Morning walk is my exercise.  On the last lap of my walking along this subdivision streets, a familiar jogger smiled and greeted me "Good morning, Fe!"   I was surprised!  It's the first time she greeted me by my name!  It  lightened my spirit!  There's magic hearing someone greet me by my name!

Whereas before and as always whenever we cross our path in the course of our morning exercise, she just smile. Or, sometimes, just wave her hand as a greeting.  Later on, in low voice greet me "Good morning po".  Maybe, she's just shy person, I thought.  But I always smiled at her, and greet her "good morning".    

I am like that with others - whether in writing and in person.  I call or address a person by his or her name.  Even with out telling me, I know if a person like to be called by his or her name.  I could feel it.  So is with me.  You see, until I'm writing this, I could feel the good vibes of that greeting by my name.   

Does Valentine Day still matter to me?  I'm not sure how to answer this.

There's no one special to spend this day with.  I'm now single.  A widow.

But, somehow, I'm still tickled when February comes.  The many commercial advertisements tickled me.  Why?  Because, there many novelties now to receive and  to give gift to.  The new flower arrangements tickled my heart and longing come again. The old songs and music bring romantic memories alive again.  The mouth watering chocolate candies just irresistible.  The park where we used to spend Valentine and lingered on bring romantic memory back.

Somehow, now at my age, the sparkle of the word Valentine's Day has diminished.  Sometimes, loneliness creep in.  No more nice memory to add to it.  As if, celebration of it stopped for me.  Only longing because of the commercial products and services associated with it

Just now, as I side view the evening news, there's the Philpost advertisement of special delivery of Valentine gifts  by a singing mailman.  Wow!!! that brings to mind the "harana" of my younger years.  "Harana" is a serenade sung by a suitor to his love interest.  Beneath the window of the girl's house, the suitor and a few of his friends with guitar or violin, he sings a love song for her.  After a few songs, the window opened and the girl looked out.  If the parents approved the "harana", the suitor and companion were welcomed to the house.  But, the parents seated nearby.  To be sure the suitor won't take advantage of their daughter.  This Filipino custom persist until the early 60s.  My late husband had not serenaded me.  But he had his own version:  He sung to me "My Love is Ever You, my Love" by the late Frank Sinatra.  That song became our theme song!!  Ay, corny!

At my age now, I don't give meaning to Valentine Day.  It's an ordinary day now to me.  But, I like to hear good Valentine stories of the old people,  Oh there is one entertaining story of love affair by the mother of the Filipino boxing champion here - that gives endless amusing comments.  It's a nice May-December love story.  

And, I thought, how nice that at her age she still able to hook a younger man to love her.  Isn't that nice?  

www.123Greetings.com

My Christmas was a quiet one.  I stayed home the whole day.  No one came to visit.  All because my children were busy with their own preparation and celebration with friends and relatives.  

Am I lonely?  Am  I sad?  No.  In fact, it was a restful Christmas Day for me.  It was the first time that I had a quiet and restful Christmas day.  I spent the day watching concert on television.  I liked EWTN broadcast.  I listened with gusto to the many beautiful Christmas carols.  I spent long time watching television that I never did before.  

Miracles happened - that I believed.  From unexpected people.  And, it happened even past Christmas Day.  Just now, someone pressed the doorbell.  What a surprised! that the subdivision owner where I live sent me a very nice plant in a wood planter he himself designed and his worker done.  The plant is a fern which we call here 'pakpak ng lawin' (or eagle's wings).The wood is of santol tree.

Though I don't think of Christmas as just receiving and giving presents, but it is a day where one can give others what they can.  There are many ways to give present to anyone: the street children, the people living in carts, or homeless people, those in orphanages, and home for the aged, in prison and in hospitals.  Those are lonely people because of the life circumstances, and so a little present given cheerfully and sincerely make them feel God is alive and around them.

The above picture is what I received just as I am typing this blog. There are unexpected gift, isn't it? and a beautiful one, too.

Changes in life is inevitable.  It happens all the time.  Either by choice or destiny.  

There are new changes in my life.  First, my age.  Now, 73.  My new profile picture shows some creases on my face and prominently on my neck.  Also, my hair changed to salt & pepper.  

Habits also changed as we age.  My sleep is now fragmented  I hate to admit it - I feel sleepy at 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.   So, I missed the television news and one telenovela.  Other times, I can't sleep at all.

My eating habit also changed.  Now, I get up at midnight to eat snack.  And, can't sleep anymore.

Before, I can't leave the house not dressed appropriately.  Now, I go to the market or supermarket in my house dress.  YOu know, working short and t-shirt and rubber slippers. 

But intellect have not changed.  I'm still sharp and quick to remember.  Because,  my reading habit has not changed at all.  In fact,  I have more time to read now.  

I have to close here with this:  Change is inevitable.  We accept change in our life or we rut. 

Many things happened during a lull in my presence here.  My computer bogged down; internet disconnected; transferred to a new residence; and have to make adjustments to the new neighborhood;  got hospitalized due to over fatigue for so much work in the new house; and new members to my family had been added.

I'm now using a laptop which I'm not used to.  The pointer is going elsewhere otherwise circuitous that sometimes I can't find it.  Suddenly, the screen went black.  Ay. I feel helpless.  I need a new mouse, I think.

I'll refresh myself to the contents here,   I forgot some.  Will take longer hours, and hopefully, I can carry on and my eyesight won't strain.

Like I wrote in my previous blog, interlude happened in our life.  the lull in my presence here was the interlude.  And, now, I hope I'm back to the normalcy of blogging.  And join the discussion activity.  

My second visit to Singapore was Jun 9.  Reason was my daughter was infanticipating and she needed me to help around the house. I was excited to go and to see again the country I admired so much for its efficiency and cleanliness.

When I stepped down from the airplane, I knew I was out of my country.   From the airport, Singapore was so different.  Since I landed an hour after lunch, so, my children headed to a fast food restaurant - Burger King.  I was famished because I woke up early due to excitement to travel again.  And, had no breakfast.   The food the airline offers was priced so high that I didn't dare buy.

The scenery was all wooded roadside, parks, streets.  Trees shouldered with tall residential buildings.  The sight was truly refreshing and beautiful.

I had good times to go around after doing house chores for my children - I mean, my daughter and her husband.   I just got on board a bus, then hopped into the train and from there, I saw Singapore from north to south, west to east.  I travelled by my self.  My only problem was crossing the street because there vehicles are right handed, whereas in my country, it's left. 

Filipinos who go around Singapore knew they're out of the Philippines.  There's nothing similar.  Except in one place - the Lucky Plaza.

Lucky Plaza is a mall where most of the establishments are of Filipino ownership.  The Filipino restaurants, boutiques, even the remittance centers, and especially, the beauty and hair salons.   I had my hair trim in one of those, and to my amazement, the owner and the staff were my town mates in Bulacan.  

I frequent the public libraries. Always full of students, senior citizens and even housewives.  The libraries shelves are full - you can never be wanting of reading materials to read.  It's their libraries that I enjoyed visiting anytime of the day, and read from newspapers to magazines, and some art books.   After tiring my eyes from reading, I go down to eat - most often, McDo or Subway or KFC.

From my daughter's resident, I know which bus number to go onboard - 302!  Transport in Singapore is very efficient.  And, accessible from any point. 

I look forward to visiting Singapore again.