February, a romantic month, a month of love and for love, a season of bliss for the young and old. We all get intoxicated by lovely flowers, music, and wine celebrating Valentine’s! But it wasn’t so for me and Butch.
Butch as always was almost and always been drowned with work, work, and work, while I tried to keep afloat in a sea of adrenaline, and balancing everything in my life with superhuman effort. My body finally reached its limits and one morning after getting out of bed, I felt nauseous and a bit dizzy. I walked out of the bedroom to go to the dining room and I began to feel weak. “Hmmm, this is something new,” I said. My intuition told me it might be high blood pressure. I measured my BP and lo and behold, it was very high, at 160/108!
The next days would see us going in and out of doctors’ clinics. I went to the UP Infirmary for observation, and had my blood and urine tested and my chest x-rayed. My test results showed that my cholesterol level was high. I could not believe this because I love vegetables and fish. Well, once in a while i would indulge in some sinful dish. The husband nagged me to see a cardiologist since one week had passsed and my BP was still high. Of course I went to a reliable doctor recommended by another doctor-friend. I was given 3 different pills and was advised to relax and be aware of food I put into my mouth.
My BP has normalized and my budget for medicines and vitamins has finally grown bigger. I’m more aware of my diet and the importance of gentle excercise. I‘ve been eating oatmeal since that nauseous morning and I am learning to enjoy it by adding fruits and honey on it. There are more fruits of the season and fresh salads on the table now. I still ask for my fish stew or sinigang. I have stopped drinking coffee though, my only vice.
Butch and I will make each day a Valentine’s Day as we celebrate a new beginning in my life. Yes, its a new beginning, a beginning of a healthier and more balanced lifestyle. I look forward to new days and new mornings, and new adventures with my my family and best friends!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Thinking of Christmas in January
A new year has begun. I look back and try to think of what transpired in December. December was a whirlwind of events, events that tested my patience, resiliency and sanity. I was running all around trying to meet all my deadlines such as the final retouching of a mural, putting together documentation reports, repairing several pieces of furniture for a client, decorating and attending to the sales of a gift shop my high school friends and I set up, doing merchandising work for the shop, reunions, cooking, getting sick, taking care of a husband who was also sick, assisting Mimi my one and only sibling who was in Manila for a vacation, and rummaging through my things for gifts to give away to friends, family and colleagues! Did I enjoy the Christmas holiday? Was my Christmas memorable?
No, I didn’t enjoy Christmas because I was sick with pharyngitis for almost month! No, I didn’t enjoy it because I was very stressed and tired with activities imposed upon me by traditions and norms created by man and society. No, I didn’t enjoy it because I didn’t have enough cash to buy gifts for everyone. No, I didn’t enjoy it because I worried so much about Butch and his pneumonia.
Was my Christmas memorable? YES, definitely! The past Christmases were fun because there was an abundance of food, money and gifts to give everyone. But the last celebration made me stop and think about what Christmas really is. I have forgotten and many of us have forgotten that Christmas is a time to reflect on the birth of Christ. The heavens gave us the greatest gift--Christ, who gave His life to humanity, to redeem us from all the wrongs we have done to ourselves and to others.
This Christmas, I learned to let go of things I have accumulated through the years. I rummaged through my aparador and platera and gave away precious things I have kept for myself for no reason at all. There were trinkets, cosmetics, home décor, clothes, and kitchenware that found their way into new hands and homes. Small amounts of money came in trickles and helped to pay for the medical expenses of a poor carpenter. My mother-in-law, a pensioner, saved whatever small amount she could put aside and contributed to the noche buena. My husband’s 13th-month pay was a blessing and created small miracles and joy among the family members.
I think back once more and I am joyful, thankful, and at peace.
No, I didn’t enjoy Christmas because I was sick with pharyngitis for almost month! No, I didn’t enjoy it because I was very stressed and tired with activities imposed upon me by traditions and norms created by man and society. No, I didn’t enjoy it because I didn’t have enough cash to buy gifts for everyone. No, I didn’t enjoy it because I worried so much about Butch and his pneumonia.
Was my Christmas memorable? YES, definitely! The past Christmases were fun because there was an abundance of food, money and gifts to give everyone. But the last celebration made me stop and think about what Christmas really is. I have forgotten and many of us have forgotten that Christmas is a time to reflect on the birth of Christ. The heavens gave us the greatest gift--Christ, who gave His life to humanity, to redeem us from all the wrongs we have done to ourselves and to others.
This Christmas, I learned to let go of things I have accumulated through the years. I rummaged through my aparador and platera and gave away precious things I have kept for myself for no reason at all. There were trinkets, cosmetics, home décor, clothes, and kitchenware that found their way into new hands and homes. Small amounts of money came in trickles and helped to pay for the medical expenses of a poor carpenter. My mother-in-law, a pensioner, saved whatever small amount she could put aside and contributed to the noche buena. My husband’s 13th-month pay was a blessing and created small miracles and joy among the family members.
I think back once more and I am joyful, thankful, and at peace.
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