The Laziest March

It shouldn’t be – March has been my favorite month like forever – not until this year. No matter how threatening the heat of the sun was or just the normal sting, it didn’t affect my utmost anticipation for a bright and lovely summer, in March, as always.

This time is drearily different, but not to the extreme of becoming a couch potato. Forget about those eating disorders or too much indulgence on TV (as if I have the riches or time) because all I ever wanted was an active style of life and it didn’t happen.

No big stuff my red pen to tick except for daily check lists that have to be done. As in zero – no accomplishment whatsoever to be proud of apart from simple things to be grateful still. This is supposed to be my grandeur moment in the field harvesting or reaping but not in a small world of mine hibernating - not in summer time.

Speaking of a blog, should have posted the fifth article this month that if I still want to keep track of my goal. I am only on my third entry. It seems moodiness keeps holding me back to do what I should be doing – so not motivated to write something; could not even think of anything; very uninspiring March.

What a lazy month to endure!

The truth is, my first laziest March ever in my entire summer life. Hoping this will be the last time to get me stuck, useless. I can’t stand this dullness for eternity. Shoo, go away!

Should climate change take the blame then because it affects my world in some ways and in a way not being able to sleep soundly and function well physically?

Or have this severe heat hold responsible for giving me headaches, stresses, weariness, vision problems, dizziness, and lack of concentration to fulfill those unfinished businesses?

Or let this financial woes simply hold accountable for my joblessness which drives me up the wall, feeling impotent?   

Or is it just me who couldn’t wait to get away from this laziest March of my life? 

Two days from now, it will be another month to look forward to, move on, and expect great things hopefully – this without dwelling on the past.

“When is the Holy Week this year?” I asked my friend over lunch today?

“It starts today.”  He replied.

I couldn’t believe not noticing important events used to anticipate – Graduation Day and Holy Week and a lot more to tell about – this time around during summer. I hope all these things going on are just driven by laziness to mind things and not forgetfulness. It worries me actually!

As I said, the month of March was always my favorite – when moments were just too bright to ignore, too colorful not to pay attention, and too wonderful to forget – it didn’t matter how hot the weather was.

This may be my laziest March ever, but not in the past – only this year.

King Solomon, the wisest king, was right for saying… “There is always time for everything under heaven.”  And I’ll take his advice in hope of a typical March – not the laziest one.

Happy Easter!

 

No Permanent Address

There's no such thing as permanency - not in this planet earth - for even climate changes or flowers fade away. Blame it on these words: temporary or for a while or at the moment or for now - they bring us to reality without a doubt, welcoming everyone to the real world.

Passerby is my choice of word - this describes best my journey as a temporary resident wherever destiny leads me. After all, I've been wandering around my whole life.

If you've tried your luck for a scholarship, you are probably aware that a mailing address is only valid from six months to three years of possible reach. My own assessment to this is that people move to different places a lot or every so often. It may not true to every individual culturally or so.

Then a permanent address isn't always lifetime, at least for me. If it was, then I wouldn't be in many places in search of life's meaning and true happinness. I'm not saying one has to leave home to find these things (although it helps to others) because one's happinness is one's choice; because every person views life differently. And it's the journey I'm so bound.

"I'm a gypsy!" she professed.

"Maybe a modern one" my mind disagreed.

But even then, it brings no difference - it tells the same - no permanent address.

She is a friend of a friend, and we were total strangers to each other. She shocked me in fact, but in the end I learned to admire her boldness bragging about her status in front of many people, at the party.

"Toink!" This guy (me) is totally in the same boat for many years till now. Worst than that, I've been homeless like for ages even in my own home and my own land.

If I had to keep track all the places I lived in or the number of times I moved in and out, it would take a while to gather my thoughts. It's a true mark of being a gypsy I think or a person having no permanent residency.

Who has anyway? In this temporary, crazy world???

Well, if one really has a permanent address, my question then..."How long will he or she is going to embrace that status?"  Tell me because I don't know.

Homeless people here and there, homeless families everywhere, and it is so sad to know that we got no legitimate means to this ancient enigma. Someone might have the answer - not in this real world of course - the next life for certain.

Sometimes, I felt so ashamed having no permanent address despite all the hard work chasing dreams. The truth is, one must work hard to get the best in life, and yet it isn't always true to every hardworking person. One reason to that life is just so unpredictable. For even the richest man has no ultimate security in this life. Sooner or later, he will leave his seemingly permanent home empty handed.

That's why I prefer to call my journey in this world a passerby - this helps me see and foresee my life as a temporary traveler having no home my own to brag about - as many would say no permanent address.

Wonderful Disorientation

The only Mexican food my mouth is familiar with are those I've devoured in the past - chili, burritos, and tacos are the specifics. I prefer homemade over sophisticated ones - so forgive me for my disorientation. Aside from this preference cooking at home, I just cannot afford to eat out in fancy restaurants - where food are unfamiliar and ridiculously expensive as always.

When I was invited for lunch last weekend - to enjoy the grace one kind family had offered - it didn't turn out as I've simply expected. And looking at the menu was like reading a language doesn't exist. I thought we were in Mars, but we were actually at the Mexican Restaurant. Thanks to the owner for making me so comfortable amidst awkward challenge caused by ignorance - I ended up eating breakfast at lunch time though.

Grace is grace, and from that experience conceived new things - got introduced wider to Mexican cuisines, and was reminded to read more about one's a particular delicacies - for my own good next time.

And from that seemingly bizarre get together turned in a wonderful experience in the name of culinary arts. In fact, I can now make some mexican pride for myself. They aren't that complicated as I thought they were. Soon, when I get back in the village, I will orient my kids of those food too. We actually have those common ingredients at home.

I can't wait to do that!

In just a matter of day, I was caught in the same scenario the second time - another grace to enjoy the bounty my tummy couldn't believe. This time at the Indian-Nepali Halal Restaurant - again where food are strange for these big eyes to know - but they were so delicious and so nutritious to resist.

Thank goodness! I didn't have to wrestle because someone familiar with the cuisine did the ordering. All I had to do was relax, feel at home, had a chit-chat, observe, learn, and enjoy the feast before me.

I love Indian food, but things like curry and parata are the ones I know. So don't ask me to name each food we had. The ingredients are just so complex for my tongue to predict except for those familiar spices. I''m convinced to have a cook book in case I'll make some of these halal food.

But see, my disorientation has something to do with preference eating at home and my ability cooking non-complicated food only. Yet I am open to learn things in this matter. Besides, I'm very much attached to Khmer food and Vietnamese food all these years. Forgive me for that.

And before I forgot, thanks to my friends for such generosity. From these experiences, I came across new things to put in mind - speaking of cooking and eating out.

My mind keeps insisting that I had a weekend of disorientation, but my heart keeps telling me something else - it was a wonderful disorientation.