Ang Thu- The Giver

    

The Giver

           

                 

 

“ In this world there are two types of people: the giver and the taker. The giver gives generously until it hurts. She does not know how to take and gets embarrassed if she does so. The taker takes all she can from the giver. She does not know how to give and gets upset if she has to.  They say opposite attracts: the giver attracts takers and vice versa. I realized long time ago that I am a giver. I made friends with a lot of takers who left me when I have nothing more to give. You are a giver. I knew that when you handed me your cell phone when I was at the airport because I was upset about leaving my camera at home. Later, you shared with me the food you bought at the airport concession. I offered you some money to pay for your phone minutes and the food but you refused.  I was embarrassed to take from you but I was also relieved. It is nice to meet another giver. That is why I kept your phone number and called you as soon as I returned to the US. I want to be your friend because I know I can give you something and you could too.”

                                                                                                         ~Ang Thu

Happy Mother's Day

                Happy Mother's Day!

 

 

"Whatever else is unsure in this stinking dunghill of a world a mother's love is not."
                                                                                 -- James Joyce

 

 

Mother o’ Mine
Rudyard Kipling (1891) If I were hanged on the highest hill,    Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine I know whose love would follow me still,    Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine! If I were drowned in the deepest sea,    Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine I know whose tears would come down to me,    Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine! If I were damned of body and soul, I know whose prayers would make me whole,    Mother o’ mine, 0 mother o’ mine!

 

 

Summer Dreamin'

 

" A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless.  We find after years of struggle that we do not take a journey; a journey takes us." 

                                                  John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley

 

It had been a while since I last updated. I have been slow in visiting other blogs too. I blame Tabby for this. Her slacking is contagious. LOL. Kidding aside, I have been really busy trying to balance my life. A job, a part time business, a home, a garden, and a family to juggle have not left me with a lot of time to update and visit lately.

 

I have made a lots of non virtual friends of  late. I recently came back from Asia and met a Vietnamese lady at the airport. She is from my Florida hometown. She calls me regularly and I often drop by her store. She has a gas station/grocery a couple of blocks away from my son's school. She is 20 years older than I am but she finds me interesting and I am fascinated by her wisdom. I also have my lovely neighbors who I often share my surplus veggies with (and them, their plants and wines). This is our second year in the neighborhood and I could not ask for better neighbors. I also made friends from work and from the programs and events that I manage.

 

I am planning on throwing a little party next weekend to welcome summer and get together with some of them. I want to have a Spanish theme. I am thinking of making paella, sangria, sardines, and flan. I'll try to order a jamon serrano online but I doubt if they can deliver it that fast. I have other goodies to round up the meal such as kalamata olives, caponata, almonds, cheeses, fruits and other tapas. I also have plenty of riojas for extra libation and I will be downloading some suitable music to complete the atmosphere.

 

Lately, I have been thinking of going to Spain a lot. Madrid and Barcelona in particular. My mother is part Castilian and part Irish. I grew up eating Spanish food and hearing about my great grandparents' old life in Madrid. I also heard about all the fascinating sights of Madrid, Barcelona, and Seville; the brilliance of Gaudi; the genius of Goya, Velazquez, Miro, Picasso and Dali; and the delicious foods. Hubby and I were planning to visit there this summer but our son has commitments to attend the Nationals for his school's Medical team and a campus visit/interview in Notre Dame, Indiana. Hubby and I can't take too much time off for vacation to squeeze in another  trip. I am heartbroken. No, not really but it would have been nice.  

 

If I get to go to Spain in the future,  I want to be able to stay for at least a couple of weeks to visit all the places I have been hearing about and try all the strange tapas I could get my hands on. I am not squeamish. I had frog legs, snails, beetles, horse meat and other foods that you might find bizarre but I find exotic.

 

I also want to go to Greece. Athens and some of the small islands in particular. I want to see the marvelous Greek antiquities and architecture. Of course, I also want to eat plenty of Mediterranean cuisine and drink lots of retsina. Maybe indulge in some Greek Adonis' gazing too. Why not? I'm old enough to contain myself and my hormones are almost extinct.

 

How about you? Where do you want to go and why?  

Happy 21st, My Little Honeysuckle!

   "Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart." 
                                                                    ~Confucius                       

 

                                 

 

Twenty one years ago today, you peeked your beautiful little head out to see the world. You were wrinkled, slimy, and bald but you were the most gorgeous child I ever laid my eyes on. I got teary eyed and I thought I would burst from the strange surge of pride and happiness that day.

You are twenty one years old. An adult in our society, but you will always be my precious little girl. I want to reiterate that I will always love you unconditionally. You are spreading your wings and taking independent steps toward self sufficiency. I applaud your efforts. You know that if something goes wrong along the road, you always have a home to go back to. In my home, you will always be loved and treasured no matter what.

I finally feel alright about letting you grow. I am excited as you are about you moving to a new apartment in a new city.  I know you will do well there. I no longer have the wish to protect you and cushion your way. You demonstrated that you can protect yourself and pave your own way.  Today, I feel that same surge of pride and happiness that I felt when you were born.  I am very proud of you.

Happy 21st Birthday, Josie!!!  

 

A Mother's Wish

Love all, trust a few. Do wrong to none.

William Shakespeare "All's Well That Ends Well", Act 1 Scene 1
Greatest English dramatist & poet (1564 - 1616)

 

 

 

 

Forever Young

Joan Baez

 

May God bless and keep you always,
May your wishes all come true,
May you always do for others
And let others do for you.
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous,
May you grow up to be true,
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you.
May you always be courageous,
Stand upright and be strong,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

May your hands always be busy,
May your feet always be swift,
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift.
May your heart always be joyful,
May your song always be sung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

 

 

 

Rocking Women and Causes

 

 

 

I decided I am not waiting till the last kid leaves home to get a life. I am working on my "empty nest to do list." This week, my computer had been really busy downloading songs for my personal playlist. What inspired me to get started is the tag above. I saw it in Terry Ann's  tag journal and I just can't pass it up. Terry Ann is so awesome! I asked for it and she made me one with my name on it.

 

Looking at the songs I have downloaded previously for my playlist,  I can say that my  taste in music is very eclectic.  My taste encompasses every musical genre and subgenre except for the modern day hip hop and rap. The only rap musician I like is Blondie. Her 80's song, Rapture was the first and last rap song I ever liked. The only hip hop artist I listened to lately is Gnarls Barkley. I like playing "Crazy" and singing along with it in my car. Maybe I am showing my age here but I do not "get" a lot of new hip hop and rap songs. 

 

The tag reminded me of my love for female rock stars. Some might think that female rock and roll musicians are all from the 80's. Nope, women had been at it as early as the 20's. Though the 80's saw a proliferation of female performers who rocked because they were signed by mainstream labels, variations of rock had been sung in the 20's to the 70's by numerous talented women.

 

Not surprisingly, most of the music I have downloaded this week were sung/played by female singers/musicians. I have Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne, Etta James, Sister  Rosetta Tharpe, Billy Holiday, CWLU Band, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin,Tina Turner, Debbie Harry, Heart, Lita Ford, Cindy Lauper, Joan Jett, Stevie Nicks, Pat Benatar, Annie Lennox, Patti Smith, Kate Bush, Tracy Chapman, PJ Harvey, Erykah Badu, Vanessa May, KT Tunstall and Ani DiFranco. The common denominator for all these women is that they were rock stars. They rocked and rolled like nobody's business. Feel free to suggest anybody who I may overlook. 

 

Sure, there is a room for a few male musicians like Bob Dylan, Rod Stewart, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Fats Domino, Kurt Cobain, and Bruce Springsteen but I am very partial to women who have versatile voices. I like them even better when they can belt out a meaningful song. There is nothing more contradictory yet exhilarating than a sad or bittersweet song being sung in an upbeat manner.

 

Aside from music, I have other preoccupations lately. I've been working with a nonprofit organization as a Project Manager. Our most recent project was putting together a grant proposal for an afterschool program in an at risk area in our city. Great place, great people, and noble dreams. I am proud to be affiliated with rebels with a cause. Right now, I am working on developing the curriculum for the Personal Development and Parenting classes for the afterschool program. Lots of writing and research but it will be all worth it when I finally see the end product.

 

Another preoccupation is a plan to start a part time business with my neighbor. She is a lovely lady from Paraguay who is a dreamer like myself. She owns a private school in San Juan Bautista where the students do not have to pay for tuition. As you can see, we're both bleeding hearts so we get along well. We're going to do something that I can't  disclose just yet. It's not illegal, just that our business plan needs to be worked and reworked before full disclosure. In layman's term, we're still in the talking and dreaming stage. 

 

If I disappear from blogsphere for a while, do not send the Marines to rescue me. I will be fine, just busy earning brownie points for my economic as well as my karmic existence.  

Home Alone: Old Geezers Version

     

 

 

                    

 

A few days ago, hubby and I had a glimpse of the years ahead. 

 

Unlike most weekends in our home, we were actually home alone.

 

It is common knowledge that a teenager living in the home tends to multiply during weekends. Our home is most often chosen as the "hangout" of a gaggle of tall, lanky sixteen year olds: playing Wii, PS2, Xbox 360, Super Nintendo or PC games; having laptop marathon; exchanging witty remarks, potshots and insults; watching scary or funny movies; clanging their musical instruments; and taking frequent trips to the bathroom, refrigerator or pantry. They tease each other endlessly, put away groceries enough to feed a small nation, and roughhouse till the wee hours but I love every one of them. I felt guilty for feeling relieved that they have chosen to hang out elsewhere that weekend, but the guilt was shortlived.

  

Hubby and I started the evening by going out to dinner and watching Hannibal Rising at the movies. Then we came home, lit the fireplace, opened a bottle of wine, and played the romantic playlist off his iPod. We drank, talked, laughed, and danced infront of the fireplace. We acted like we had no worries.  I felt so light and happy. ( Maybe it’s the wine, but for argument’s sake, let’s say it’s because I felt so stress free. I see a lot of you nodding and murmuring, “Yeah, it’s the wine!”)

 

The evening reminded me of the times we shared when we were childless. When were free to do whatever we want. When we did not worry about the kids or the babysitter. The memories of the distant past relived.

 

We enjoyed and focused on each other like we have done before the kids came in the picture. It was just hubby and I. Not against the world, but in synch with it. Everything just seemed so right. At one time, I told hubby, “This is life!” and it was an understatement. (No, it’s not the wine talking.)

 

 After that night, I arrived at the conclusion that the dreaded "empty nest" would be more of a blessing than a curse. Sure, I will still miss my kids and I will worry about them but I intend on having a life after the last one leaves. I am already planning on traveling more with my hubby, stocking the wine cabinet, enlarging my music playlist, building an extensive library, pursuing a few other passions I kept on the back burner for so long, and reliving “that night” as often as possible.

 

Yes, I am looking forward to tomorrow.