Doses of Reality

Reality #1: Health = Wealth. I've known this for quite some time, but it becomes more meaningful when someone you know and love becomes affected w/ a health problem. Its OK, I have all the faith in the world that he's strong enough mentally and physically to pull through and be just fine.

Reality #2: The World Can Be Cruel. Just a warning for the women, the news put out an alert of a rapist in Queens. He's hit Long Island City and Forest Hills -- two towns VERY close to me. =/ He wears a scarf over his mouth, so there's no real accurate description. Just don't walk alone.

Reality #3: Moving On. I spoke to my Mom the other day and they're doing so well w/ their retirement plans. Both houses are getting furnished and its amazing how they are living THE LIFE out there. They're rich because the U.S. dollar is so strong in the Philippines. $1 = 50-something pesos the last time I was there. It's weird. They're retirement life is becoming more of a reality to me. I'm sad that they have to be so far, but I couldn't be happier that MY parents are "ballers" out there living a life only celebrities have here. Life out there is definitely better for them in terms of retirement.

Reality #4: The Ghost of Christmas Past. Christmas is coming up. Actually, the season is already here -- just look at the street/store/house decorations. Its sad how Christmas changed for me over the years. My fondest memories of Christmas was when I was so young. I was living in a house that seemed big to my little-ness back then. My mom went crazy w/ the season and everything was decorated. The memory that stands out the most and that I recall every year is as follows: I remember taking on of my naps in the evening (when I actually had the luxury of taking them just because) and waking up to no lights except the tree lights, which was in front of me, and the window lights, which weren't too far either. At that moment my eyes weren't fully open from my nap, so the tree lights looked so beautiful b/c they seemed to be dancing and twinkling at me. Then in the background there were Christmas ballads from the classic singers only our parents would appreciate. I would even sing out loud to them. My mom would be somewhere upstairs wrapping gifts. I would actually have more gifts back then b/c the younger kids always got the most gifts. Then somewhere later on, I would walk around the corner to Karen's house and we would run around the entire house singing the "Twelve Days of Christmas" until we were out of breath (singing straight from the 12th day to the 1st was definitely a challenge). So there, that is my favorite memory of Christmas, and that is a memory that will never become a reality to me again. The best I can do is give my future kids the memory, or something close to it. As you get older, that's just how life works. You never get back childhood memories b/c that's exactly where they are stuck -- in your childhood, which I no longer am in. I'm now in an apartment, which means limited room. Christmas is now spent at my brother's house, not the house in Gleane St I've lived in for 13 years. Don't get me wrong, celebrating at my brother's upstate is something I look forward to and is still one of the best family celebrations of my life, but getting older takes away an aspect of innocence children have during Christmas. The reality of it all is that changes happen, we want some parts of history to repeat, but the history just stays in our memories. Call it torture, or call it nostalgia. Whatever you call it, I want it back.

Reality #5: Kid at Heart. ATTENTION: If you will be going to Burger King anytime soon and order a value meal. PLEASE, pretty Please, get me the Spongebob watches. I'll repay you the $2 when you give it to me =P hehe. I already have Squidward. I want ALL of them! I will actually wear mine today, out in public.