Woven

There were multiple possibilities of how our story could have gone.
Yet here we are,
We choose with what we know;
We create with what we have;
We forge on and dream with eyes open;
We cleave unto each other and learn to grow together;
We try to compromise amidst incidental disharmony;
We mess up and lose because life isn't always about winning.

There are multiple possibilities of how our story will fare.
By now, our beings and truths have been woven into one.
After many years, here we are, we are one.
What a comfort to know all these -
So on we'll go with this journey, and we'll keep going.

Happy 12th anniversary! ♥️

Hello, old hobby

Guess what I rediscovered lately? Like what I mentioned previously, finding a hobby during this quarantine can be a sanity-saver. So I took the opportunity and asked my husband to fix the bicycles that were just lying around at home. They're not mine - they were my dad's and nephew's and were left unused for sometime. Once they were fixed, off we go.

I cycled leisurely with friends before. We loved going through paved roads surrounded by green fields and few houses - our town has a lot of them. Sometimes, we'd visit old acquaintances on the way. We laughed at steep roads that we could not climb easily. We'd take a rest near the green fields when we're too tired. Good old days.

During the first week that my husband and I started cycling, we tried as much to get up early and ride. Cycling is a great exercise! But now that the rainy days are more frequent, we ride the bike less often (safety first). Hopefully, we can hit the road this week when we're not busy and the streets aren't wet. Here are some of the photos I took while out cycling:

Summer rice fields

Our feet on dry grounds

Morning sun

That's all for now. Take care wherever you are.☺

Refashion: Summer-ready tops

Staying at home for a long time can be frustrating and depressing; introducing something new to your routine - a hobby perhaps, can be a sanity-saver during this crisis. If you picked a hobby to try on the first week of quarantine, you probably get the hang of it by now. Consider yourself fortunate if you have access to different resources to support a hobby these days. You'll find a lot of activities to try, you just have to choose what floats your boat.

I started sewing last year, but unfortunately I do not have my Brother sewing machine here while quarantining. I content myself with my mom's mini-sewing machine (which has a lot of limitations). It's summer here and some of my old clothes could use some update. Here are a few easy refashions that I made:

The Beatles shirt

I had this shirt back in college, and I had to wash it thoroughly to remove the yellow stains first. To make it summer-ready, I cut out the original round collar and the sleeves, traced the new armholes, and finished the edges of the fabric. I also took in a little from the shoulders so that it's better fitting. 

The Beatles tank top 

Stay home, stay well

What day is it?!

What day is it again?! It's easy to lose track of days during this global pandemic, but we are not alone in this situation. If we're talking about numbers, more than a third of the world's population is under some form of restrictions.

We are on the sixth week of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) here in the Philippines; the ECQ which was first set to end on April 30 was extended until May 15. My husband and I were on a flight from Saudi Arabia a few days before the restrictions were imposed. We were quite thinking about our plan to fly home but we push through anyway amid the possibilities of flight cancellations and cities around the world announcing lockdown. Our families did not know that we were going home because (1) we wanted to surprise them, and (2) we wanted to minimize their risks of contracting the virus by not welcoming us in the international airport. Only my brother-in-law knew that we were coming and he came to pick us up at the airport.

The past month was full of uncertainties with a few new rules being implemented each week. A quarantine pass was issued for each household; the quarantine pass holder is the only one allowed to go out to buy supplies and run essential errands. Some local government units have been generous in distributing goods to the residents more than others. I am grateful that we have enough food on our tables and a roof over our heads since the ECQ was implemented; our comfortable situation makes me think about the marginalized population. It's a good thing that there are many ways where we can help - when you turn on the TV or check social media, you'll see calls for donations. If helping locally is your preference, I believe it's easy to coordinate with the authority as I have seen from friends who organized donation drives and relief operations.

If you have limited resources and just have enough to get by, then it is best to follow the rules, try as much to be healthy, and avoid catching the virus. It is hard to get sick during this pandemic. I hope we'll come out of this - stronger and more conscious and careful about our hygiene. Here is a simple reminder I made about doing our part during these days. Stay healthy, and stay at home if you have nothing important to do outside. God bless you - cheer up!

Do your share. Stay home, stay well.

Love in the time of graying hair and achy knees

"Masarap naman magluto Mommy mo," (Your mom cooks really well) my dad admitted when I  asked how was his eating after his recent operation*. Thankfully, he now eats solid foods in small amounts and appreciates mom's cooking while he's still recovering.

My parents, both in their sixties, express their affection in little doses and in vague ways. I wonder if they had been like that when they were young and when they just got married. Growing up, I rarely saw them sweet with each other since my dad's past jobs only allowed him to be home once every two to three years. I can't remember if they went out on a date, just the two of them; maybe they did once or twice but it's not a common thing. If ever they went out, it was always with us, their children. I actually haven't known a lot of long-married couples being openly affectionate; on the other hand, some married couples in our (not-so-nice) neighborhood could even be heard screaming and arguing with each other like they were always on the brink of splitting up. However, there were a few old couples I have met whose relationships were inspiring and something to look up to.

My parents' marriage isn't perfect (whose is anyway?), but I'm glad that they still stick with each other. They had been apart for a long time until my dad retired from work eight years ago. During the first few months when dad was back home, it was like they were struggling to adapt to being reunited and we, their children, were affected by that conflict. It helped that we were all grown ups at that time. We were their priorities for a long time that their relationship was brushed aside. I guess growing apart and growing old took a toll on their marriage. But I'd like to think that my parents make do with what they have. Love is not just about holding hands, hugging and kissing, and saying I love you out loud especially in the time of graying hair and achy knees, because it is there in every meal prepared, every laundry made, every dinner together, every laughter shared, and every greeting spoken on anniversaries, celebrations and birthdays. I hope that it lingers in quiet little ways.

Dad and mom when they were younger (I have yet to find out the story behind this photo)

*My dad recently underwent operation that removed his left kidney found to have a huge mass. We still don't know the biopsy results, but he's already recovering. I'm thankful that my parents are still there for each other, even though they often seemed to be in disagreement.