The Trip to Perdition

A man's life is peppered with spices and scents, and odours and ills.

He chooses which to inhale, carefully; with mind and sometimes, with spirit.  

He triumphs, he fails.

He stares, he blinks.

He remembers, he loses it.

He dwells on imageries, he acts on impulse.

He stays, he quits.

He prays pardon, he turns back again.

He aches, he moans.

He tells, I go to hell. 

The Bliss of Not Working.

Over the last three years, I have had the pleasure of not doing regular work. In my first year of semi-retirement, I travelled all over Europe. Then in 2009, I went for an extended stay in my country of birth, the Philippines. In 2010, I travelled all over U.S., to places I've gone to before, but still, I totally enjoyed the experience, seeing these places with a new perspective.

In Manila, I am a true blue Pinoy - pampered with food and service and nothing domestic to do; I try dish washing from time to time, and cooking, the chore I miss most to do.

I try to do little home projects, but once these are done, I'm back to doing nothing - and back to regular "things," which a paid employee normally does - sitting in front of the computer and surfing for hours, reading, snacking, telephoning, and planning on activities for the coming days.

I've come to enjoy watching old Tagalog flicks over Cinema One, and over at Cinemax and HBO and at other 24-hour movie channels. At the mall, I've re-learned browsing at National Bookstore. I've re-focused on photography.

And again, I've donned my dancing shoes for regular nights of dancing.

I've totally forgotten about those "headaches," at the office where I worked last in Toronto. I've lost track of the people I've used to work with. I've embraced bliss and joy, and what a life it is!

I've totally enjoyed our long drives North and South, trips to the rural - kissing the sun and the greenery, the humming of the birds front and back of the house, my dog Shadee's power bark and naps, the mystery of early mornings, the idyllic quiet of afternoons, and the romantic jazziness of evenings.

Life is what you make it; work is only incidental. At the end of the day- you are who is standing TALL. The one who laughs, the one who cherishes it all, the one who shares the joy with your loved ones.

Keep Going, Lucky.

The other day I was looking for fresh batteries to put into the portable radio; there was a brown out, you see. I rummaged through a drawer full of batteries and "katol," and matches, and candles. There were batteries used and unused there.

Finally, I loaded four batteries into the old radio, but there was no signal. I replaced the batteries with a new set, but again nothing happened.

That's when I took out from the "bodega," the portable emergency light cum radio-electric fan and mosquito swatter. Voila, radio!

Later, I lined up the used batteries by the kitchen window in order to re-charge them.

This is what I noticed. Batteries here in P.I. are the type that die young. I've changed clock batteries constantly.

And yesterday at the parking lot, when I switched the car ignition, there was just a click. I pumped the gas, and turned on the key... there it was again. Silence.

I opened the hood and checked the battery cables. That battery is practically new - 16 months' old. In Canada, I rarely buy a car battery; I keep going back to the same tire-garage for car maintenance and accessories, and the store honors the warranty on my battery, so practically, I don't buy new ones.

The security guard at the parking lot was already calling for service when I tried to start the car again. Vroom...the car growled at me.

I don't know what happened out there. Just like I don't know what's happening to my body (having flu-like days, and then gone next day), nor to my tomorrows.

It's like touch and go, one song declares. One can never tell the future, even if one bases the assumption or forecasts from previous happenings. There's no intelligent guesses, anymore, especially in matters of the heart.

It's Valentines Day, that's why I decided to blog today.

The last time I blogged was January 20th. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.