Scenes from an eternal summer: July 2005

Wednesday, July 20, 2005

Last days of an eternal summer...

Of course back home summer would be over, but here it will go on until August without me. A lot has happened back home that I can never go back to... career opportunities missed and relationships blossoming cut short. But no regrets to my 5 month stay with the Kwitkowski's since every bit of memory of my nephew's growing up in front of my eyes has left an immortal sun tan on my skin

I will miss the early morning nudges of "Wake up Tita." The big hugs and stinky feet. The big mouthfuls of rice and tomato sauce on the corner of his lips. The star shaped bread with the blueberry jam and blue icing. The counting from 1 to 12, 16 and the singing of big and small alphabet letters. The naked baby running refusing a diaper change. And all the horsey rides, piggy backs, walking looking for stones, getting the mail and cuddling naps in between Dora the Explorer and the Wiggles!

I hope when I see my Tyler Pooh next February he will still remember me. Until then I ask him one last time... "Whose Baby are you?" Knowing the next words from his mischievous mouth will be... "Tita's Baby

Monday, July 11, 2005

My Atlanta, GA weekend

July 8-10, 2005. First off I need to thank my brother in law Kevin for driving me all the way from Tennessee to Chattanooga into I-75 Exit 348 into the Georgia state line. The 2 hour drive of course meant he had to drive 2 hours back home. And then another 4 hours when he and my sister Melissa (with Tyler Pooh in tow) had to pick me up when my weekend was over. Salamat!

Me and Florin talking to Arnie on the cell phone. 'Hoy chewpacker!'

I met up with my high school barkading fabulous hazel eyed Florin and her cool dude hubby Tong for a weekend of catching up and having fun. They moved to Atlanta from NJ this year and I was glad to wish them a happy transplanting! Though the rains (courtesy of hurricane Daniel) prevented us from doing an all-out Atlanta sight seeing gimmick, I was actually contented to just hang and talk the night away (which meant getting up late the next day, mwahahaha).

Tong, Florin and their amazing car buddy Magellan. It's the rectangular device on the dash.

In between sushi, rolling rocks beer (reminder: never buy canned beer it ruins the taste!), caramel popcorn, chips, burgers, buffalo wings, seafood pasta and of course all the Coca Cola’s you can drink (we are of course in the birthplace of the famous softdrink noh!)… years lost in the cracks soon surfaced and new memories were born. Imagine... I found out that my friend now collects playing cards! But at the same time it was comforting to know that despite the time and distance little things such as our common penchant for accessories, fashion and tabloid showbiz magazines and swearing off hair straightening chemicals remind us why the universe threw us together in the same pot!

If you're planning to tour the Coke Museum, do it in 2007 since they will be renovating it. This visit was made cooler by the release of the new "Chill" commercial for Coke.

'Kulot people unite! Let your true hair down!' Hamming it up in downtown Atlanta

IT WAS A GREAT WEEKEND!

Seeing Florin and Tong’s dream house
Feeling the love vibe from a truly charming couple
The Coke Museum
Bad parts of the city... hair braiding anyone?
Talking up a storm (rather, a hurricane)
Running barefoot in the torrid rain
Illegally backing-up the car in Marshall’s ramp to shop for bags
Meeting family and friends (Filipinos in GA are so cool)
Driving around with Magellan (the amazing GPS toy)
Mouthing politically incorrect jokes and comments

In front of the Atlanta Underground entrance where shops and bars and a quilt museum are found in Atlanta's old underground train station.

I’m so glad to have caught up with one of the few high school friends of mine that really made my puberty more bearable. Of course we missed Kafer, Tabby, Arnie and other St. Scho. Manila 3-L people… but hey that’s what photos in Friendster are for right?

REUNION NA TAYO MGA KULASA!

Tuesday, July 05, 2005

Doused fireworks

The great thing about crowds is that you can smile, scream, clap and get in the thick of things and just lose yourself when the excitement surrounding you is just too unbearable to absorb. As I breathe the stale air below hip level seated on the pavement with only a thin towel separating me from the hot ground, I wonder… is anyone in this crowd as lonely as I am? Then I begin to scold myself silently because I should be happy just to be here with my family enjoying the holiday right? I am having a great time, but then… walking down the crowded streets filled with half-drunken college kids, smooching sweethearts and a lonely guitar player begging for alms outside a saloon, I start to miss my friends back home. As the fireworks shoot up and for a sparkling second light up the night sky, I count and wait for their demise. Three weeks seems like an eternity.

Monday, July 04, 2005

War of the Worlds?

Stars

Stars, smiley faces, hearts and other heavenly delights!

Sparklers

And we're off! Sparklers light up the 4th of July sky as we take in the festivities at the Hard Rock Cafe driveway

Crowd at twilight

The afternoon rain gives the crowded streets a welcome breeze this summer's eve

Waiting...

Almost Tyler's bedtime but we are still waiting for the Fireworks in downtown Nashville Riverfront Park

Long days, short nights and the constant warm sea air on my cheek. This image I hold close to my heart as I go about life's mostly dreary routine. I cast my bottle of blogs out into the open sea and hope to find some assurance that it's opened in some distant shore.

Scenes from an eternal summer