Because I Am Nearing 50. (Part Five)

1. I usually eat with my hands when I am at home. So now you can understand why I am 25 kilos overweight, and counting.

2. I was invited to eat out one time in an exclusive restaurant, you know the kind where a waiter quietly stands by your table and attends only to you. I did not know what to order from the menu, so I chose something which had some kind of 'egg' with it. Out came the food, served looking like it was worth a million bucks. I looked down on my plate to see three or four pieces of quail eggs in some sauce. I told my host, 'oh, ok. it's the sushal form of tokneneng.' My host rolled his eyes and told me in Ilocano, 'apay, Christianne, mangan ka laeng kuman?'. So I shut up. 

3.  I had, in my 50 years of existence, two shouting bouts over phone, with one big boss, and one subordinate. As in we were yelling. Oh yes, I lost my cool with a boss. 

4. I regret having done that in both instances. I feel cheap, now that I think about it. 

5. I got caught beating the red light twice. With official tickets, and license confiscation. It happened fifteen years apart. 

6. I get a kick out of watching 'Family Guy'. I think Seth McFarlane, the writer, has Filipino blood. His comedy is so Filipino. (He has none, actually.)

7. When I was little, I remember singing, 'Top Of The World' by the Carpenters, at campaign sorties. 

8. I went back to teaching when I was pregnant with my eldest. I figured the kid would imbibe all the knowledge I was 'rebooting' on Economics. She ended up taking Psychology. Oh well.

9. I was in the Glee Club all my high school life. 

10. I wore OurTribe sandals back then. Now the brand is not that popular anymore. 

11. I was called, 'inglisera kuno' which was meant to be an insult. I found that interesting and used it as my name in my blog, at Twitter, at Instagram, and the rest of my social media accounts save for Facebook. 

12. I was named after an aunt who was stillborn, 'Christian'. I was born a year after she was, and my folks named me, 'Christianne'. 

13. I am always addressed, 'sir' or Mr., when introduced to a crowd or when spoken to over the phone by people who do not know me personally, because of my name. My standard line to correct that is: 'Babae po ako.'

14. When I met Bamboo in person, I shook his hand. Now I regret not hugging him until he would have been breathless.

15. I am the 'touchy-feely' kind of 'malambing'. My son hates it but then again, I am his mother. No choice there.

16. One of the places where I take my kids for snacks on weekends (which I did for years) is Cafe Eperanza in San Fernando, La Union. The staff there saw them grow up. 

17. I curse aloud inside the car when I am alone driving and other drivers on the street decide to become stupid. 

18. Three major things happened to me just before Christmas this year. First, an old colleague called me after so long, because it is his birthday, he said, 'So you can greet me.'  Nice. Second, it was revealed to me that the least of the people you expect will betray you. Not nice. Last, a childhood friend extended me love and support from a distance. She told me, 'Let it sink in, 'Tianne. I am relieved that you are free from pain...you are home...you deserve someone or something better...you made mistakes only because you are always with a good heart.' Really, really nice. 

19. Of course I told two of my closest friends about it. And while I was naturally happy about the two nice things, I was disturbed by the one 'not nice' thing. But I did not dwell. I let it go. Sayang my energy if I get mad. One said, 'Bilib na ako sa maturity mo. Ganyan din kaya ako pag nearing 50 na ako?'. The other said, 'Haan ka nga agungeten, isu da ti kakaasi (those who betrayed me, pfffft), haan nga sika.' 

20. I do not get mad any longer, in the normal sense that I do. (Which is not very nice.) I just believe in 'you reap what you sow'. 

21. Coast Call in San Juan is becoming our second home. Oliver is our favorite waiter. Good-looking guy. And good at his work. So I let it go when he cannot pronounce my name correctly. 

22. Our small unit is now under renovation. And I am stressed by it. Then again, it is for the kids so I am excited about it as well.

23. I pray more often now. 

24. I cried when I was prayed over by a priest in the Basilica La Penafrancia in Naga City.

25. I cut my nails short for the holidays. I don't want to spend time fussing over broken nails. 

I will have to cut this 50-things to 25. Quite long, so, I would like to end this post with, 'To Be Continued'.