Ordinary meetings give extraordinary feelings

I find pleasure in meeting old friends and sharing new stories. A few weeks ago, I bumped into an old friend of mine whom I haven’t seen in over a year. We had a few sticks of cigar together and went on with our usual casual talk about how expensive items have become, compared people from here and there, talked about books and authors, and shared old memories. Then he said, “I find it amusing that, even when we haven’t seen each other in over a year, it only seemed like yesterday that we sat on the grass of Sunshine Park and talked about the same things.”

I find that amusing as well. Very amusing, and amazing actually.

A couple of days ago I met up with a very special friend and his parents at Glorietta. I haven’t seen him in over a year as well, but we often talked online and shared stories though text and Facebook (the wonder of Facebook). His parents decided to leave the two of us to catch up on things. While waiting for their transport to arrive, his father put his hand on my head and rubbed it, similar to how you rub the top of a silly kid’s head. I saw him look at me so fondly. His mother gave me a hug and a pinch, and told me to meet her in Baguio. Of course, I said yes.

Meetings are very wonderful indeed. Whether they’re old friends or new acquaintances, I love the feeling of connection forged when meeting people. The way you open yourself to new lives, new stories, and sometimes, life lessons through their experiences.  

But every meeting entails a farewell. But as friends part, distances made, and new meetings encountered, we look forward to a time when we can say, “We meet again, dear friend”.

I’m looking forward to meeting dear old friends in Baguio. In time, I will see you again.

On money and charity

When I was a kid, I couldn't stop wishing that time will pass quickly so I can be an adult already. But now that I'm an adult, I couldn't stop wishing that I'm a kid again with simple pleasures in life.

Similarly, when I was at the University, I couldn't stop wishing to graduate and start working. Now that I'm working and earning for "some" of my basic needs, I couldn't stop wishing that I'm back at the University.

Many of us have, I'm sure, have complained more than once about the hardships of living and earning so little money, despite the hard-work and efforts we put into our jobs. Some of us might want to earn more than what we already do either to completely support ourselves and start living indepently, or at least help ease our family's expences. 

When I started working and finally realized the difficulties and hardships that earning on my own entails, I started to set SOME of my priorities right. Yeah, it was hard to not spend on a good pair of shoes, but it has to be done. I realized that I started being a little "kuripot" when buying things. I now even think twice when buying a bag of chocolates that's worth more than a hundred bucks.

Yes, money is really hard to come buy.

Today, while on my way to meet an old friend, I saw a middle aged woman crying rather loudly at one corner of  the train station. Being a frequent train passenger, I know that it's the first time I've seen her there. She's notone of the usual beggars you see at the station who, no matter how much you give, stays there for the remainder of their unfortunate lives. The woman was crying out to whomsoever will her. "Kahit magkano lang po! Kailangan ko lang po ng tulong!". 

I stared at her and walked past. "What a bogus", I said to myself. Just when I was about to take another flight of steps up the station, I heard her cry out again. "Maawa po kayo. Kahit magkano lang po."

I stopped to look at her for a little while. I realized that no one, except for myself, evens stopped and took another glimpse at the obviously grief stricken woman. Then, I had a strange feeling. I ignored it until it felt overwhelming. I felt pity. Not for the crying woman, but for those people who have chosen to turn a blind eye and deaf ears on the woman who obviously needed their help.

Needless to say, I went out of my way, took our my wallet and got a P20.00 bill (the only money that I can spare at that time). I actually felt a wave of embarrassment becaus I can only give her so little. As I handed her the bill, she stopped sobbing into her hand towel and looked up into my eyes. Her eyes shifted from me to the bill that I'm offering. Suddenly, she grabbed my hand into both of hers and  started wailing "thank you" in between her sobs.

As I walked on my own way, I started thinking of that weird feeling growing at the pit of my stomach. Whether it's happiness, sadness, pity, pride, restlessness, contentment, a mixture of all those feelings or a feeling in between those emotions, I couldn't simply describe it. I wondered if I'm feeling regret of shedding out money when I know within myself that I need every penny that I earn. "Mahirap na ang buhay ngayon" as so everyone says.

I sat in the train, still contemplating on that feeling. My attempts proved to be futile, for up until this moment, I cannot describe what it is. But I do know that we both touched each other's lives. A simple gesture from the both of us (sharing money on my part, and the woman's unending gratitude).

In the end, I came to remember that simple life lesson that we have all been taught when we were young and naive about that corruption of the world, and that is to SHARE. Why? Personally, I think this is because human gestures are sacred and are full of consequences. We can choose to touch and inspire the lives of the people around us, but we also have the choice of either ignoring these people or inflicting them harm. Whatever we choose, in the end, we still have to share our lives people we know and don't know. Because it is in sharing that our soul grows.