Calaidescope World

Sentimental

I have a sore throat, a bad cough, sinusitis and an aching back. I have had these for 2 weeks including a fever that lasted 3 days. On Sunday, I lost my voice. And I have literally been going out every single night with the coolest people on the planet for the past week. I'm almost broke, but in the past month, I have had the absolute best time in Sentro, Temple Bar, Cena, Embassy, Sa Guijo, the Hobbit House, and yes, the Alabang Town Centre. I roll my eyes at twentysomethings who say they are too old to go out and/or party. These people have not met my friends and have probably forgotten how to live. Married couples, parents, entrepreneurs, corporate slaves: we all enjoy the urban outdoors. And indoors. What surprises many is that my friends and I actually do have good and relatively clean fun.

For the first time since High School, I was with my closest friends all at once. Gars extended his departure for NY for the nth time. Celso arrived from WA to visit for the first time in 5 years. Lorraine came in from CA and we had not seen in each other in over a year. Mario actually showed up at Cai-Cai's birthday party and joined us for Poker Night in Gabby's house. I have never seen everyone in my barkada so happy. Even Anwar and Constantine getting the boot on "American Idol" couldn't bring us down (hey, as long as Bo is still in, we're all good).

Gabby said "it's great to have a barkada again." It's great to have a barkada that we know and who know who we are. Celso said that someone once told him that the friends you make in High School are your friends for life. How true. And it's amazing how little has changed over the years. Bodies of water and timezones cannot keep us apart. How could I possibly complain about being single? I'm friends with the best! And how appropriate that on Celso's last night in Manila, a folksinger got on stage at the Hobbit House and sang the Beatles' "In My Life' -

"There are places I’ll remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I’ve loved them all"

Mario and family are vacationing in Canada. The XBs are on a month-long cruise. Gars is back in NY. Celso and family are in HK en route to the US. Lorraine left this morning. Sobee will be in Europe next week. Thank God Gabby, Andaya, JR, et al are still around.

I miss my boys. I miss my friends. And I treasure every single one more now in my relatively old age than I did before. We only have each other and not many will ever know us more. I feel so blessed to be in such company. The next time I go to Search-In, I hope that the kids who feel lost and alone will realise that friendship such as ours truly exists and that they too can have it.

And for Millette, wherever you are: I will miss having you play the "bad cop" role with me and Anmi when circle 100 comes around. We love you.

posted by Calai @ 3:10 PM