Sunday, March 09, 2008

Music Association

I think I wrote this in a previous entry, but here I am putting it in writing all over again:


The story, the idea is that...there's this guy. And...he's totally depressed! I mean, his great dream was to be a lover, an adventurer, you know, riding motorcycles through South America, and instead he's sitting at a marble table, eating lobster, and he's got a good joband a beautiful wife, right. You know, everything that he needs. But that doesn't matter, 'cause what he wantsis to fight for meaning. You know, happiness is in the doing, not in the...getting what you want. So, he's sitting there, and just at a second, his little five year old daughter hops up on the table. And he knows that she should get down 'cause she could get hurt, but she's dancing to this pop song, in a summer dress. And he looks down, and all of a sudden, he is sixteen. And... his high school sweetheart is dropping him off, at home. And they've just lost their virginity, and she loves him,
and the same song is playing on the car radio, and she climbs up and startsdancing on the roof of the car. And now, now he's worried about her! And she is beautiful, with a...a facial expressionjust like his daughters'. In fact, you know, maybe that's why he even likes her! You see, he knows he's not remembering this dance, he's there. He's there in both moments simultaneously. And just like for an instance, all his life is just folding into itself sunset and it's obvious to himthat time is a lie...that's it's all happening all the time and inside every moment is another moment, all...you know, happening simultaneously. And, anyway, that's kind of the idea... anyway. --- Jesse, Before Sunset



So anyway. It's a Sunday but I feel just how I felt way back 11 years ago. At home, listening to music. And before I the horridness that is Monday eats me up again, I know I would need to put this thought down and share it for everyone's amusement.


Ever experienced listening to music and feeling transported back in time? More like being time space warped, depending on the kind of music you subject yourself to. Music association --- that for some reason, a 3 or 4 minute song can actually take away 3 or 4 minute of your life and bring you back to I don't know --- some good memory I hope? Music is so powerful and more than ever at this point, especially if you have your handy iPod in tow and all you do is click a song and once again you are at your high school dance, worried sick of your curfew Daddy has imposed mercilessly and yet, just like a damsel waiting in distress, silently praying for the love of your life to come up to you and ask you for a dance. Or maybe you can click that particular song that can just remind you how you were back in the day --- when the daily routine only involves home-school-home and your Friday nights are filled with movies you'd like to catch up to while dinner is being served in bed. Music is so powerful enough that once you hear Sergio Mendez's Let's Give A Little More This Time you realize how much of a naive woman you are by giving the nth chance to someone who really doesn't deserve even a second one.


About 4 years ago, I made a playlist for someone and up to this day, the modern rendition of Basil Valdez's Kahit Ika'y Panaginip Lang still lingers in my head and I remember myself driving in South Super Highway on my way to Better Living with a Mango Bravo cake from Contis as a welcome present. I myself am very surprised as to the exact detail a song can cover (and how my memory can't seem to erase it). It's like I remember the song but I don't remember the boy anymore! Haha.


So I guess music will always be that particular part of our lives that will constantly remind us of our (mis)fortunes and (mis)adventures. Whatever it is, I'm glad to know that I am able to feel what Jesse has narrated --- to be in a moment while another moment is happening...to be in those two things simultaneously...life is good it enables us to catch all those fleeting moments. At least even through a song. :-)

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Monday, March 03, 2008

Of postcards and planners...

...and of earthly possessions. Two of the most precious things in my life and I know I'd die without them (or at least I'd die if National stops selling the planners):

These things are second nature to me, just like getting used to having a night cap or spending weekends with Gabe. Writing in my planner has become a habit and it's funny when I look back at all the things I have written along the way. Reading about this guy who goes by the codename (self-imposed) of "mirror" back in third year highschool now gives me the classic cringe that adults are known for when thrown back to memory lane. Why the hell did I call him "mirror" in the first place? Eeeew. Or what about the countless chocolate wrappers that are found inside my 1997/1998 planner --- a sweet attempt by an ex-boyfriend to end what was obviously a superficial fight. Or maybe handwritten notes by other special people who had the special privilege of peeking into my life and leaving their mark.
Somehow, as we go along the way, the issues get deeper and the fears become bigger. Career becomes a priority and relationships take more hard work to keep. Family ties become important and now we see the world in a bigger picture. These are just the snippets of my life that are captured --- for the last 13 years --- and reading them just never fails to amuse me.
And here they are in a more presentable form - like a family picture!

The blue one is by far the most tattered planner. This was year 2007 and you bet it was a crazy year.
Remember the classic question? If your house was caught on fire, what would be the things that you will do your darn best to save? Aside from my planners...this is what I would fight for:


I just love anything and everything that's handwritten. I don't know why...looking at it is just so addicting that it gives me a natural high. My routine: everytime I travel, I'd go buy postcards and on my last day (or at least hours before my flight back home) would send them to my friends from all over. Julia in Singapore, JJ and Logan in KL, Maya in Japan, Ted in Korea, Rafael in Mexico, Clive in London, Weng in Manila and Eduardo in Australia. Plus I send one to Gabe and myself :-) What's even great is that strangers send me postcards too!

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