Totoo pala ang mga salita ni Barry Manilow.
 
Tae.
 
King hihimayin mo ang mga titik ng kahabag-habag na 'Somewhere Down The Road,' dun mo malalaman na pag ang kalaban mo ay kapalaran, pag ang pagmamahal na sa teleserye lang nakikita ay di sapat, pag ang kailangan ng tao ay oras at espasyo; ang magagawa mo na lang ay maki-ayon kay Tadhana. Maki-ayon at umasa, kahit konti lang, na sa takdang panahon at tamang lugar, kung ito'y darating, lahat ng binuo mong pangarap ay magkakatoo.
 
Ganun eh.
 
Kailangan mong tanggapin - ng maluwat, sa ayaw mo't gusto, kahit masakit sa dibdib. Kahit isa itong malaking kakontrabidahan sa iyong maambisyong pagmamaganda. At talagang tatanggapin mo. Dahil nagmamahal ka. Dahil wala kang ibang hangad para sa kanya kundi ang kaligayahan at ikabubuti niya. Dahil hindi ugat sa libog at kababawan ang nararamdaman mo. Dahil kahit inis na inis ka at trip mong magdabog, gumawa ng picket line, at mambasag ng pinggan, hindi mo siya kayang tiisin. Hello, kamusta naman, ni hindi mo ngang makuhang magalit. Dahil in the first place, di naman nya hiniling na mabaliw ka sa kanya. Ikalawa, wala naman kayong pinag-uasapan. At pangatlo at pinakamahalaga, mahal mo sya.
 
Ganun eh.
 
At mamahalin mo sya kahit ano pa ang mangyari. Kahit mapunta sya sa iba. Kahit di ka nya nakikita sa parehong paraan. Kahit lumipas ang mga araw, linggo, buwan, taon, dekada at tsaka mo lang mapagtanto mong magkaiba ang plano para sa inyong dalawa. Kahit na sa huli, nagmamabida ka lang pala na may happy ending kayo. Kahit na friends lang talaga kayo and nothing more. Kahit hindi ka pala niya type. Kahit masakit. Kahit sumayad ka sa lupa. Because when it all comes down to it, you love the person purely, absolutely, and genuinely. And a huge chunk of that love is apportioned to desiring only the best for that person - all conditions aside. (Naks, english yun.)
 
Ganun eh.
 
Pero ganunpaman, nagpapasalamat ako. Dahil itinuring nya akong mabuting kaibigan.Dahil binigyan niya ako ng VIP card sa mga aspeto ng buhay niya na off-limits sa mga taong labas. Dahil sa maraming paraan, pinaramdam niya sa akin na importante din ako sa kanya. Dahit sya ay Tubig at ako ang Lupa kung saan malaya syang dumadaloy. Dahil sa ikli ng panahong nagkasama kami, sa kanya ko lang nakita ang mga bagay swak na swak sa isang tao at kulang sa sarili kong pagkatao. Dahil marami akong magagandang bagay na natutunan sa kanya. Dahil masaya ako kapag naiisip o kasama ko sya. Dahil cute sya without even trying. Dahil hinayaan nya akong alagaan sya at iparamdam na palagi akong nandyan para sa kanya. At ang pinakamalupit sa lahat, bahagi na sya ng buhay ko.
 
Ganun eh.
 
Thank you. I discovered a power I never knew nestled within me. Take care. You are such a daredevil I don't know which galaxy you'll end up invading next.  Don't forget. Your amnesia sucks. Keep in touch. Your antisocial tendencies just might get the better of you. And for what it's worth, I love you. Ganun eh.

I remember my very first bicycle ride. With balance wheels on either side of my bike, I pedalled without the fear of getting bruised or smashing my face against the neighbors' adobe wall.

Thinking that I could pull it off, I had one of the balance wheels removed from my bike. It was then that the half-fear of falling almost kept me from even trying. I could very well remember grown-up bikers around me saying I'll never learn if I try. And try I did.

It wasn't exactly the best feeling, hurting myself in the process. I held on to that remaining balance wheel for dear life, depending on it for safety, keeping it for comfort.

I went out the garage one afternoon and was surprised to see the remaining balance wheel from my bike removed. It was something I didn't ask for, yet something I knew was bound to happen.

There was no other way for it to be done. I was not off to a strong start. Getting myself to sit upright was a challenge enough. To pedal the bike to speed, balanced, was sheer agony.

The whole time I tried to get myself intimate with the process, I hurt myself more than I felt the wind on my face. So this is what it's all about. Does it really have to hurt? Why can't I have my balance wheels back? Why can't someone just hold my seat as I pedal the distance?

Bruise after bruise and pedal after pedal, I found myself biking unaided. I could not believe how I was able to pull it off. Did I just wing it? I don't think so. It was more of a merit I earned through a cycle of falling down and moving on.

Today, I look forward to riding a different bicycle along a different road. With one balance wheel already detached, I'm certain I can get myself through. I'll strive to pedal with eager expectation more than the fear of falling. Surely, and I believe what the rest of the bikers out there have felt, the pain of the blacks and blues pale in comparison to the thrill of speeding off unassisted.

I can't wait to feel the wind on my face.

Everyone, will let you soon where I've moved.

Thanks, blogdrive for opening my eyes to the beauty of blogging. It's time I move on to swankier grounds.

1. Golly gee, I got an email from my Managing Editor about my article coming out in September! Yipee. More than that, my humble pic and profile will appear in the Contributor's page. Gleng-gleng! Patience is a virtue indeed. Almost thought that the drought won't be over, but it now is!

2. The Creative Editor asked me last week to start practicing writing profiles, as in cover story text and those small people stories spread throughout the mag. It got me excited! My other life is taking shape. Writing is such great release and it adds balance to my corporate life. Yebah!

3. Oh, and I got this fab peacoat from Tyler earlier this week. Na-ulol ako when they brought it out for me. Without batting a falsie, I grabbed my credit card and had them swipe it to seal the deal. Another scar on my credit standing, yet another jewel added to my collezione. (P.S. - The jacket I now own is 10,000 times better than this pic I got from a random clothes website.)

Like: Ellen. It's refreshing to see someone who doesn't resort to acrobatics just to make an audience laugh and listen. And the clothes! Androgyny that works for me all the time. Maybe, I should really act on my goal this year to have slacks custom-made. And her dance routine's too amusing to ignore.

Liking: Tyra. She's improving with every episode of her show. I'd easily get irked by her interviewing style in the beginning, when she'd interrupt and relate her life experiences to either the topic or the guest in an irritating Oprah manner. The recent episodes have proved to be better. Nevermind if some of her topics are as recycled as those from local talkies. She's a better listener now - just like every interviewer ought to be.

Yipee! I am so happy! I can't get the fucking smile off my pretty face and I'm getting the GVs. And duh, it's not even about work. It's about something greater. I deserve an award...

***DOJ - Dance of Joy

Rui. Tata. Me.

 

Congratulations, Rui. It was couture-d for you from Day One. The rest of the Meanies are mighty proud of you!

From your greatest cheerleader.

I chanced upon a "vintage" shirt from Artwork a few days ago. It was in a happy shade of green and bore the words "Starving Artist." Nice. Was so tempted to grab my wallet and buy it for myself, but was able to forego my retail instincts for some weird reason. A good friend of mine came to mind upon seeing the shirt. It perfectly described how I've always visualized him.

The shirt's message also reminded me about my status as a writer right now. I'm having an opportunity drought lately, not to say I'm running out of ideas. It just sucks that my ideas, sometimes, are not in synch with the times. In a world that's fueled by it lists and surveys, it could be quite a challenge to combine creative pursuit and saleability. And that leaves closet bohemians like myself artistically famished and financially disparate.

Thank God I have a day/noon/night job.