I cast all my cares upon You.
I lay all of my burdens down at your feet
And everytime I don’t know, what to do.
I will cast all my cares upon You.
Because It’s Valentines February 14, 2008
Three years ago my Tita Ritz (who lives in the US), sent me this e-mail on Valentine’s day. It’s one of a few e-mails I frequent read during the V-day.
Hi Bijoinks,
Wag kang mag alala kung wala kang boyfriend ngayong Valentine’s day, at least realistic ang iyong expectations. Kesa naman may boyfriend ka tapos, hindi ka naman maalala sa Valentine’s day o kaya may regalo nga, palpak naman. Meron akong friend na ang regalo sa kanya ng mister nya pag Valentine’s day ay puro household items; such as vacuum cleaner, pressure cooker, pots and pans..kung ako hahampasin ko yun ng vaccum cleaner!
I’m so glad that you’re enjoying work right now – mukhang na cha challenge ka naman. Pero mas maganda rin to start charting the next steps para wag kang ma bore at para at least you can start formulating your career goals. That’s what I had to do – dahil madali akong ma bore, and I’m constantly looking for new challenges, kaya I normally stayed with a company for no more than 5 years. Pero kailangan calculated ang move, don’t quit your current job without a new job, dahil it’s always easier to look for one when you have one.
Below is a story of a Valentine’s day incident 20 years back I sent to friends with some reflections a couple of years ago:
One Valentine’s Day 20 years ago, boyfriend less (not necessarily love less, there’s a difference as some of you will agree – another story for another time), I expected the day to just be an ordinary day. But then, all at once, dozens of roses came in droves for the women in the office. Being an open office environment, the pressure for us single women became too obvious to ignore. Most of the single women in my group received their share of roses by noon, except me. By 2 pm, the pressure was too much to ignore that I actually thought about calling one of my friends to have some flowers delivered just so I can avoid the “what a loser” and “what a pity” glances I was getting from co workers. When all of a sudden, just like fresh April showers from the heavens, the most beautiful bouquet of roses arrived at my desk. The card read,
Dearest Raqui, My love and concern for your future and continued restoration in the Lord. May the Lord’s love provide you with security and peace. Love, Teng Needless to say, my friend, (later my boss) Teng’s deliberate act of kindness not only rescued me from that embarrassing situation, but also taught me a lesson in true friendship. Twenty years later, I’ve kept this card to remind me of that one day many years ago.
Hope this gives you a glimmer of hope that one day you’re Prince Charming will come waltzing in your life and before you can say booh, you’re riding into the sunset in a white horse!
Love,
Tita Ritz
Time Out February 2, 2008
One of my favorite hang outs when I was in college, was in UP. No, I’m not a iskolar ng bayan. But I have a lot of friends from UP so they introduced me to this wonderland called Sunken Garden. A friend and I even had our own bench across the Educ bldg. And whenever we meet we’ll just say, “cge sa bench ganitong oras.” Such belongingness. hahaha.
I know that I’ve got a lot of 2nd home, and the Sunken Garden was one of them. I usually hang-out there with or without friends. Sometimes to shoot for my photography class, sometimes to have a heart to heart talk with friends. And sometimes just to simply hang out.
It’s been 5 years since I’ve graduated. And since I’m working far from UP, it’s been quiet a while since I’ve hangged out “just to hang out” there. I guess that’s one of the reasons why it made yesterday (my latest tambay), a special one. I was passing UP since I’m supposed to meet my mom. I got torn between hanging out at Starbucks and Sunken Garden, but yes, the latter won. It’s like calling out my name. So I just sat there at “our” old bench just staring. I smiled and simply uttered, “hey, it’s been awhile.”
It feels so much like home. Where I could just write how I really feel. Where I could find rest and peace from the battle of the world. Where I could just enjoy the wind blowing on my face, or the laughter of barkadas hanging out. Where I could pray and not be suffocated with the mess in my room. A place where I could just be alone yet not lonely.
It feels like a friend that accepts me without judgement (whether I’m an alumni or not. hehehe). Whom I could just pour our my heart and know that whatever I will say will be between me and him.
I’ve been through a rollercoaster of emotions lately. And this …this is a perfect place to say time out.
