I am Sick-ty Five!

It started in the afternoon of Oct. 22nd. Two days before I turned 65. An innocent affair with a Coffee Almond Ice Cream led into some turbulent moments that continued for almost two days. The revolt against my internal constitution and the nagging protests from my digestive system made me a participant in the occupy the bathroom movement. Repeatedly.


The whole day Sunday I was so weak and dehydrated that I had to miss church. Bereft of spiritual strength I felt even weaker. My wife, Cynthia, stayed by my side, doing everything to nurse me back to health.


Noontime and I wished I could have fully enjoyed lunch with Cynthia's family. It was just that I was still feeling weak and a tad queasy that no matter how delicious the food my wife prepared, I could only partake so little of it.


When the day of my birthday dawned I was still feeling a bit woozy. Thankfully my appointments with the john have returned to a more or less normal routine. 


Lunch at Tokyo Cafe at Megamall was still handled with extreme caution. After that I waited in silent meditation while Cynthia met with her co-ADB retirees to plan for an upcoming reunion.


As the day came to a close I reflected on what transpired the past days. No matter how much you prepare yourself for something that you expect to be a happy event, life will still throw a curve ball at you. But when you turn into a ripe old age such as 65, you realize that there will always be surprises, some pleasant and some not so. 


Without all the fanfare and the hoopla expected from celebrating a milestone birthday, I still feel blessed. And very happy from all the greetings that I have received via text messages, phone calls and Facebook postings.


Thanks everyone for your well wishes. Dear family and friends, I love you all!

Soul Rain

roaring rain

beating down on the heliconias..


i looked up at the gray skies

and saw

a little skinny boy

slumped in the corner

of his darkened room

shedding tears 

as copious as the rain

falling outside his window

feeling alone, cold

and unloved


i closed my eyes

bowed my head

sensing the cessation of the rain

and yet

my soul is still damp

from unshed tears