Musings

How are you guys? It’s been a while and I mean I haven’t actually read posts on my reader feed and posted something in mine. Do you know that feeling that you have neglected something, something precious and maybe you will agree, blogging has done that for me.

It was a busy weekend and it will be a busy week too. I got some blisters on my fingers. Wearing gardening gloves is a useless exercise. We have let the carabao grass grow thick and it is hard to skirt around the  concrete walkways. I am halfway through and have to finish it before the rain comes.

August is here, one of the rainiest months of the year and there is a typhoon coming although it would just pass through the Philippine area of responsibility but it would bring monsoon rains to the north. We’ve been having  thunderstorms the past days but I am praying the  monsoon rains would not inundate Metro Manila. There is still that inner fear that I feel every time the rainy season sets in.

It’s still dark outside, a perfect time for that hot cup of coffee before I go out and finish the task of trimming our carabao grass.  I am looking forward to catching up on my reading once I finish it. Lately, I was engrossed reading news and comments on social media  about  politics here in our country although my head aches with all those negative comments. The way a certain politician would do anything to win, by hook or by crook  makes me puke. If he wins, we are doomed. I am praying that the electorate would think twice and discern enough before deciding who to vote for and not be swayed by dirty politics. We never learn, some of us  have that sadistic tendency to vote for someone who does not deserve our votes. Sorry, I always try to avoid writing political blog post but this one takes the cake.

How do you greet each morning when you wake up? Do you start it with a prayer like I do? Or do you spend a few moments just watching the day unfolds?  Do you welcome the day with gladness in your heart? Do you celebrate each day with anticipation? Are you thankful for another day of blessing?

Good morning, I’m off to garden 🙂

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The Summer of 42

I wish to share  my very first blog which I originally posted at my Multiply site.   My journal entries way back in college don’t count of course, they are more personal – the growing up years contained in a thick notebook  which I still keep until now.  Funny how, this story talks about teenage life, first love, and heartaches. It reminds me so much of those days and nights  that I’ve done the same soul-searching. Life is full of chances to grow a little better, life is full of experiences that teach us how to truly love.

The Summer of  42 (April 22, 2008)

I truly believe that something happens when you least expect it.  Yesterday, while I was waiting for my urologist at the satellite clinic of the Medical City at Ever-Ortigas, I decided to while away the time going to my favorite jaunts. First stop was NBS, they have this bargain bin in one corner of the store and it is always a delight to find something worth-reading.  Next was a visit at the friendly Booksale lady at the 2nd floor.  Third stop was at Books and Mags. I was just browsing with no particular book in mind. There is a growing stash of books most of which I made on impulse buy.  I decided that I will stick to my Wish List and wait for another sale perhaps at Bestsellers and NBS.

Tom Clancy (plenty stuff there), Dean Koontz, Binchy – I found this small volume, Summer of 42 by Herman Raucher, a Dell book, 1971 edition. What came to mind was the music, Theme from Summer of 42 by Michelle Legrand. I distinctly remember that way back in 1971, this was one of the contenders for Best Instrumental Arrangement/Composition along with Theme from Shaft by Isaac  Hayes and Theme from Love Story by Francis Lai, for the prestigious Grammy Awards. Of course, Theme from Shaft won hands down (and I still have my Jingle chordbook magazine, Chapter IX to prove it),. But I am digressing here.

Summer of 42 – made into film by Warner Bros. with Jennifer O’Neill (Dorothy) and Gary Grimes(Hermie) as the main characters.  In everyone’s life, there is Summer of 42. A beautiful love story, poignant, warm, funny, sad, coming of age – it is just perfect.

The summer Hermie turned fifteen, he fell deeply  and passionately in love with an older woman of twenty-two and a married one at that.  Along with his two best friends Oscy and Benjie, Hermie spent his time running and playing on the beach and it was there that he saw and fell in love with Dorothy.  The story revolves around the fun and mischief of the three young boys, displaying their raw innocence about sex. It behooves me to think what life was like in ’42.

I dare not describe the details here because it is always best to read the book and enjoy it. The wording  of the song from the book sums it all:

last night I started out happy
last night my heart was so gay
last night I found myself dancing
in my favorite cabaret.
you were completely forgotten
just an affair of the past,
then  suddenly something happened to me
and I found my heart beating, oh so fast

there will be no new romance for me,
it’s foolish to start
for that old feeling
is still in my heart.

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