A Box of Chocolates

Ave Maria:-)

Was it Forrest Gump who said : My momma always said, "Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." Oh Forrest Gump (so magnificently portrayed by Tom Hanks) .. how true, how true.

After a particularly tiring week --- with fatigue catching up from almost all possible sources -- work, chores, ministry, appointments ( it's like the litany of people we see each given week, from friends, business, family , strangers hahaha) I wondered if I'd make it  to a surprise invitation --  Jeaffrey our bubbly classmate from high school was home for her father's one yr death anniversary... in a day or two she'd head back home to the U.S...

TRUE CONFESSION: Only started to catch up with mini-reunions with either high school or college friends the last 2 yrs.

On the college friends' front - managed a few lunch/dinner dates --- classmates either celebrating birthdays or some leaving for or flying in from abroad --- 

With high school friends -- I'm lucky to see Vicky because we work in the same company-- and then Lyn Rances now and then coz we meet at parish functions... otherwise it's a rare meeting with a small group - again when a classmate comes home  like Maricel or Jeaf.... let's see ....last year..we did meet tho' twas a sad occasion, the death of Isa Kana.   

And then for both high school and college..I didn't make it to homecomings, alumni whatever.... hahaha I should be court martialed, I guess... at any rate any excuse I give will either sound lame or unacceptable or unbelievable so must live with the consequences.

But for this particular case... was wondering what the Lord had in store for us.... I already couldn't make it to a college friends' dinner date coz it was scheduled same date of Msgr Sabino Vengco's  heaven-sent parish visit --- I still need to browse thru notes and videos taken -- oh my God --- his talk  ( Year of Faith : Article one-Apostles Creed)  was fiery ... he was a live flame and all who were present and heard him so lucky to be there....

As luck and fate would have it.... Lyn and I could go..but only becoz Taps so kindly sent her car to pick us up --- Taps should be awarded most Helpful Classmate Somethin' for pickin' up aging and helpless women hahaha ....Lyn and I boarded her car at Trinoma...proceeded to Libis ... where Taps still had to see some patients ----- her driver went to pick up Terry at BLue Ridge... then Lyn and I had a blissful hour to catch up... 

Dear Section One classmates -- you remember how Lyn is? she is still the same..calm and serene... like Mother Earth... and I think the years have added more to the innate wisdom given her.   We talked aBout everything and nothing ... silly as silly can be... we crossed over to the mall .... where our eyes popped out at the prices..hehehe...twas a high -end section -- all Branded... we laughed as we saw Gucci bags priced lowest at P65K....   shoes at P12thou.... are you kidding???? Cheapskate that I am was about to throw a fit..harharhar....Lyn naman goes by the dictum..well since old age, diabetes, bad back have set in... I settle for Very , Very good..comfortable, flat, leather shoes -- and yes Virginia..that has to be a bit expensive.... 

How strange how a simple walk and chat can be relaxing, enervating..soothing.. with Lyn you can be yourself -- not that I'd play pretend with others but would probably be more maingat so as not to offend.

Finally Taps is done with work...Terry arrives and voila we head for the San Juan home where Jeaf's aunt would host the dinner..... Squeaking , gurgling with laughter , teasing are  the natural course with friends from way back.

When we reached San Juan... we were totally not prepared for the mansion -- like the romantic villas where Rogelio De La Rosa would woo Carmen Rosales.... Dios ko.... ang laki...lot area and house itself... But more than the hugeness..twas the utter beauty of the old architecture... how they managed to preserve it is proof of the family's love for the ancestral home. Wonderful wooden narra planks... furniture and setting enough to make us excuse ourselves and change into a Ma. Clara terno or patadyong... We sat at a long table - formal setting yet we didn't feel stiff at all... it probably runs in Jeaf's genes... her relatives so sweet , so hospitable.

Ivy Almario and Marisyl Principe Lagman welcomed us -- of course Jeaf was there with her whoops  and infectious laughter.

From the dining area ..windows were open so we could see the garden and trellis well- lighted with capiz lamps.... Here's a bonus...Ms. Villegas in her 70's or more.. our teacher in social studies was also there... as sweet as ever tho' struggling with her back and hip ... Naturally , she didn't recognize any of us..as we had her as teacher, was it Grade 4..nonetheless  she embraced each one... how wonderful she is.

Food was elegant... tamang-tama lang...everyone was dying to have snapshots of the place... the gov' t was offering to take it as Landmark but no sirree...family wouldn't part with this precious property.

You see old places and you get the haunted feeling.. but this place had good vibes..and if there were spirits there they mustav' been happy ones, hehe.

Marisyl -as composed as ever... shared  hilarious stories of how she has been able to mentally forget and block cases of her patients so that when they meet in public..it wouldn't be awkward.... 

Ivy- hay sexy as ever... tiny waist , sweet demeanor and then her heels potential anti-terrorist weapons.. forgot to tell Lyn: you can only wear those heels in your dreams 'day.

Taps - engaging Ms. Villegas in table talk, that was thoughtful of her... and she is always the organizer 

Lyn-- enjoying the food and company

Terry-- as funny as ever -- she rocks, tell you that. 

Jeaf: cuddly , cuddly ..cuddly -- she has become as most classmates I guess a super -momma --now a nurse asssigned in research ..so she misses taking care of her patients.

Maye-  in my mind? "Dearest Lord: I am so proud of them all ...I am grateful for the opportunities to re-connect with them... if there was friendship in the past , it can even grow sweeter,deeper now."

Highlight moments: 

the pictorial ...swerte ng mga babaeng ito at ayaw mag cooperate ng camera ko...hmmmphhh otherwise madagdagan ng isang oras kaka pose ninyo lol

Taps and Lyn in the van ...exchanging notes on their diabetic meds and status

Maye to Terry : Can you hear them?

Terry: Well wala ako nyan... cancer lang naman an sakin.

Maye: ( to myself) she is crazy as everrrr.

Ivy walking..walking peering into the design , the furniture.... if we "laymen" of interior design  were so taken by the house..how much more for our Ivy? Later... inantok na ang beauty natin..napagod siguro

Marisyl :  would not leave without the snapshots...and then later " I have to leave..may procedure ako at 7a.m."          

         Kami:(chorus) Good-bye Doctora

Ivy and Syl leave in their cars.

Terry rides with Jeaf.

Ms. Villegas happens to stay at Libis..so she, Lyn and I ride with Taps.

At Libis : Life is box of chocolates right? Pahabol na sharing with just the 3 of us: Lyn , Taps moi.

Save the best for the last.

We decided we'd have to meet regularly , pray eat share together... Now that's the best chocolate ever.

Jeaf says Bong is planning a reunion U.S. edition ...will pray for that as early as now...that as many  as possible can make it. And may the good  Lord grant us a joyous event where His love and Presence be felt. for His love makes us complete.................. God bless us all.... Maye