Author Archive for matessi

08
Mar

Get a Life

(Prologue: There are so many wonderful moments that I could have shared here but just didn’t have time to do so. Now I still don’t have enough time, and it’s sad that this is another vent but I feel so strongly about this, so, here it is…)

 

Okay, let’s make this clear. I don’t mind jokes about being single, I even often make myself the subject of jokes or I can be self-deprecating, which makes people laugh. I, too, can laugh at myself, which I believe is healthy. But there are jokes that are humorous and there are jokes that aim to make people feel bad and sadly, I can tell the difference. Especially when you have been consistent on implying that I can’t be happy with my life just because I’m single, or just because I didn’t hook up with this or that guy. Yes, like you, I am on the look out for that one who could be the one, but our similarity stops there because I do live with a grateful and happy heart and I LIVE life besides, instead of waiting for just one person to make me feel alive. I also feel happy when a friend is happy, so I always wish those that are dear to me the best that life can possibly give them.

It puzzles me that you can’t seem to accept that I’m okay with what I have. It puzzles me that you seem to equate my being content with what I have with a numb and cold heart. If your mind works the way mine does, you should know that a heart that loves just because (and just about anyone worth loving), without expecting anything in return, is the warmest there could ever be. Oh, but maybe you don’t get that because our minds usually don’t go along parallel lines or even share the same plane, or haven’t you noticed that yet? And this might make you want to try harder to pull me down, but believe me when I say that I do live with love (as opposed to what you’ve been implying) because a lot of people, aside from members of my family, love me genuinely – yeah, I can tell genuine from not, it’s a talent. I hope you can be happy with your life, too and if you are, I hope you don’t feel the need to convince me, the same way that I don’t feel the need to convince you.

Again, I do not mind the jokes; it’s the intention and the disguised attack behind YOUR jokes that turn me off, that I do not understand. I have been a good and true friend to you as far as I know, I even got offended with someone on your behalf, and I am always ready to commiserate whenever you feel miserable; but your issues are simply non-issues to me personally, so just deal with that and get yourself a life.

 

 

27
Dec

It Happens

Sometimes there are moments of blunders and bloopers in our daily existence that leave you stupefied and all you can say, really, is “ Ay, shet.” These are some of those moments that were shared last night in our small, intimate gathering of high school friends (how it was formed, I cannot remember anymore, but it has withstood the test of time and I’m not complaining). Some I remembered just now. Feel free to add your moment if you feel like.

 

  • You’re very, very hungry, so you prepare the easiest pasta recipe. The sauce is ready, and after around 10 minutes of waiting, the pasta is, too. You don’t have a strainer so you cover the pot, tilt it and let the water seep out. And then either because the pot’s too hot or you’re too hungry, the cover slips open and all the pasta slides down the sink. “Ay, shet.” You end up munching on some Skyflakes.
  • Another version of the above is, you have a strainer, but either because the pot’s too hot or you’re too hungry, you pour everything into the strainer, its handle gives way, and you end up staring at the pasta in the sink. “Ay, shet.”
  • You’re out for a “secret” adventure, with just one trusted fellow adventurer. When the two of you arrive at the venue, you find there some people who know you. “Ay, shet.” And then you find the place soo cold, but you did not bring your kumot or jacket, and you have to stay there for a year. “Ay, shet ulet.” After the year you shiver as you walk away and you end up nursing a cold for a week. But it was still a fun adventure, though.
  •  You’re very, very hungry, so you prepare the easiest pasta recipe. You need some basil for the sauce. You reach for a bottle in the rack below the sink. Whole Black Pepper. Your return it and reach for another one. Rosemary. Return, another one. Nutmeg. Return, another one. Ground Black Pepper. Return, another one. Oregano. Cinnamon. And so on, and so forth. Finally, you are so sure that this is the last bottle; you happily give it three generous shakes, all over the pan. Curry. “Ay, shet.” Again, you bring out the Skyflakes.
  • You find out that you cannot be Miss It because you’re just (and you have your friends’ testimonials to prove it!) smart, witty, funny, kind, happy, independent, adventurous, loving, charming, loveable, sexy and nothing else. “Ay, shet.”
  • Now this is another experience I share with a friend, except that mine is simpler and has no ‘tampuhan with husband’ part: You have a ‘tampo’ with your husband, so you go to the mall and go on a shopping binge. You’ve just received your bonus, anyway. After some hours of exercise you settle down for a meal. While eating you realize that you’ve ran out of cash, you only have a few pesos left in your wallet. You look for an ATM but yours are all offline. You’re stuck in the mall with all those baggage with not enough money to go home. “Ay, shet.” You call the husband whom you’re supposed to snub and ask that he pick you up. In my case I called my sister, the one who won’t give me an earful, so I just heard 2-3 sentences. She lives in Paranaque and I was in Megamall. But that was when I was still a “baby”, maybe about 7 years ago. I’ve grown up. Yup. I guess.