Stream of Consciousness
J.D. Salinger Dies at 91. R.I.P.
I survived the miseries of high school by being schmartsy. It helped that my dark period in literacy (marked by Sweet Valley Kids, Twins, and Babysitter’s Club) hit me when I was 9. When I entered high school at 14, not wanting to call attention to myself, and finding most of my colleagues petty with their need for boyfriends, attention, what have you’s, I used intellectual snobbery to make up for my insecurities. I started reading “real” books as opposed to the romance novel drivel that my classmates preferred. Jessica Zafra was the main protein of my bitchery, and then there was Holden Caulfield in Catcher of the Rye. I found comfort in his criticism of “phonies”, it served as my prozac because I wasn’t psychologically damaged enough for medication.
Several years and a lit-related degree later, I figured that if ‘Catcher’ were published today, I would have dismissed it as another published blog. Still, it served its purpose, it was the one friend that I felt understood me when nobody else did. I know that other angsty, angry teenagers feel the same way.
Thanks J.D. Salinger, for being one of the few highlights of early high school. While my books and outlook on life have changed, that never will.
What are you thankful for this 2009?
For the most part, I’m thankful for surviving. I made pretty difficult decisions in the past several months, and while I’ve had to suffer socially and financially for these changes, it could have been worse.
I am thankful for very new experiences. This has been a “Yes I can!” year for me – I’ve taken on bigger responsibilities that I would’ve shunned last year.
I am very, very thankful for new friends that made my world a bigger, brighter place.
Now, I hope to get a moleskin planner to say thanks for.
Justice for the Maguindanao Massacre
For those who haven’t been following the news – Maguindanao Death Toll Climbs to 57. There is never an excuse for violence. Never. Those war lords must be brought down and justice must be served.
Also, while reading this headline, I recalled a quote from the TV movie, Nuremburg, “Lack of conviction is the root of all evil.”
This entry from PCIJ best sums up my sentiments on the entire issue.
In the Doorway to Paradise
Picture taken from Transition Culture
Last week, My Mom’s friend was found dead in her hotel room in Tibet. When Mom immediately relayed the news to me, I asked, “You’re kidding, right?”
“Why would I joke about that?!” Mom shrieked.
“Well since Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson, a lot of death hoaxes are going around.”
Mom’s friend finally made it to Tibet after months of planning. She’s texted Mom regularly since her arrival and has complained of breathlessness, mouth sores, and dizziness. She was also a chain smoker, which probably didn’t help her up in the high altitudes. As the story goes, she was preparing for a tour one day and rang up the front desk at 5am to remind them to set her breakfast early. The hours ticked by, the tour guide arrived, and she didn’t go downstairs. They rang her room and no one picked up. The front desk got concerned and went up to her room. After a few knocks, no one answered, so they broke the door open. They found Mom’s friend dead on her bed.
“Rockstar.” I remarked.
Mom’s friend didn’t lead a happy life. She was lonely most of the time, for as long as I could remembered she was depressed and not very easy to get along with. As another friend mused, “This might be a blessing.”
The family traveled to Tibet to claim the body. They wanted an autopsy but was put off by the amount of required paperwork. They decided to cremate the body and scatter her ashes there. They bought a turquoise urn to keep the ashes in. For lack of Christian or Catholic priests in the area, they decided to have her final rites in a Tibetan tradition. They would head out to a lake two hours from Lhasa, where some of her ashes would rest. The rest of her, they’d take back home, where friends and family could properly see her off.
May she finally find peace in the heavens above.
A Brand New Day
Say hello to my little friend…
I have been reconnecting with an old, dear friend on AOL, who referred me to Madi Ju’s photography and her “e-famous” Love Diary. I was so moved by the honesty and intimacy of the diary, I got inspired to start my own. To start, I got myself a new digital camera, the Nikon L10 you see above. I committed myself to the 365 Days project, except I’m not big on self-portraiture. You can see my “drabbles” in photography over at Kapilas at Tula (translated: Image and Poetry).
Also, a plug for my photography friend, the lovely Didang Alvarez, if you have any debuts or occasions that you’d like captured on camera, she’s your girl.
Life of the Party, or not
JM writes about having his wallet snatched at the recent Fete de la Musique.
Sorry to hear about your wallet, JM. I feel your pain.
I’ve been lucky not to have my wallet snatched in the last several years. Since the last time I got picked in high school, I haven’t put much personal possessions in my wallet. It feels sparse and dull, but it’s those trinkets that hurt the most in the event of loss. Among the trinkets floating somewhere out there is the only group picture of #pinoy_otaku, a letter from Sammi, old but rare Sailormoon trading cards I got from my best friend, and my Red Cross ID card.
While the Fete is one of the biggest musical events in the country, I wasn’t especially itching to go out that evening. Last time I went to fete was a few years ago when it was a real festival with one day for every musical genre. My BlueRep friends I went to Rocker Day, where a wave of sweaty rakistas catcalled and bowed before me as I passed. I am not exagerrating, Ren can vouch for this.
So last Saturday instead of Fete, I attended a quiet little gathering for the birthday of one my ye olde college roommates, followed by drinks with Lauren and Marco. Maybe it’s my age, or my growing hermitage, but I enjoyed those more and didn’t feel like I missed out on much from Fete.
What’s Up, Coconut?
Summer raket season is over. The Worlds and Words class of Pocketful of Kids ended with a bang. Congratulations to the class of Summer 2009! I’m very proud of you!
My article on XBX Katipunan is out on the latest issue of Playground Magazine, pick that up at your nearest bookstore!
Harana wrapped a successful run in Manila and Amsterdam. Congratulations!
As term ends for a bulk of my ESL classes, I’m looking and praying for more paying projects. Some short projects have come up, I should stop procrastinating and start working on them.