October Ends

Where has October gone?  I must admit it was a little  uneventful except of course celebrating my birthday a few days ago.  It was a simple gathering of family and close friends  but it was fun. No birthday of course is complete without all these pictures. Nissa actually took several shots, she was our photographer of the day but uploading them all here is a bit impractical. Nate enjoyed our simple celebration at home playing  with my friends and showing off.  We all laughed when he finished those plates of spaghetti ignoring the other viands served on the table.  He enjoyed blowing the little candle on the tiny birthday cake which Josef bought for me. It is always fun when you are with friends and family.

Does life really begins at sixty? The past days, I thought of how it is any different from when I was 40 or when I turned 59. Maybe, it is really not in the number of years that life matters. It’s how one looks at it , it’s how one thinks that the added years somehow make one grow and gets wiser. The comfort of knowing that one is blessed and loved, the days spent with family and friends knowing that they are always there through thick and thin, the happy moments of endless sharing….what bliss!

 

 

 

 

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When August Comes To A Close And September Rushes In

Welcome September!

Mom was watching an early morning show this morning and I noticed that one of their props is a duly decorated Christmas tree.  I smiled and thought “the countdown begins, it’s the start of the BER months, how lovely!” 

It’s the longest Christmas celebration ever. Oh yes, I am listening to the Christmas album of Johnny Mathis at the moment (on YouTube of course).  Who would not be thrilled at the thought of the most celebrated and most joyous season of the year?  It makes me sad though that every time I get to listen to Johnny Mathis’ Christmas album I always think of Dad. It was his favorite and you know Christmas is near when you hear these lovely songs of old.  He died one December night almost nine years ago.  One of my friends shouted out on her FB wall, “ilabas na si Jose Mari Chan”.  Jose Mari Chan is one of our most talented singers. he compose his own songs and he has several Christmas albums that find their way in every home and on radio stations when September is here.

This might be a bit late for September 1 because the last two  paragraphs were on draft  and I haven’t posted anything here since  August 30.  Seems as if I need to be reminded that it’s been six days since my last post and a week since posting a longer one.  I’ve been busy (same reason as before). The truth is I got so engrossed reading the past days. Gosh, I am happy to tell you that I’ve finished 85 books out of the 100 books I promised myself to read  this year and Goodread’s Reading Challenge for 2016 is a nice motivation.  15 more books to go and I’m done.

Know what, I am excited to be called a SC in  two months. When you reach the age of sixty, you’ll be proud to wear that senior citizen’s badge proclaiming to the world that you are  one.  You’ll always be in the priority lane, you get a 20% discount on medicines provided you have a legit prescription from your doctor, you can also enjoy discounts in restaurants, hotels, concerts, movies, air fare, groceries  etc. This afternoon, I went to SSS (Social Security System) to get an application form for retirement and to  inquire about the other things needed to be submitted.  Their branch in our place was full but I was able to talk to one of their employees after an hour of waiting. We had a short chat about my previous employment, how much I’ll gonna get every month for life, what identity papers I need to submit. She said, “I am sure Ma’am Arlene di tayo magkikita sa birthday mo pero right after your birthday dadalaw ka dito”.  It simply means that the day after I turned sixty, she’ll see me again. Getting in years gracefully, getting a little wiser with age while ignoring the occasional aches and pains of the advancing years.

Just grateful for everyday blessings! How’s the start of your week?

 

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