I just had to take a closer shot because I thought it's synthetic -- just like the glow in the dark toys that kids have. But in reality those were real plants taking refuge on the rock together with the moss.


This caught my attention as it does not display leaves at all. It even reminded me of a mythical creature from Greek mythology that I learned from my Literature subject in college. It just made me call this as Medusa. And just as Mommy P and I was thinking how'd they do it, I think we found the answer:


Sorry kuya but I had to take a picture of how you do it a least on a different and bigger plant. We also found a few stalls selling bonsai plants and other planting materials.

There were also a suiseki exhibit by the Natural Stone Society of the Philippines. The exhibit is free and open to the public and will run until June 5. So if you will be within the area until Wednesday, give it a peak. Trust me, if we enjoyed it, for sure you would too. It's worth the walk in the park. 

This is a long weekend at least for me. I had been on leave since the 24th. Over the past month, I had planned and promised myself that I will take a short vacation right after the midterm elections (I was actually planning to do it two weeks after). For the reason that aside from what has been a month, I realized that since working at the firm for a year and two months, I really have not tried to "take a break". Things had been good, aside from the fact that I had no pending jobs at the office and was able to partially turn-over the accounting task to our new recruit so I guess, I deserve some "me time".

I'm getting the most of it. Except on Friday, I had to wake up early and leave for the airport and took the opportunity of taking a long afternoon siesta which I have not done for so long. Yesterday afternoon, I found myself sitting inside the coffee shop after what has been a long time. In that place, over a cup of Moroccan Mint Tea and lemon square while Switchfoot's Dare You To Move was playing, I indulged in a novel and was finally able to finish Fairy Tale Fail by Mina Esguerra. I've had that book for weeks and it was indeed an indulgent read. It made me to further attest that books are one of the best companions (especially for a single girl like me), as it keeps my mind busy with something worthwhile even if I am on rest and relaxation mode.

I'm still on "Chick Lit" hangover as of the moment so I could not divulge a lot about the book. I'll write about it in a future post but for me it's a good one. And as per some two cents worth, these lines won me over:

"Good guys did not dump you and tell you they just did not love you. Good guys broke up only for very good reasons and gave you the impression that everything can be fixed. When you tell a girl that  you have to break up because of her 'issues', if she loves you, she will think that all she has to do is change and you'll go back to her. But if you weren't brave enough to just break up, honestly, then, you're just being cruel."

It's getting late and technically the last day of this long weekend. So far, I found out that it feels good to be on your own even for once just appreciating the simple things. It's like getting a breath of fresh air that my inner self has been craving for

"Grief can be a burden, but also an anchor. You get used to the weight, how it holds you in place.”

Yes. It's marked on my Outlook calendar too.

It's that day of May when I get that shy look in approaching my mom to greet her. Nevertheless, I still do so. Just weeks ago, when I realized that Mother's Day is fast approaching, I thought of throwing a surprise because there are three mother celebrating that day at home. I really intended to spend a fortune to give them something until the inevitable happened two days before Mother's Day.

..was almost the same kind of grief that first visited me years ago.

Yesterday, my grandmother passed away after more than three years of battling cancer. When I came home from work, it did not easily sink in my mind even if my mom broke the news even repeating it thrice. A lot of people are telling us that while death is a painful phase, we should be happy that her hardships are finally over and that she's now in a happier place.

As I climbed to bed last night, I started to feel and know that the grief I felt years ago would return. And while I was not grieving out of heartbreak like how it was then, the feelings were the same -- that feeling when you wanted to sleep but you cannot, wanting to eat but does not feel like doing so.

After last night, a lot of things had changed -- immediately. For two years, the light next to my room is lit up 24/7. But last night was the first time to switch it off; and it was me who had to do it. This was the first funeral to be held at our home since we first moved here 17 years ago.

I've been employed for years and this is the first time I had to file for a vacation leave for a different reason --  bereavement.

Despite having seen three people dear to me leave for a much deserved happier trip, I've had a different, unusual perception of death; something that I find it difficult to put to words. That despite "being old enough to understand things" maybe, death is an exception to those.

The kind of grief I knew before was just the same ... or so I thought.

I still decided to go to work and my family did not object in letting me do so. I know I needed some diversion and it helped me deal with sadness. On my way to the office, I realized, God took my words seriously. I once prayed that if God will call my grandma home, that He would do it when I am away. She passed away at 2:15 pm while I was at the office and no one told me.

It also helped that I had friends around. My former teacher, Ma'am Cez took time to text me in the wee hours; office colleagues Mommy P and Cherry never failed in encouraging me to pray. Upon learning that my grandma was gone, Januver was among the first to phone me and as I broke down in chest-wrenching sobs, he kept telling me to be strong for my mom; to never let her see me on my weakest at this time. And his words were in a way, among those that I needed. I did not see my mom cry much and while she is not verbose about it, I know deep down that she was grieving too and I should be the one to lift her spirits.


During my morning church visit today, the priest mentioned the passage from John 16:20 You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. It was one of the verses that I kept when I first experienced grief and in a big way, it was a source of enlightenment. Somehow, it lightened the load. Yes, my grandma may no longer be here but she's in a far better, happier place happily reunited with my grandfather and free from pain or suffering.