Dandelion

I’m a wanderer who wonders how to make a journey worthwhile. One day, I decided to bring 3 things along my travel. I’m thinking on how to be complete and sometimes it would set me into a trap of desperation, but I hold in my heart the belief that storms will certainly pass.

The 1^st thing that I bring is my watch. Time is an important element for it gives me an idea if I’m in a rush, taking slowly or just in time.

There are times when another impatient wanderer would ask me ‘What time is it, lady?’ I would just answer, ‘Hey, calm down! Maybe you need to look on how the sun looks like or smell the freshness of the flower.’ But she didn’t listen instead; she leaves me still in a hurry.

She’s not the only type of person that I’ve met. There are also calm walkers who sometimes ignore me because he/she is busy feeling the air’s coolness. But it doesn’t bother me much as long as I’m aware where I’m headed to- Thanks to the 2^nd thing that I take on me. It’s my compass. It leads me into a place where I could learn or unlearn values and experiences. I could meet different wanderers too and there are specific moments when I could stay longer on that place because I’ve learned to love some friends there. Yet, I would let them go too when my compass directs me into a more productive spot. That’s a sad part of being a wanderer leaving your friends and memories behind, that’s why I bring with me the 3^rd most important thing- that’s my magic bag.

As I pass by a group of plants along the way, I’ll take out from my bag, my watering pot to provide water to the lilies, carnations, orchids and cherry blossoms. These plants would tell me that sooner or later they’d bloom gorgeously, and other wanderers might notice it too. Others might take care of it or ignore it.

Then my clock ticks! It’s time for me to eat some sandwich. Then one small wanderer would ask me, ‘Can I have some of your food?’ then I would reply, ‘Ok, get this. I still have one.’ Then a smile was painted on his face. I got one sandwich from my magical bag and I join him in eating.

As the heat of the sun, touches my skin. I feel anger in me. I asked myself, ‘Where would this life lead me?’ I almost have everything in me: MY WATCH, COMPASS AND MAGICAL BAG.

Then a blowing wind tells me to surrender it all to the blue skies. ‘You can’t see me, but I can see you. You can’t feel me at times, but I can feel you always. Just like other wanderers who just walk into this long road without knowing why, I know you’re different from them, because you care.’

‘What do you want me to do again?’ the wanderer asks confusingly.

‘Surrender everything to me.’ the wind answers calmly.

‘Is that so? Will this make me complete and my journey worthwhile?

‘Yes. Look on these lovely dandelions, and how I disperse its seeds and flower head for other wanderers’ wishes would come true, too.’

‘Everytime I pass by this wide park, I always dream of meeting and touching the sky with the help of those dandelions; There’s a possibility that I would stop wandering and just take a rest with the cotton-like clouds. I would just look at down from above on how other wanderers get confuse on their way.’

‘That’s it! When you take everything with me, you’ll be as light as these dandelions are. It will be also easy for you to take care of other wanderers and never let them go easily, as you always worry about.’

‘Ok. Then take everything in me.’

The wind transform me into something I’ve been dreaming before- to fly and to touch the sky, to see the other wanderers doing what I’m doing and playing with some kites along the way.

But whenever I take my watch from the wind, I’ve noticed that I become impatient; or when I take my compass, I become impulsive or confuse; and when I get my magical bag, I become more greedy.

So, I have to be reminded that I’ll be forever like a dandelion.

That gives me liberty.

Bubble

I've noticed a very tiny small bubble bath after taking a bath. As my eyes get magnetized on it, I was wishing it won't be gone easily. So I let it rise and fall. I know it would roam around the bathroom. I enjoyed looking on it as it went to the dipper, my clothes, the faucet. But I was also conscious on the reality that it would dissolve or vanish once it hits the wall or anything that's well built.

As the gravity allows it to do whatever it wants to do.
I was aware of the time that I absorbed myself in observing it.
I knew that the time wasn't wasted because I did it for curiosity.
I love the moment of getting lost in watching unto something ordinary yet lovely.

And my fear with a little acceptance came into reality.
The bubble bumped into the wall.

It was gone.

And I know it won't return anymore. I have to let it pass and watch another beautiful bubbles waking up my senses.

There are days...

There are days when your inner child might feel lonely, hurt and disappointed. When you see her that way, give her time to feel it, But never let her indulge into it for the longest time.

Hold her hand; let her see the brighter days. Don’t shout at her; instead look calm and sincere in telling her that she deserves to play the music. Probably, her surroundings waited to feel blessed by her delightful and refreshing presence.

Until the waiting becomes over

It’s 2:30 in the afternoon, Joanne was looking at herself on the video. She was still waiting for her student to arrive because it’s logging time. She stayed stationary on her chair yet her eyes wandered all over the monitor and her hand was on her mouse sometimes clicking or opening any files but one thing she’s uttering silently that the phone would ring and her student would be absent. Then its 2:33. She sent a message to her boss updating the student’s unpunctualness. She waited also for the reply. Then suddenly a memory hits her. One day, she was alone at the park, while waiting for Mark for a long hour. He didn’t appear on the same time she expected him to come. He seemed to forget the value of time when he’s with her. She started texting and calling him but there was no reply. Her heart ached as he waited for 2 hours to the man of his dreams. She was expecting something good from him, yet he was not into it. She went home counting her steps, looking at the ground because she doesn’t want her mom to see her scarlet eyes and nose.

‘Then, 2:38 appeared. Her student wasn’t there yet. She saw a little depression was painted on her face as she continued marveling to that scene.

‘ I told you, he’s not meant for you. But you’re not listening. He always give you burden. Why not leave him?’ her mom said when they’re both alone in her room.

 ‘I thought, he’d already change after he returned to me and promised that he’ll be more committed.’  She said that while catching her breath for a long time crying.

‘When will you open your eyes to the truth that he can’t be that you expect him to be?’

‘Please leave me alone first, mom. I know I need time to mull over this and decide what’s the best for me.’

‘Ok, Joan. Hope you’d also change your mind.’

Her mom closed the door and she looked at the scar on her wrist. She recalled the suicide she committed after her 1^st break up with Mark. She mourned tremendously in losing him because she almost gave everything to him.

After 8 minutes of recalling her bitter past, her Korean manager told her to still wait for the student.

‘Another waiting again?’ she gasped to herself. ‘Maybe I could take the long waiting forever. I’ve done this before until I realized that it’s no good of help. Why should I just relax and stop looking at my watch after all everything that I’ve been through with him is over. He’s not with me anymore when he decided to be with his other woman.’

The agony of long waiting arrived on its end- when she finally decided to forget him and move on; there’s a light in her heart, eventhough the scars remain. Her eyes finally set on the time and it’s already 2:55. Her student didn’t attend and she realized that long waiting possibly meant 'in just a snap!'

Dad, I dedicate this to you

Ria, a 16 year old girl eagerly plays soccer. It’s their final game between Team diamond, their opponent and Team flash, her unbeatable team.

She ignores her leg and arm ache from a punctilious training, because her riveted eyes are set on the target. The sweat that rolls over her face and shoulders as the sun strikingly touches her equates to the passion she’s exerting to the game. The crowd’s loud cheer is her silver bullet when she kicks the ball and hits the goal.

The strong ‘Hooray!’ from her teammates makes her confident that they would taste the sweet victory. Subconsciously, she smells the delectable roasted chicken that her mom always prepare whether she wins or loses the game.

‘How terrific life is!’ she tells herself after hitting the final goal. Then her teammates, coach and other supporters run towards her, embrace and carry her as she looks up the sky quite awhile, afterward she hold both her hands and bow down to praise the one who made them victor. Subsequently she asks those who carry her to let her down. She stops. Flashes of memory revisits- younger days that is filled with fun games, friends to laugh with and parents to support her; But when she turned 10, her father met a car accident and was declared dead upon arriving the hospital. Grief surrounded their family and the daddy’s little girl was the most affected one.

After she played soccer at their school ground, her parents would pick her up. Her dad would admiringly tell her, ‘Woah! I saw a junior world-cup. It was a great game, darling.’

Then he’ll slightly bend down and gently kiss her forehead upon reminiscing those pleasant memories- her chest tightens and she outburst into tears as her mom runs and embraces her.

There’s a light in her mom’s eyes and she said, ‘I’m proud of you, dear.’ After a minute of crying and embracing her mom genuinely praise her. She senses that Ria wants to stay there for a jiffy.

People are starting to leave the stadium.

Ria stands alone. ‘Wherever you are dad, this World-cup tournament is for you! I love you.’

The thin air lightly squeezes her and a serene smile was painted on her face.

Get lost with the music

God is madly inlove with me. He would make things that could make me happy and awaken my senses. Yesterday, during the receiving of communion. Kuya Panggo, our Alto saxophonist had a solo part for the song-which I can’t remember the title. Oh my, it’s so obvious that he was passionate on what he was doing and I’m sure I wasn’t the only who was spellbound with his music. It was awakening and soothing to the ears and soul. I wanted to stand up and give him a clap but instead of doing so. I just let myself absorbed his euphony.