Writing things that I’m grateful for this month is a little tricky. Let me explain why. There are a lot of things that has transpired over the quick days of November. It felt as though the days sped away like a mouse being chased after by a hungry cat.
Speaking of mouse (which, I am eastern zodiacally speaking), I am slowly inching my way into the rat race. Although it might seem a little bit off because of the disparity between the days, I mean, it’s nearly a year that I’ve gone corporate again, but I’m slowly beginning the burn of the race. Like, I have to prove something to myself. It’s the birthday month in December and it’ll be my silver birthday. It’s a great time for me to be a douche and excuse myself by stating that I’m having a midlife crisis when things don’t go my way. But I know myself better. I have to go up that imaginary corporate ladder and seize the moment. This is why I’m thankful for having a very understanding senior and I just wish my papers would be processed quickly in the coming days.
I also have to admit that buying a new gadget has its pros and cons, and I’m thankful that I literally saved up almost a year (plus another year of starving of on honorariums and freelance gigs) before I decided to buy a new phone. I’m just so grateful that I have learned the value of stalling for big purchases, saving up for it, and finally letting go of that money to see yourself rewarded and insanely in-like with your new shiny toy.
My dad, who won a stereo set in their annual company dinner early this month, gave me the set. I didn’t want it at first because it all started out as a joke. One of my titos asked me who among my dad’s kids will “inherit” the stereo set which my dad recently won then, and I joked that it’s natural for my dad to give it to me because he can’t give it to my other siblings due to geophysical constraints. My dad thought I was dead serious, but during the day that he hauled it over to my room, I told him that I only said it because I can’t think of anything else to say. I felt selfish as I was staring at the box. My mom, however, said that I should just be thankful that I was the one who received it and then went on and on about how it would be nicer that I should have it. And I am grateful that my father chose me instead of other siblings. I just hope they don’t read this part.
Another thing I am majorly grateful for this November is the fact that I have gone to hear my first mass in Aramco. It should’ve been an unlimited engagement according to one of my titos but since my parents are back home to enjoy the holidays, that mass is probably my last one for this year. I made namnam of every moment I was there in the compound. I couldn’t take pictures of the venue pre- or post-Eucharistic celebration so I just bathe in the glowing power of the Words (and the choir! I'm so negotiating to be a part of it) and diligently took mental pictures and juxtapose them from my memories since my last visit to the place in 2005. A lot has indeed changed since then but if there’s one thing that I still liked about hearing mass in Aramco is that it’s the most civilized mass I’ve ever been into. I swear by next year I’m going to do a comparison on how they do things here and over there in Pilipinas.
Since it’s also the last day of the Eid holidays, I’m grateful for this brief vacation because I had more time spent with my parents before they left the country. I never knew that going home could be such a harried experience! We have to box this, buy this, and arrange this and that. It was on the borderline between nightmare and sweet (I know, they don’t mix at all) but I’m just thankful for my mom showing me the ropes on how to cleverly arrange the pasalubongs in the box and how to tie the rope around the box so it has handles that won’t rip your hands off as you carry it.
I have to admit that living in another country alone is scary. I’m just thankful my parents have prepared me mentally and emotionally for this because it’s bound to happen eventually. It’s only been two days since they’re back home and I’m learning more than I could possibly can.
Here’s to November, the prelude to the wonderful, concluding month of December.
I'll be doing this Tenchu (that's my baby talk for 'thank you') posts at the end of every month to chronicle the things I am grateful for. Count those blessings! ;)
