for me

and You keep on blessing me.

Forgive me this day for everything

I have done, said or thought

that was not pleasing to you.

I ask now for Your forgiveness.

Please keep me safe

from all danger and harm.

Help me to start this day

with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude.

Let me make the best of each and every day

to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.

Please broaden my mind

that I can accept all things.

Let me not whine and whimper

over things I have no control over.

And give me the best response

when I'm pushed beyond my limits.

I know that when I can't pray,

You listen to my heart.

Continue to use me to do Your will.

Continue to bless me that I may be

a blessing to others.

Keep me strong that I may help the weak...

Keep me uplifted that I may have

words of encouragement for others.

I pray for those that are lost

and can't find their way.

I pray for those that are misjudged

and misunderstood

I pray for those who

don't know You intimately.

I pray for those that will delete this

without sharing it with others

I pray for those that don't believe.

But I thank You that I believe

that God changes people and

God changes things.

I pray for all my sisters and brothers.

For each and every family member

in their households.

I pray for peace, love and joy

in their homes; that they are out of debt

and all their needs are met.

I pray that every eye that reads this

knows there is no problem, circumstance,

or situation greater than God.

Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight.


I pray that these words be received

into the hearts of every eye that sees it

in Jesus' name. Amen!

Leftover Onions IS Dangerous

I just received this email from a friend. Read on.

I have used an onion which has been left in the fridge, and sometimes I
don't use a whole one at one time, so save the other half for later.

Now with this info, I have changed my mind....will buy smaller onions
in the future.

I had the wonderful privilege of touring Mullins Food Products, Makers
of mayonnaise. Mullins is huge, and is owned by 11 brothers and sisters
in the Mullins family. My friend, Jeanne, is the CEO.

Questions about food poisoning came up, and I wanted to share what I
learned from a chemist.

The guy who gave us our tour is named Ed. He's one of the brothers Ed
is a chemistry expert and is involved in developing most of the sauce
formula. He's even developed sauce formula for McDonald's.

Keep in mind that Ed is a food chemistry whiz. During the tour, someone
asked if we really needed to worry about mayonnaise. People are always
worried that mayonnaise will spoil. Ed's answer will surprise you. Ed
said that all commercially-made Mayo is completely safe.

"It doesn't even have to be refrigerated. No harm in refrigerating it,
but it's not really necessary.." He explained that the pH in mayonnaise
is set at a point that bacteria could not survive in that environment.
He then talked about the quaint essential picnic, with the bowl of
potato salad sit tin g on the table and how everyone blames the
mayonnaise when someone gets sick.

Credits to Getty Images

Ed says that when food poisoning is reported, the first thing the
officials look for is when the 'victim' last ate ONIONS and where those
onions came from (in the potato salad?). Ed says it's not the
mayonnaise (as long as it's not homemade Mayo) that spoils in the
outdoors. It's probably the onions, and if not the onions, it's the
POTATOES.

He explained, onions are a huge magnet for bacteria, especially
uncooked onions. You should never plan to keep a portion of a sliced
onion. He says it's not even safe if you put it in a zip-lock bag and
put it in your refrigerator.

It's already contaminated enough just by being cut open and out for a
bit, that it can be a danger to you (and doubly watch out for those
onions you put in your hotdogs at the baseball park!)

Ed says if you take the leftover onion and cook it like crazy
you'll probably be okay, but if you slice that leftover onion and put
on your sandwich, you're asking for trouble. Both the onions and the
moist potato in a potato salad, will attract and grow bacteria faster
than any commercial mayonnaise will even begin to break down.

So, how's that for news? Take it for what you will. I (the author) am
going to be very careful about my onions from now on. For some reason,
I see a lot of credibility coming from a chemist and a company that
produces millions of pounds of mayonnaise every year.'
Also, dogs should never eat onions. Their stomachs cannot metabolize
onions .Please remember it is dangerous to cut onions and try to use it
to cook the next day ,it becomes highly poisonous for even a single
night and creates Toxic bacteria which may cause Adverse Stomach
infections because of excess Bile secretions and even Food poisoning..

Regrets

Small Misunderstandings May Result in a Lifetime of Regrets....

Just two years after our marriage, hubby brought up the idea of asking Mother to move from the rural hometown and spend her remaining years with us. Hubby's father passed away while he was still very young.

Mother endured much hardship and struggled all on her own to provide for him, see him through to a university degree. You could say that she suffered a great deal and did everything you could expect of a woman to bring hubby to where he is today.

I immediately agreed and started packing the spare room, which has a balcony facing the South to let her enjoy the sunshine and plant greenery. Hubby stood in the bright room, and suddenly just picked me up and started spinning round and round. As I begged him to put me down, he said: "Lets go fetch mother".

Hubby is tall and big sized and I love to test on his chest and enjoy the feeling that he could pick me up at any moment put the tiny me into his pockets. Whenever we have an argument and both refuses to back down, he would pick me up and spin me over his head continuously until I surrender and beg for mercy. I became addicted to this kind of panic-joy feeling.

Mother brought along her countryside habits and lifestyle with her. For example; I am so used to buying flowers to decorate the living room, she could not stand it and would comment: "I do not know how you young people spend your money, why do you buy flowers for? You also can't eat flowers!" I smiled and said: "Mum, with flowers in the house, our mood will also become better." Mother continues to grumble away, and hubby smiled: "Mum, this is a city-people's habit; slowly you will get use to it". Mother stopped saying anything.

But every time thereafter, whenever came home with flowers, she would ask me how much it costs. I told her and she would shake her head and express displeasure. Sometimes, when I come home with lots of shopping bags, she would ask each and every item how much they cost, I would tell her honestly and she would get even more upset about it. Hubby playfully pinched my nose and said: "You little fool, just don't tell her the full price of everything would solve it." There begins the friction to our otherwise happy lifestyle.

Mother hates it most when hubby wakes up early to prepare the breakfast. In your view, how could the man of the house cook for the wife? At the breakfast table, mother facial expression is always like the dark clouds before a thunderstorm and I would pretend not to notice. She would use her chopsticks and make a lot of noise with it as her silent protest.

As I am a dance teacher in the Children's Palace and am exhausted from along day of dancing around, I do not wish to give up the luxury of that additional few minutes in the comfort of my bed and hence I turned a deaf ear to all the protest mother makes.

From time to time, mother would help out with some housework, but soon her help created additional work for me. For example: she would keep all kinds of plastic bags accumulating them so that she sell them later on, and resulted in our house being filled with all the trash bags; she would scrimp on dish washing detergent when helping to wash the dishes and so as not to hurt her feelings, I would quietly wash them again.

One day, late at night, mother saw me quietly washing the dishes, and "Bam" she slams her bedroom door and cried very loudly in her room. Hubby was placed in a difficult position, and after that, he did not speak to me for that entire night.

I pretended to be a spoilt child, tried acting cute, but he totally ignored me.... I got mad and asked him: "What did I do wrong?" Hubby stared at me and said: "Can't you just give in to her once? We couldn't possibly die eating from a bowl however unclean it is, right?" After that incident, for a long period of time, mother did not speak to me and you can feel that there is a very awkward feeling hanging in the house.

During that period of cold war, hubby was caught in dilemma as to who to please. In order to stop her son from having to prepare breakfast, mother took on the "all important" task of preparing breakfast without any prompting.

At the breakfast table, mother would look at hubby happily eating his breakfast and cast that reprimanding stare at me for having failed to perform my duty as a wife. To avoid the embarrassing breakfast situation, I resorted to buying my own breakfast on my way to work. That night, while in bed, hubby was a little upset and asked me: "LD, is it because you think that mum's cooking is not clean that's why you chose not to eat at home?" He then turned his back on me and left me alone in tears as feeling of unfairness overwhelmed me.. After some time, hubby sighed: "LD, just for me, can you have breakfast at home?" I am left with no choice but to return to the breakfast table.

The next morning, I was having porridge prepared by mother and I felt a sudden churn in my stomach and everything inside seem to be rushing up my throat. I tried to suppress the urge to throw up but I could not. I threw down the bowl, rushed into the washroom, and vomited everything out. Just as I was catching my breath, I saw mother crying and grumbling very loudly in her dialect, hubby was standing at the washroom doorway staring at me with fire burning in his eyes.. I opened my mouth but no words came out of it, I really did not mean it.

We had our very first big fight that day; mother took a look at us, then stood up and slowly made her way out of the house. Hubby gave me a final stare in the eye and followed mother down the stairs. For three days, hubby did not return home, not even a phone call. I was so furious, since mother arrived; I had been trying my best and putting up with her, what else do you want me to do? For no reason, I keep having the feeling to throw up and I simply have not appetite for food, coupled with all the events happening at home, I was at then low point in my life. Finally, a colleague said: "LD, you look terrible; you should go and see a doctor." The doctor confirmed that I am pregnant.

Now it became clear to me why I threw up that fateful morning, a sense of sadness floated through that otherwise happy news. Why didn't hubby, and mother who had been through this before, thought of the possibility of this being the reason that day? At the hospital entrance, I saw my hubby standing there.

It had only been three days, but he looked haggard. I had wanted to turn and leave, but one look at him and my heart soften, I couldn't resist and called out to him. He followed my voice and finally found me but he pretended that he doesn't know me; he has that disgusted look in his eyes that cut right through my heart. I told myself not to look at him anymore, and hail a cab.

At that moment, I have such a strong urge inside me to shout to my hubby: "Darling, I am having your baby!" and have him lift me up and spin me around in circles of joy. What I wanted didn't happen and as I sat in the cab, my tears
started rolling down. Why? Why our love couldn't even withstand the test of one fight?

Back home, I lay on the bed thinking about my hubby, and the disgusted look in his eyes. I cried and wet the corner of the blanket. That night, sound of the drawers opening woke me up. I switched on the lights and I saw hubby with tears rolling down his face.

He was removing the money. I stared at him in silence; he ignored me, took the bank deposit book and some money and left the house. Maybe he really intends to leave me for good. What a rational man, so clear-cut in love and money matters. I gave a few dried laugh and tears starting streaming down again.

The next day, I did not go to work.. I wanted to clear this out and have a good talk with hubby. I reached his office and his secretary gave me a weird look and said: "Mr. Tan's mother had a traffic accident and is now in the hospital." I stood there in shock. I rushed to the hospital and by the time I found hubby, mother had already passed away. Hubby did not look at me, his face was expressionless. I looked at mother's pale white and thin face and I couldn't control the tears in my eyes. My god, how could this happen?

Throughout the funeral, hubby did not say a single word to me, with only the occasional disgusted stare at me. I only managed to find out brief facts about the accident from other people. That day, after mother left the house, she walked in dazed toward the bus stop, apparently intending to go back to her old house back in the countryside.

As hubby ran after her, she tried to walk faster and as she tried to cross the street, a public bus came and hit her...I finally understood how much hubby must hate me, if I had not thrown up that morning, if we had not quarreled, if....In his heart, I am indirectly the killer of his mother.

Hubby moved into mother's room and came home every night with a strong liquor smell on him. And me, I am buried under the guilt and self-pity and could hardly breathe. I wanted to explain to him, tell him that we are going to have our baby soon, but each time, I saw the dead look in his eyes, all the words I have at the brink of my mouth just fell back in.

I had rather he hit me real hard or give me a big and thorough scolding though none of these events happening had been my fault at all.

Many days of suffocating silence went by and as the days went by, hubby came home later and later. The deadlock between us continues, we were living together like strangers who don't know each other. I am like the dead knot in his heart.

One day, I passed by a western restaurant, looking into the glass window, I saw hubby and a girl sitting facing each other and he very lightly brushed her hair for her, I understood what it meant. After recovering from that moment of shock, I entered the restaurant, stood in front of my hubby and stared hard at him, not a tear in my eyes.

I have nothing to say to him, and there is no need to say anything. The girl looked at me, looks at hubby, stands up and wanted to go, hubby stretched out his hand and stopped her. He stared back at me, challenging me.

I can only hear my slow heart beat, beating, one by one as if at the brink of death. I eventually backed down, if I had stood that any longer, I will collapse together with the baby inside me.

That night, he did not come home; he had chosen to use that as a way to indicate to me: Following mother's death so did our love for each other.

He did not come home anymore after that. Sometimes, when I returned home from work, I can tell that the cupboard had been touched - he had returned to take some of his stuff. I no longer wish to call him; the initial desire to explain everything to him vanished.

I lived alone; I go for my medical checkups alone, my heart breaks again and again every time I see a guy carefully helping his wife through the physical examination. My office colleagues hinted to me to consider aborting the baby, I told them No, I will not.. I insisted on having to this baby, perhaps it is my way of repaying mother for causing her death.

One day, I came home and I saw hubby sitting in the living room. The whole house was filled with cigarette smoke. On the coffee table, there was this piece of paper. I know what it is all about without even looking at it.

In the two months plus of living alone, I have gradually learned to find peace within myself. I looked at him, removed my hat and said: "You wait a while, I will sign." He looked at me, mixed feelings in his eyes, just like mine. As I hang up my coat, I keep repeating to myself "You cannot cry, you cannot cry..." my eyes hurt terribly, but I refused to let tears come out from there.

After I hung up my coat, hubby's eyes stared fixed at my bulging tummy. I smiled, walked over to the coffee table and pulled the paper towards me. Without even looking at what it says, I signed my name on it and pushed the paper to him.

"LD, are you pregnant?" Since mother's accident, this is the first time he spoke to me. I could not control my tears any further and they fell like raindrops. I said: "Yes, but its ok, you can leave now." He did not go, in the dark, we sat, facing each other.

Hubby slowly moved over me, his tears wet the blanket. In my heart, everything seems so far away, so far that even if I sprint, I could never reach them. I cannot remember how many times he repeated "sorry" to me. I had originally thought that I would forgive him, but now I can't.

In the western restaurant, in front of that girl, that cold look in his eyes, I will never forget, ever. We have drawn such deep scars in each other's heart. For me, it's unintentional; for him, totally intentional. I had been waiting for this moment of reconciliation, but I realized now, what had gone past is gone forever and could not repeated.

Other than the thought of the baby inside me that would bring some warmth to my heart, I am totally cold towards him, I no longer eat anything he buys for me, I don't take any presents from him and I stopped talking to him. From the moment I signed on that piece of paper, marriage and love had vanished from my heart.

Sometimes, hubby will try to come into the bedroom, but when he walks in, I will walk out to the living room. He had no choice but to sleep in mother's room. At night, from his room, I can hear light sounds of groaning, I kept quiet... This used to be his trick; last time, whenever I ignore him, he would fake illness and I will surrender and find out what is wrong with him, he would then grab me and laugh.

He has forgotten that last time I cared for him and am concerned because there was love, but now, what is there between us? Hubby's groaning came on and off continuing but I continuously ignored him.

Almost everyday, he would buy something for the baby, infant products, children products and books that kids like to read. Bags and bags of it stacked inside his room till it is full. I know he is trying to use this to reach out to me, but I am no longer moved by his actions.

He has no choice but to lock himself in his room and I can hear his typing away on his computer keyboard, maybe he is now addicted to web surfing but none of that matters to me anymore.

It was sometime towards the end of spring in the following year, one late night, I screamed because of a sudden stomach pain, hubby came rushing into the room, its like he did not change and sleep, and had been waiting for this moment. He carried me and ran down the stairs, stopped a car, holding my hand very tightly and kept wiping the sweat off my brow, throughout the journey to the hospital.

Once we reached the hospital, he carried me and hurried into the delivery suite. Lying on the back of his skinny but warmth body, a thought crossed my mind: In my lifetime, who else would love me as much as he did? He held the delivery suite door opened and watch me go in; his warm eyes caused me to manage a smile at him despite my contraction pain. Coming out of the delivery room, hubby looked at our son and me, eyes tear with joy and he kept smiling.

I reached out and touched his hand. Hubby looked at me, smiling and then he slowly collapsed onto the floor. I cried out for him in pain... He smiled, but without opening that tired eyes of his... I had thought that I would never shed any tear for him, but the truth is, I have never felt a deeper pain cutting through my body at that moment.

Doctor said that by the time hubby discovered he had liver cancer, it was already in terminal stage and it was a miracle that he managed to last this long. I asked the doctor when he first discovered he had cancer. Doctor said about 5 months ago and consoled me saying: "Prepare for his funeral."

I disregarded the nurse's objection and rushed home, I went into his room and checked his computer, and a suffocating pain hits me. Hubby's cancer was discovered 5 months ago, his groaning was real, and I had thought that... the computer showed over 200 thousand words he wrote for our son: "Son, just for you, I have persisted, to be able to take a look at you before I fall, is my biggest wish now.... I know that in your life, you will have many happiness and maybe some setbacks, if only I can accompany you throughout that journey, how nice would it be.

But daddy now no longer has that chance. Daddy has written inside here all the possible difficulties and problems you may encounter during your lifetime, when you meet with these problems, you can refer to daddy's suggestion ... Son, after writing these 200 thousand words, I feel as if I have accompanied you through life journey.

To be honest, daddy is very happy. Do love your mother, she has suffered, she is the one who loves you most and also the one who loves me m ost..." From play school to primary school, to secondary, university, to work and even in dealing with questions of love, everything big and small was written there.

Hubby has also written a letter for me: "My dear, to marry you is my biggest happiness, forgive me for the pain I have caused you, forgive me for not telling you my illness, because I want to see you be in a joyful mood waiting for the arrival of our baby...My dear, if you cried, it means that you have forgiven me and I would smile, thank you for loving me...These presents, I'm afraid I cannot give them to our son personally, could you help me to give some of them to him every year, the dates on what to give when are all written on the packaging... "

Going back to the hospital, hubby is still in coma. I brought our son over and place him beside him. I said: "Open your eyes and smile, I want our son to remember being in the warmth of your arms..." He struggled to open his eyes and managed a weak smile. Our son still in his arms was happily waving his tiny hands in the air. I press the button on the camera and the sound of the shutter rang through the air as tears slowly rolled down my face....

A fatal misunderstanding and the person who loves me the most in this world is gone forever..."Cruel misunderstandings one after another disrupted the blissful footsteps to our family. Our originals intend of having Mother enjoy some quiet and peaceful moments in her remaining years with us went terribly wrong as destiny's secret is finally revealed at a price, everything became too late.".........

This is a true story. from LD

Brain Drain

Right now, I'm having a brain drain reading fictions. My mind wants to read something more useful. So, I finally opened one book from the bid I won at EBay which were the books from CFA 2006 series. I've got to read. Stimulant not coming from coffee or from blogging. I've had good uses of the romance fictions I've read, it's just that I'm looking for something else.

Never Been Kissed

The other day, I had a great time watching again two Korean movies, one was 100 Days with Mr. Arrogant and the second one was My Little Bride. But before I discuss the two movies, allow me to move on first with my recent watch, Never Been Kissed.

Never Been Kissed starred Drew Barrymore and this cute guy (I still have to find out his name) in a loves story from High School with the teacher falling in love (and vice-versa) with his student, who in reality, is a 25-year old lady going undercover. Well, to make the story short, it was a happy ending (and I love happy endings!).

The setting was the typical high school you and I surely have went through when we were younger. All the elements I think was in high school: the prom, the jock (that one single guy who just everyone loves and covets), the mercenaries (those vain girls who just love to mock you) and the nerds. Of course, we all just love a cutie teacher (if there was one in your school though).

Ha! The teacher-student love story I guess I’ve heard evolved was when I was in college, so it’s very uncommon in high school in my time. And as I remember, I did not have any cutie teacher to inspire me – all were in middle age, some spinsterish who squeezes you and jumps on you and pound you to pieces. Some were gays who scowl every time you disturb their inertia. And most were married who sometimes disturb your inner peace as they target to make your day with the way how their partners made with them. And since I went to a Catholic school, we always had masses with the priest (who most girls had a crush on) who’s not really good-looking but there’s something about him, and not withstanding the voice. And there were times you get to meet student teachers (mostly female in our time) who just love to make acquaintances with the male population and simply ignores you when you raise your hand trying to answer her questions, and when you don’t raise your hand, she simply calls your name and ask for the answer.

There was so much about high school actually. And this is just one phase of it.

Time

TIME © Janpietrus... Dreamstime.com

Nothing is stable.
Everything passes and flows.
We mortals, too, have been cast adrift.
And like frail, rudderless craft,
are being swiftly borne
down the dark river of time.