Is it just me or did it feel like the months of July and August came and went on a lightning speed? It’s still summer but a few chilly nights reminded me that fall is just around the corner and I’m not exactly looking forward to it yet. There are still places to go and things to do before it’s time to hibernate and brave the cold winter once again. The past couple of months were so frenetic that I haven’t had time to update this blog. It’s pretty slipshod of me and I apologize, dear readers. Although it might not be of any consequence to anyone but let me just apprise you about all the toing and froing.
While people around the world were riveted to their TVs for the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony on August 8th, my friends and I were in a frenzied excitement getting primped and geared up for our friend Mariah’s big day. She was set to walk down the aisle and she have chosen four of us to be her ladies-in-waiting. It was truly a compliment to be her Matron-of-Honor and I took the role very seriously indeed. I wanted her day to go as smoothly and stress-free as possible although she appeared cool as cucumber that she probably didn’t need us fussing around her anyway. I don’t think she ever had a bridezilla moment through all the wedding planning and preparations. She was the epitome of a laid-back bride-to-be.
For those who participated in the poll regarding Mariah’s two choices of bridal gowns, she heeded the majority’s advice and went with this pretty confection of lace, ruffles and beads. She looked every inch an elegant and beautiful bride in it.
With hair and make-up in place, skirts rustling and cleavages adjusted, we were ready to march. Then, I had a brief moment of reflection and remembered my own wedding day when my father escorted me down the aisle and the warring emotions I felt during the seemingly long walk before I finally glimpsed Kenny at the altar. As a cold shiver ran down my spine, I took a deep breath and blinked away the tears that were about to bubble over. What is it about weddings that make women such blubbering hot messes? Anyway, the ceremony went without a hitch and then it was time to party up a storm. It was a great night spent among friends and family. Needless to say, the camera flashes were pretty rampant as what can be expected whenever there’s a gathering of Filipinos.
Most of my friends are already married, engaged or in serious relationships. Some found their spouses without so much drama and a few had bumpy rides on their way to the altar. Then, a handful are still single who may or may not be looking for a romantic liaison. Some of them might already be feeling the pressure of people inquiring about their uncommitted status. I’ve been through that rigmarole before. Now that I’m married, folks are breathing down my neck about having kids. There’s always something to vex about, huh?
I know that people are just being inquisitive and are generally well-meaning but it doesn’t make for a comfortable conversation when you’re fending off such personal probing. I could just imagine the kind of dissection women in their 30s are being subjected to in the Philippines. Back in my teenage years, I thought that I had to be married before I hit the age of 25 or I’ll be regarded as an "old-maid". I remember a couple of female high school teachers who were rumored to have gotten married to some unsavory characters to avert the possibility of spinsterhood. I believe they were just in their late 20s then. Whether their marriages lasted, I don’t know.
Thankfully, my single friends are not the type who will resort to those deplorable options. They are living their lives as fully as they can and are unbound to do whatever want. They are well-traveled, sophisticated and have active social and professional lives. Knights in shining armors are most welcomed definitely but these ladies will not be wasting precious time pining and waiting for them to knock on their doors. As much as I would like to witness their own love stories one day, I wouldn’t want them courting disaster. It has to be perfectly right for them whether it happens sooner or later.
On the outside chance that marriage never transpires for them, I hope they will still continue to lead lives that is full of extraordinary experiences and graced with beauty and charm. That’s what romance is all about anyway. It’s living life with a little passion, a little imagination, a willingness to stretch our minds beyond the romantic stereotypes of ruffles and flourishes. To be romantic, in other words, is quite simply to allow yourself to fall in love with life - all of life - and experience it fully, openly, passionately, and purposefully.
Marlica and I unfortunately had the impending urge to answer a nature’s call, we were too ashamed and intimidated to ask permission to excuse ourselves. We waited in agony until the whole class was subjected to our indiscretion, to put it mildly 
. Due to the painful nature of that memory, I think we both blocked it from our subconscious since we only had a vague recollection of what happened next. Suffice to say that we both didn’t come back to school for almost a week.
. Our friendship survived college even while we studied at two different cities. We managed to get together on our occasional weekend visits to our respective families and during school breaks. We traded updates on each other’s lives and discussed our plans and goals for the future. True, we had our differences and personality clashes as well but it never deterred us from staying friends for as long as we have even when we are now living miles and oceans away from each other. Marlica and I propitiously made our dream a reality when we got to the US soon after we graduated from Nursing school. Charlotte, on the other hand, is now a practicing pediatrician in the Philippines. 
It was seven years ago when I first crossed paths with Tif, Ted and Tom. I just recently met Kenny on Christmas day and days later, he invited me to a New Year’s Eve soiree at the Hyatt Hotel in downtown Chicago. My friends didn’t have any plans that night due to the Y2K scare and Mariah (my roommate then) was out of town. Not exactly looking forward to a boring night and ringing in the new year by myself, I gladly accepted Kenny’s invitation without much hesitation. Little did I know that my life will be turned upside down as we all greeted the new millennium at the stroke of midnight. I suppose the kiss had something to do with it. ‘Nuff said. 
in body hugging, sequined white outfit and with sideburns to match! How cool was that? 
The family’s quirkiness definitely appealed to my twisted sense of humor. 
. Of course, he became so much more.
will eventually lead to another coupling among our friends. Although Tom and Mariah had been initially introduced earlier on, their cosmic stars didn’t get aligned until three years ago 
. I’m happy to blab that they got engaged last spring during our trip to Venice (it must be the canal water 
. Call it fate, destiny or kismet. It is what it is. 
Some people might argue that everything is not predestined and that we all have the freewill to change the course of our lives. Well, I’d say the signs are there and our deep primal instincts just sort of nudge us towards certain directions. Sure, our choices might not always seem wise or circumspect and the consequences might not always be productive. Somehow, these circumstances will eventually guide us to the ultimate path and destination. 
I now understand why new parents consider sleep as a luxury so hard to come by especially during the infancy stage. The crash course pretty much cooled off the "baby fever" thing for me for a few months. Nevertheless, it was still a joy to take care of Rhyss even for a short time and I’d do it again in a heartbeat
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I took over the wheel for the first few hours of the trip so Kenny can a take a nap. He drove for the last two hours while I was chatting away on my cellphone at the backseat. The trip was about 5 hours long but we got home around 8 pm ( Illinois time) since we gained an hour on our way back. We decided just to relax for the night and maybe watch the DVD that he borrowed from Jonathan. He has been asking me to see the Kung Pao movie with him. It’s supposed to be really hilarious. We’ll see about that.
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