Keystroke Journal

Once again another reunion took place over the weekend with my high school friends living along the East coast. Of the 15 lovely ladies expected to come, there were only 10 of us who made it. The rest weren’t able to join because of motherly concerns which we understood. But there was one special friend who took time to be with us by traveling all the way from Denver, CO to Germantown, MD last Saturday and going back home the next day. Our online social networking somehow helped us to keep each other updated thus in our second meeting, we gave more emphasis on the group’s favorite past time – magic sing. For those of us who can’t sing well, we either joined in the chorus or danced our way with the music. It was like having a girls’ sleep-over with no other family members around. We had a blast -- wholesome fun! Our theme was Luau complete with Hawaiian decors and music except that we weren't wearing our grass skirts. Just like in any Filipino gatherings, food was the center of eve...

I was busy working on a project in the computer when my IM alerted me with a new message received in my email inbox. I saw a familiar name but I wasn’t sure if it was the same person I know. Thus, I immediately checked out my inbox and it was indeed an unexpected email from someone. His message was brief but filled with anticipation. After reading his email, I wasn’t sure how long I stared at the monitor as I tried to recall the years. We went to the same alma mater in grade school. Then I remember the first time we bumped into each other was more than 10 years after. He got my number and he called for sometime then we lost touch. He was still single at the time. A few years later, out-of-the blue, he called and for awhile we rekindled our friendship. And then we lost touch again due to the long distance. At the time, he was already married and I moved on with my life. Now surprisingly, here he is elated to finally find me again through cyberspace. To quote him, I tried so hard to find...

This morning, I had a chance to chat with a friend for the first time after our grade school graduation. After some exchanges of hi’s and hello’s, we ended up talking about our upcoming reunion. Unfortunately, it’s going to be a thousand miles away from where I am right now. My friend, however, came all the way from another country to surprise our batchmates in the homecoming. I am also excited for the event but my friend is more anxious in meeting the rest of the group. “I think I’m the only one who’s single in the group,” she said. “”No there’s so and so who are still single and are looking forward to see our group, too.” I said. “I’m worried because what will I tell them about me? I don’t have a spouse or kids to talk about. I don’t think I’m even successful.” she confided. “I understand how you feel," I said, “but then don’t compare yourself with the rest of the group. You are who you are. Success isn't measured by what status you are in. Besides, you won’t be talking ab...

“Do you still draw ballerinas?” was the first question asked by a former grade schoolmate who recently reconnected with me. I recall dancing ballet but drawing ballerinas? I completely forgot about my hidden talent until he mentioned about it. How can he still remember it when it’s been ages since we last saw each other in the Philippines and now that we’re even more than a thousand miles apart – he’s in Australia and I’m in the US? I don’t even remember how we started as friends. But he remembered. It was through that hidden talent that we became friends. According to him, after class, he would always ask me to draw ballerinas for him. But after graduation, our communication stopped and we never had a chance to reunite until recently when he found me in a networking site. As expected, he asked me to draw ballerinas again for old times’ sake. I don’t know if I can still draw one now but such request led me to rediscover something about my childhood favorite hobby -- drawing ballerinas...

Two weeks ago, I had episodes of bizarre dreams. In one night, I saw a mouse running under my comforter. It was scary! I can still remember how my heart palpated when I awoke. In another night, I was entering rooms and saw different sizes, shapes, colors of closed and open, antique doors. I got confused. The next night, I was climbing steps, up and down then I was in a dungeon. I saw a particular shrinking gray elephant and a motionless dark bison along the way. I was frightened. What are they doing there? And yes, there were people, too. People of diverse nationalities, personalities and languages. In the middle of the night, I would be awake, perplexed. What were all those dreams all about? Never did I realize that those symbols will have something to do with my short notice trip to Ontario, Canada. The truth is, I wasn’t even thinking of having a trip this month nor was I thinking of a certain place in Canada. But out of the blue, I got a call from Canada and two days ...

The last time we saw each other was three decades ago. Our last photo together was taken during our grade 6 graduation picture. After grade school, we went to different schools. Some went to an exclusive girls' or boys' high school institution while others went to a public high school system. Only a few maintained friendships until college while most of us lost track of each other. Recently, however, someone’s endless searching effort brought some of us back together again through an e-group. The wonder of online technology made it easier for us to communicate and see how we now look these days from the last time we saw each other. But still, meeting them in person, after all these years, is incomparable; it's more personal and spontaneous. A friend in New Jersey opened their house to host the weekend gathering with friends coming from another town in New Jersey; from different states like New York, Maryland, Virginia and all the way from Nevada. Meeting my East Coast US-ba...

Recently, I was invited by my grade school classmates and schoolmates to join them in e-group/online conferences. It's a delight to reconnect despite the distance and time zone differences (from US East coast, West coast, Hawaii, Philippines, Japan to Saudi Arabia). Thanks to advance technology. Looking at our old photos posted online, I couldn't help but reminisce at our happy childhood years together. If not for the ones posted there would be events I could have even forgotten. It is also amazing how some of my friends were not just able to keep their photos but still have them where they are now settled. On my part, I couldn't wait to go back to MNL and share my old Kodak collections of childhood memories as well. But it will take some time thus I'll just have to be content on relishing the moments online. It's a reality that the course of time has changed our physical attributes, present status, spiritual journey and outlook in life. Yet, despite these undeniabl...

A friend of mine forwarded me this message: God doesn't give you the people you want, He gives you the people you NEED to help you, to hurt you, to leave you, to love you, and to make you into the person you were meant to be. -Anonymous