June 28, 2008
Zao and Chelsea, Serendra
Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Bonifacio High Street

It always rains on my birthday. This is how I've come to associate rain with blessings. I consider rain on my birthday a shower of blessings. So when it didn't rain last June 25, I had a strange feeling that it wasn't going to be the best of days---and that sort of came true, unless I really set myself up for a lot of anger and disappointment. In any case, it finally rained on the day I decided to celebrate---and celebrate with a few people who I consider to be some of my greatest treasures, the ones that have kept my sanity intact, especially this year. Never mind if the downpour cramped our style, got our feet literally wet, and chilled us to the bone---I consider that the blessing I've been asking for these past few days.

It was a great night---the kind marked with R-rated jokes, food that vanishes within five minutes, love poetry (are you guys telling me something?), and extended tea sessions. It's easy to comment that we're getting old---except I don't feel old at all. This is only the start of a great year ahead. (So yeah, this night is probably a Glam "Lola" Night or something.)

24---I will own you and make you mine. You will be damn great.

XS: I'm not quite sure why there's a theme to the gifts I received this year. All involved, um, love and romance. LOL. I highly appreciate them---if this means getting back to the writing life. Here's one of my favorites from Nadine's Japanese poetry gift:

I worried: might you
come here; might I go there;
might we meet again?
Then, at last, the bashful moon:
I slept with my door unlatched.

I wondered if it was apt that night.