Showing posts with label touching. Show all posts
Showing posts with label touching. Show all posts
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Love in a Paper Sack
by Robert Fulghum, It was on Fire When I Lay Down On It
The Cardboard box is marked “The Good Stuff.” As I write, I can see the box where it is stored on a high shelf in my studio. I like being able to see it when I look up. The box contains those odds and ends of personal treasures that have survived many bouts of clean-it-out-and-throw-it-away that seize me from time to time. The box has passed through the screening done as I’ve moved from house to house and hauled stuff from attic to attic. A thief looking into the box would not take anything – he couldn’t get a dime for any of it. But if the house ever catches on fire, the box goes with me when I run. One of the keepsakes in the box is a small paper bag. Lunch size. Though the top is sealed with duct tape, staples, and several paperclips, there is a ragged rip in one side through which the contents may be seen.
This particular lunch sack has been in my care for maybe fourteen years. But it really belongs to my daughter, Molly. Soon after she came of school age, she became an enthusiastic participant in packing the morning lunches for herself, her brothers, and me. Each bag got a share of sandwiches, apples, milk money, and sometimes a note or a treat. One morning Molly handed me two bags as I was about to leave. One regular lunch sack. And the one with the duct tape and staples andpaper clips. “Why two bags?” “The other one is something else.” “What’s in it?” “Just some stuff – take it with you.” Not wanting to hold court over the matter, I stuffed both sacks into my briefcase, kissed the child, and rushed off.
At midday, while hurriedly scarfing down my real lunch, I tore open Molly’s bag and shook out the contents. Two hair ribbons, three small stones, a plastic dinosaur, a pencil stub, a tiny seashell, two animal crackers, a marble, a used lipstick, a small doll, two chocolate kisses, and thirteen pennies.
I smile. How charming. Rising to hustle off to all the important business of the afternoon, I swept the desk clean – into the wastebasket – leftover lunch, Molly’s junk, and all. There wasn’t anything in there I needed.
That evening Molly came to stand beside me while I was reading the paper. “Where’s the bag?” “What bag?” “You know, the one I gave you this morning.” “I left it at the office, why?” “I forgot to put this note in it.” She hands over the note. “Besides, I want it back?” “Why?” “Those are my things in the sack, Daddy, the ones I really like – I thought you might like to play with them, but now I want them back. You didn’t lose the bag, did you, Daddy?” Tears puddled in her eyes. “Oh no, I just forgot to bring it home.” I lied. “Bring it tomorrow,okay?” “Sure thing – don’t worry.” As she hugged my neck with relief, I unfolded the note that had not got into the sack: “I love you Daddy.”
Oh.
And also – uh-oh.
I looked long at the face of my child.
She was right - what was in the sack was “something else.”
Molly had given me her treasures. All that a seven-year-old held dear. Love in a paper sack. And I had missed it. Not only missed it, but had thrown it in the wastebasket because “there wasn’t anything in there I needed.” Dear God.
It was a long trip back to the office. But there was nothing else to be done. So I went. The pilgrimage of a penitent. Just ahead of the janitor, I picked up the wastebasket and poured the contents on my desk. I was sorting it all out when the janitor came in to do his chores. “Lose something?” “Yeah, my mind.” “It’s probably in there, all right. What’s it look like and I’ll help you find it?” I started not to tell him. But I couldn’t feel any more of a fool than I was already in fact, so I told him. He didn’t laugh. He smiled. “I got kids, too.” So the brotherhood of fools searched the trash and found the jewels and he smiled at me and I smiled at him. You are never alone in these things. Never.
After washing the mustard off the dinosaurs and spraying the whole thing with breath-freshener to kill the smell of onions, I carefully smoothed out the wadded ball of brown paper into a semifunctional bag and put the treasures inside and carried the whole thing home gingerly, like an injured kitten. The next evening I returned it to Molly, no questions asked, no explanations offered. The bag didn’t look so good but the stuff was all there and that’s what counted. After dinner I asked her to tell me about the stuff in the sack, and so she took it all out a piece at a time and placed the objects in a row on the dining room table. It took a long time to tell. Everything had a story a memory, or was attached to dreams and imaginary friends. Fairies had brought some of the things. And I had given her the chocolate kisses, and she had kept them for when she needed them. I managed to say, “I see” very wisely several times in the telling. And as a matter of fact, I did see.
To my surprise, Molly gave the bag to me once again several days later. Same ratty bag. Same stuff inside. I felt forgiven. And trusted. And loved. And a little more comfortable wearing the title of Father. Over several months the bag went with me from time to time. It was never clear to me why I did or did not get it on a given day. I began to think of it as the Daddy Prize and tried to be good the night before so I might be given it the next morning.
In time Molly turned her attention to other things… found other treasures… lost interest in the game.. grew up. Something. Me? I was left holding the bag. She gave it to me one morning and never asked for its return. And so I have it still.
Sometimes I think of all the times in this sweet life when I must have missed the affection I was being given. A friend calls this “standing knee-deep in the river and dying of thirst.”
So the worn paper sack is there in the box. Left over from a time when a child said. “Here - this is the best I’ve got. Take it – it’s yours. Such as I have, give I to thee.”
I missed it the first time. But it’s my bag now.
The Cardboard box is marked “The Good Stuff.” As I write, I can see the box where it is stored on a high shelf in my studio. I like being able to see it when I look up. The box contains those odds and ends of personal treasures that have survived many bouts of clean-it-out-and-throw-it-away that seize me from time to time. The box has passed through the screening done as I’ve moved from house to house and hauled stuff from attic to attic. A thief looking into the box would not take anything – he couldn’t get a dime for any of it. But if the house ever catches on fire, the box goes with me when I run. One of the keepsakes in the box is a small paper bag. Lunch size. Though the top is sealed with duct tape, staples, and several paperclips, there is a ragged rip in one side through which the contents may be seen.
This particular lunch sack has been in my care for maybe fourteen years. But it really belongs to my daughter, Molly. Soon after she came of school age, she became an enthusiastic participant in packing the morning lunches for herself, her brothers, and me. Each bag got a share of sandwiches, apples, milk money, and sometimes a note or a treat. One morning Molly handed me two bags as I was about to leave. One regular lunch sack. And the one with the duct tape and staples andpaper clips. “Why two bags?” “The other one is something else.” “What’s in it?” “Just some stuff – take it with you.” Not wanting to hold court over the matter, I stuffed both sacks into my briefcase, kissed the child, and rushed off.
At midday, while hurriedly scarfing down my real lunch, I tore open Molly’s bag and shook out the contents. Two hair ribbons, three small stones, a plastic dinosaur, a pencil stub, a tiny seashell, two animal crackers, a marble, a used lipstick, a small doll, two chocolate kisses, and thirteen pennies.
I smile. How charming. Rising to hustle off to all the important business of the afternoon, I swept the desk clean – into the wastebasket – leftover lunch, Molly’s junk, and all. There wasn’t anything in there I needed.
That evening Molly came to stand beside me while I was reading the paper. “Where’s the bag?” “What bag?” “You know, the one I gave you this morning.” “I left it at the office, why?” “I forgot to put this note in it.” She hands over the note. “Besides, I want it back?” “Why?” “Those are my things in the sack, Daddy, the ones I really like – I thought you might like to play with them, but now I want them back. You didn’t lose the bag, did you, Daddy?” Tears puddled in her eyes. “Oh no, I just forgot to bring it home.” I lied. “Bring it tomorrow,okay?” “Sure thing – don’t worry.” As she hugged my neck with relief, I unfolded the note that had not got into the sack: “I love you Daddy.”
Oh.
And also – uh-oh.
I looked long at the face of my child.
She was right - what was in the sack was “something else.”
Molly had given me her treasures. All that a seven-year-old held dear. Love in a paper sack. And I had missed it. Not only missed it, but had thrown it in the wastebasket because “there wasn’t anything in there I needed.” Dear God.
It was a long trip back to the office. But there was nothing else to be done. So I went. The pilgrimage of a penitent. Just ahead of the janitor, I picked up the wastebasket and poured the contents on my desk. I was sorting it all out when the janitor came in to do his chores. “Lose something?” “Yeah, my mind.” “It’s probably in there, all right. What’s it look like and I’ll help you find it?” I started not to tell him. But I couldn’t feel any more of a fool than I was already in fact, so I told him. He didn’t laugh. He smiled. “I got kids, too.” So the brotherhood of fools searched the trash and found the jewels and he smiled at me and I smiled at him. You are never alone in these things. Never.
After washing the mustard off the dinosaurs and spraying the whole thing with breath-freshener to kill the smell of onions, I carefully smoothed out the wadded ball of brown paper into a semifunctional bag and put the treasures inside and carried the whole thing home gingerly, like an injured kitten. The next evening I returned it to Molly, no questions asked, no explanations offered. The bag didn’t look so good but the stuff was all there and that’s what counted. After dinner I asked her to tell me about the stuff in the sack, and so she took it all out a piece at a time and placed the objects in a row on the dining room table. It took a long time to tell. Everything had a story a memory, or was attached to dreams and imaginary friends. Fairies had brought some of the things. And I had given her the chocolate kisses, and she had kept them for when she needed them. I managed to say, “I see” very wisely several times in the telling. And as a matter of fact, I did see.
To my surprise, Molly gave the bag to me once again several days later. Same ratty bag. Same stuff inside. I felt forgiven. And trusted. And loved. And a little more comfortable wearing the title of Father. Over several months the bag went with me from time to time. It was never clear to me why I did or did not get it on a given day. I began to think of it as the Daddy Prize and tried to be good the night before so I might be given it the next morning.
In time Molly turned her attention to other things… found other treasures… lost interest in the game.. grew up. Something. Me? I was left holding the bag. She gave it to me one morning and never asked for its return. And so I have it still.
Sometimes I think of all the times in this sweet life when I must have missed the affection I was being given. A friend calls this “standing knee-deep in the river and dying of thirst.”
So the worn paper sack is there in the box. Left over from a time when a child said. “Here - this is the best I’ve got. Take it – it’s yours. Such as I have, give I to thee.”
I missed it the first time. But it’s my bag now.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
5-year-old Savannah's Calm Call with 911
A man calls 911 when he gets chest pains. When he can't go on because he's struggling to breathe, his five-year-old daughter Savannah takes over. What ensues is a cute and heartwarming conversation.
Here is the entire call.
Here is the entire call.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
NCAA Softball Player Carried by Opponents After Injury
Video Captures Incredible Moment in Sports: A display of sportsmanship unlike any other. Members of the opposing softball team help an injured player round the bases to complete her first-ever home run. Watch the video of this amazing moment in sports.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Merry Christmas, My Friend
by Christa Holder Ocker
from Chicken Soup for the Kid’s Soul
"I will never forget you," the old man said. A tear rolled down his leathery cheek. "I'm getting old. I can't take care of you anymore."
With his head tilted to one side, Monsieur DuPree watched his master. "Woof woof! Woof woof!" He wagged his tail back and forth, wondering, What’s he up to now?
"I can't take care of myself anymore, let alone take care of you." The old man cleared his throat. He pulled a hankie from his pocket and blew his nose with a mighty blast.
"Soon, I'll move to an old age home and, I'm sorry to say, you can't come along. They don't allow dogs there, you know."
Bent over from age, the old man limped over to Monsieur DuPree and stroked his head.
"Don't worry, my friend. We'll find a home. We'll find a nice new home for you." And, as an afterthought he added, "Why, with your good looks, we'll have no trouble at all. Anyone would be proud to own such a fine dog."
Monsieur DuPree wagged his tail really hard and strutted up and down the kitchen floor. "Woof, woof, woof, woof." For a moment, the familiar musky scent of the old man mingling with the odor of greasy food gave the dog the feeling of well being. But then, a sense of dread took hold again. His tail hung between his legs and he stood very still.
"Come here." With great difficulty, the old man knelt down on the floor and lovingly pulled Monsieur Dupree close to him. He tied a ribbon around his neck with a huge red bow, and then he attached a note to it. Monsieur DuPree wondered what it said.
"It says," the old man read aloud, "Merry Christmas! My name is Monsieur DuPree. For breakfast, I like bacon and eggs -- even corn flakes will do. For dinner, I prefer mashed potatoes and some meat. That's all. I eat just two meals a day. In return, I will be your most loyal friend."
"Woof woof! Woof woof!" Monsieur DuPree was confused and his eyes begged, What's going on?
The old man blew his nose into his hankie once more. Then, hanging onto a chair, he pulled himself up from the floor. Buttoning his overcoat, he reached for the dog's leash and softly said, "Come here my friend." He opened the door against a gust of cold air and stepped outside, pulling the dog behind. Dusk was beginning to fall. Monsieur DuPree pulled back. He didn't want to go.
"Don't make this any harder for me. I promise you, you'll be much better off with someone else." The street was deserted. It began to snow. Leaning into the wintry air, the old man and his dog pushed on. The pavement, trees, and houses were soon covered with a blanket of snow.
After a very long time, they came upon an old Victorian house surrounded by tall trees, which were swaying and humming in the wind. The old man stopped. Monsieur DuPree stopped, too. Shivering in the cold, they appraised the house. Glimmering lights adorned every window, and the muffled sound of a Christmas song was carried on the wind.
"This will be a nice home for you," the old man said, choking on his words. He bent down and unleashed his dog, then opened the gate slowly, so that it wouldn’t creak. "Go on now. Go up the steps and scratch on the door."
Monsieur DuPree looked from the house to his master and back again to the house. He did not understand. "Woof woof! Woof woof!"
"Go on." The old man gave the dog a shove. "I have no use for you anymore," he said in a gruff voice. "Get going now!"
Monsieur DuPree was hurt. He thought his master didn't love him anymore. He didn't understand that, indeed, the old man loved him very much, yet he could no longer care for him. Slowly he straggled toward the house and up the steps. He scratched with one paw at the front door. "Woof woof! Woof woof!"
Looking back, he saw his master step behind a tree just as someone from inside turned the front doorknob. A little boy appeared, framed in the door by the light coming from behind. When he saw Monsieur DuPree, he threw both arms into the air and shouted with delight, "Oh boy! Oh boy! Mom and Dad, come and see what Santa brought!"
Through teary eyes, the old man watched from behind the tree. He saw the mother read the note, and tenderly pull the dog inside. Smiling, the old man wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his cold, damp coat as he disappeared into the night whispering, "Merry Christmas, my friend."
from Chicken Soup for the Kid’s Soul
"I will never forget you," the old man said. A tear rolled down his leathery cheek. "I'm getting old. I can't take care of you anymore."
With his head tilted to one side, Monsieur DuPree watched his master. "Woof woof! Woof woof!" He wagged his tail back and forth, wondering, What’s he up to now?
"I can't take care of myself anymore, let alone take care of you." The old man cleared his throat. He pulled a hankie from his pocket and blew his nose with a mighty blast.
"Soon, I'll move to an old age home and, I'm sorry to say, you can't come along. They don't allow dogs there, you know."
Bent over from age, the old man limped over to Monsieur DuPree and stroked his head.
"Don't worry, my friend. We'll find a home. We'll find a nice new home for you." And, as an afterthought he added, "Why, with your good looks, we'll have no trouble at all. Anyone would be proud to own such a fine dog."
Monsieur DuPree wagged his tail really hard and strutted up and down the kitchen floor. "Woof, woof, woof, woof." For a moment, the familiar musky scent of the old man mingling with the odor of greasy food gave the dog the feeling of well being. But then, a sense of dread took hold again. His tail hung between his legs and he stood very still.
"Come here." With great difficulty, the old man knelt down on the floor and lovingly pulled Monsieur Dupree close to him. He tied a ribbon around his neck with a huge red bow, and then he attached a note to it. Monsieur DuPree wondered what it said.
"It says," the old man read aloud, "Merry Christmas! My name is Monsieur DuPree. For breakfast, I like bacon and eggs -- even corn flakes will do. For dinner, I prefer mashed potatoes and some meat. That's all. I eat just two meals a day. In return, I will be your most loyal friend."
"Woof woof! Woof woof!" Monsieur DuPree was confused and his eyes begged, What's going on?
The old man blew his nose into his hankie once more. Then, hanging onto a chair, he pulled himself up from the floor. Buttoning his overcoat, he reached for the dog's leash and softly said, "Come here my friend." He opened the door against a gust of cold air and stepped outside, pulling the dog behind. Dusk was beginning to fall. Monsieur DuPree pulled back. He didn't want to go.
"Don't make this any harder for me. I promise you, you'll be much better off with someone else." The street was deserted. It began to snow. Leaning into the wintry air, the old man and his dog pushed on. The pavement, trees, and houses were soon covered with a blanket of snow.
After a very long time, they came upon an old Victorian house surrounded by tall trees, which were swaying and humming in the wind. The old man stopped. Monsieur DuPree stopped, too. Shivering in the cold, they appraised the house. Glimmering lights adorned every window, and the muffled sound of a Christmas song was carried on the wind.
"This will be a nice home for you," the old man said, choking on his words. He bent down and unleashed his dog, then opened the gate slowly, so that it wouldn’t creak. "Go on now. Go up the steps and scratch on the door."
Monsieur DuPree looked from the house to his master and back again to the house. He did not understand. "Woof woof! Woof woof!"
"Go on." The old man gave the dog a shove. "I have no use for you anymore," he said in a gruff voice. "Get going now!"
Monsieur DuPree was hurt. He thought his master didn't love him anymore. He didn't understand that, indeed, the old man loved him very much, yet he could no longer care for him. Slowly he straggled toward the house and up the steps. He scratched with one paw at the front door. "Woof woof! Woof woof!"
Looking back, he saw his master step behind a tree just as someone from inside turned the front doorknob. A little boy appeared, framed in the door by the light coming from behind. When he saw Monsieur DuPree, he threw both arms into the air and shouted with delight, "Oh boy! Oh boy! Mom and Dad, come and see what Santa brought!"
Through teary eyes, the old man watched from behind the tree. He saw the mother read the note, and tenderly pull the dog inside. Smiling, the old man wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his cold, damp coat as he disappeared into the night whispering, "Merry Christmas, my friend."
Monday, November 09, 2009
The Best Version of You
by Yel Calalo
Manila International Airport , 2:00 am. It's been two years since she had last seen the Manila International Airport . Not much has changed.Her last memory of this airport was when Miguel dropped her off. She was on her way to New York to pursue a career in Wall Street. "Promise me something will you? Please don't get married until I come back?" She jokingly told him as she lifted up her backpack. "LOL. Very funny. Ikaw ang mag-promise. Promise me you won't run off with some nerdy economist in the next two years."
"Let's see, shall we. Bye, Miguel. I'll call you as soon I get to New York." That was her last memory in this place. The warm Manila air made her feel a bit restless and yet she feels excited. This is the first time in two years she'll be seeing Miguel again. She was thoughtfully going through the immigration counters, thinking of how much she missed seeing Miguel. How different would he be now? Sure he sends her regular weekly e-mails and pictures but being the busy person that she had always been, she didn't get the time to chat with him and buy a webcam.
She's finally out. "Where is Miguel?" She wondered. "Ah there!" she exclaimed when she saw the silver gray Nissan Patrol parked near the exit. TGW926. Yup, that's Miguel alright. Her heart was leaping ahead of her as the driver got off. "Hey! I missed you!" He said, as he hugged her.
"I missed you too. So much." She said, as she hugged him back. It was warm. It felt good to be back. It felt great to feel his hug. "Let me get those." He said pointing at her luggage. "Then we'll have more time for hugging and chika."
"Okay."
Edsa, 4:30 am. Miguel's cellphone rings. Mama, the name flashes on the screen.
"You should really get that."
"No, you should get that. She's been waiting for you. She insist that we go straight to her after I pick you up form the airport. She also insist that you spend tomorrow with her." Miguel was talking about her mother. Miguel was an only child and his mother wanted a daughter. She would often tell Bea that since she doesn't have a mom anymore, she should let Tita Doris be her second mom. She loved Bea as if she were her own daughter.
"Hello? Yes, Tita. How are you nap po?... ah opo. Miguel already told me. Sige po. Okay po. I'll see you later." She turns off the phone and looks out the window. The phone rings again, this time the name "Sugar" flashes on the screen. Hmmm, "Sugar." He was quick. He got a hold of the phone and answered it. "Hello. Yeah. Pauwi na. I'm with her na. Yeah. Tomorrow, I will. Promise. We'll see you tomorrow."
We? Is that supposed to mean me and him? See Sugar? Who is Sugar, anyway? "Who was that?" she couldn't keep herself from asking. "Sugar ha?"
"I'll introduce her tomorrow. Uwi muna tayo sa bahay. By the way, kamusta na si Edward?" "Edward?"
"Oo, si Edward, naalala mo yung boyfriend na iniwan mo sa New York ? Anong klase ka ba naming girlfriend? Kaya hindi kita niligawan eh. Baka makalimutan mo rin ako."
"Ah si Edward. Hayun. Nasa New York ." Miguel has met Edward when he came to New York to give Bea a surprise visit. He seems a nice guy. Not the geeky economist Miguel pictured Bea would end up with. He is actually a cool guy and loves Bea a lot.
"He called me up, a week ago, asking a lot of things about you. Parang may balak ata?"
"Balak na?" "Tell me, did he propose to you? He sounded like he was going to propose to you kasi." "Ah look, here we are at Tita Doris."
At Tita Doris', 4:45 am. A pleasantly plump woman enters the living room. She was in her mid-fifties, a familiar warm smile and two open arms. She welcomed Bea, gave her a big hug and kissed her on the cheek. "Hay anak, kamusta ka na? Na-miss na kita. Pinakain ka ba nito si Miguel?"
"Opo, Tita." She looked around. Not much has changed in this house. She remembers spending her college days in this house. She remembers sinking into Tita Doris' arms when her mom died. She remembers only good things about this woman. She can't remember a time when she had been unkind to her and yes, she loves her like her own mother.
"Iha, sabihan mo nga yang si Miguel. Sabihin mo 'wag padalos-dalos magdesisyon. "
"Po?"
"Mama naman. Let Bea rest. I'll tell her everything tomorrow." Miguel interrupted his mother before she can spill the beans.
"Ha? What was that all about?" Bea was curious.
"Bukas na lang."
"Okay. Tita, if it's okay I'll go rest now." She hugged her, and proceeded to climb the stairs. Miguel followed her carrying her luggage.
"Alam mo I missed this house. Uy sino ba si Sugar? Tsaka bakit parang worried nanay mo sa iyo?"
"Bukas na. Sugar is having lunch here."
"Hmmm, intriguing, pero sige. Bukas na." They were both standing as the door to the guest room. "Alam mo, it's really good to be back in this house. I'll see you tomorrow."
Tita Doris' 10:00 am. She woke up, sunlight flooding her bedroom. She was able to rest. She got up, arranged the bed sheets and took a nice, cold shower. Minutes later, she was down at the garden having brunch with Tita Doris.
"Hi! Tita. Where is Miguel?"
"Sinundo si Sugar."
"Sino ba yang Sugar na yan? Nai-intriga na ako."
"Iha, I'll let Miguel tell you who Sugar is. Promise me something, though. Whatever happens you'll always be my daughter, Bea?"
She felt scared. Why was Tita Doris suddenly serious? "Opo naman."
"Anyway, iha. I heard from Miguel your boyfriend sounded like he was going to propose a week ago. Did he propose?"
Bea looked at her hands, bare of any engagement ring. She looked at Tita Doris and smiled. Before she could answer, Miguel showed up. With him is a woman she had not seen before. She was of medium frame, shoulder length hair and looked very feminine.
"Sugar, the sister I never had, Bea. Bea, Sugar, my fiance`." It felt as if somebody had thrown cold water on her. His what? Blood rushed to her head.She blushed. Her cheeks felt very warm. She couldn't swallow. Her heart beating a hundred beats per minute.
"Your what?" She looked at Miguel, blushing then suddenly white as with shock. "I'm sorry, Sugar but this is quite a surprise. Miguel has never mentioned you in any of his e-mails," she said as she looked at Sugar with a confused look. She looked at Tita Doris, she looked back as if she was consoling her.
"Yeah, I got engaged. I'm keeping my promise. I'm getting married on Saturday. O di ba you're here so in essence I've kept my promise."
She managed to smile faintly. She hugged Miguel and congratulated him.She even managed to tell Sugar "You got a catch here, girl. Take good care of him or else I will snatch him under your nose." It sounded as if she was just joking, turning over a very important possession to it's next owner. In the deepest recesses of her person, she knew she meant it. "He told me a lot of nice things about you." Sugar said, smiling at her as if they had been friends for the longest time.
"I'm sure he has."
Lunch was served. All of Bea's favorite Filipino dishes. She and Sugar spent time chatting the afternoon away, looking at Bea's and Miguel's college photos and yearbooks. She found out that Sugar likes most of the things she does. They both came from the same high school. As she tried to get to know Sugar better during their afternoon chat, she realized that not only was she perfect for Miguel, she also seemed like the best gal pal Bea could find. They talked about the wedding details, the dress, the ring, the shoes, the tiara. They like almost the same places, the same styles, the same shops. She told Sugar they should do shopping marathon together. Had it been another day, she would be telling herself that this is really a great opportunity to find someone who understands her shopping needs.Except that this is not one of those days? Except that this woman, this perfect, feminine girlfriend was Miguel's fiance`.
Bea's phone rings. The name Boyfriend flashes.
"You should really get that" Sugar told Bea.
"Yeah, I guess I should. Hello? Yes? I'm good. I'm here at Miguel's. Oh have in front of me Sugar, Miguel's fiance`." The words almost got stuck in her throat, but she still managed to give Sugar a smile. "Listen, I'll call you later. I have very good news for you."
Miguel sat down beside Bea. Sugar was looking at them and asked "So tell me? Was there never a time the two of you were more than Platonic?" Bea and Miguel looked at each other then looked at their own hands. Miguel's gaze turned to Sugar. He answered "Of course not. Bea and I were never like that." "As in?" Sugar inquired. "LOL, oo naman. She was a handful. Too much to handle for me. I can't keep up with her. She's never stands still." Miguel looked at Bea and smiled, his eyes turning into slits as his dimples gloriously show.
"I guess that's the way for you. But not for Edward." Bea replied, with a little hint of disappointment. "Okay lang yun. Edward is tough enough." Miguel was still smiling.
"Wait, speaking of Edward. I need to call him."
Bea left the garden and went up to her room to call Edward. "Hello? Edward. Here goes. Yes. The answer is Yes."
*********
The wedding went well. It was one of the most elegant weddings she had seen. Sugar had everything covered and she was a very beautiful, blushing bride. "I, Miguel, take you, Sugar, as my friend and love, beside me and apart from me, in laughter and in tears, in conflict and tranquility, asking that you be no other than yourself, love what I know of you, trusting what I do not know yet, in all the ways that life may find us." Bea felt a stab of pain hitting her heart. She slowly got up, walked away from the spectators. Tears streaming down her flushed cheeks.
**********
Bea is once again on her way to the airport. Miguel is driving for her, this time with a wedding ring on his left finger.
"Hay, here we go again. I'm driving you to the airport. Kailan na naman kaya tao magkikita?"
"Ewan ko. Tell me something," her tone all too serious. "What was it that you love about Sugar? How did you know she was the one?" Miguel just smiled. "Dali na ano? Malay mo I need to decide in a couple of days diba?"
"You know what I love about her? The same things I loved about you before. The only difference is that she's not as ambitious as you are. When you left for New York two years ago, I knew I don't have a place in the life you've chosen. I don't blame you for that. You're good in your field and I thought to myself that it's your right to move on without me. Moving away was a decision you made for yourself. I know this sounds silly and you might nag me about it but I found the better version of you in Sugar.She's so much like you in so many ways but the only difference is she loves me more than you do."
She wanted to cry the tears she had kept as he witnessed him say his vows, but kept her composure. She just chuckled a laugh. How could he move on without her? Why was it easy for him and not for her? As she got off the car, she gave Miguel one last hug. This time she felt her heart heavy.
"I guess this is goodbye?" she told Miguel.
"Wait, I'm not letting you out until you answer question. Did Edward propose?"
Bea showed Miguel her left hand. In it was a one carat diamond solitaire ring set in platinum. "Yes." Miguel let out a sigh and congratulated her. As Miguel turned his gaze from the steering wheel to Bea's face, he saw a single tear fall from her right eye and then she said, "If it gives any consolation. Edward was the best version of you that I can find in New York."
Manila International Airport , 2:00 am. It's been two years since she had last seen the Manila International Airport . Not much has changed.Her last memory of this airport was when Miguel dropped her off. She was on her way to New York to pursue a career in Wall Street. "Promise me something will you? Please don't get married until I come back?" She jokingly told him as she lifted up her backpack. "LOL. Very funny. Ikaw ang mag-promise. Promise me you won't run off with some nerdy economist in the next two years."
"Let's see, shall we. Bye, Miguel. I'll call you as soon I get to New York." That was her last memory in this place. The warm Manila air made her feel a bit restless and yet she feels excited. This is the first time in two years she'll be seeing Miguel again. She was thoughtfully going through the immigration counters, thinking of how much she missed seeing Miguel. How different would he be now? Sure he sends her regular weekly e-mails and pictures but being the busy person that she had always been, she didn't get the time to chat with him and buy a webcam.
She's finally out. "Where is Miguel?" She wondered. "Ah there!" she exclaimed when she saw the silver gray Nissan Patrol parked near the exit. TGW926. Yup, that's Miguel alright. Her heart was leaping ahead of her as the driver got off. "Hey! I missed you!" He said, as he hugged her.
"I missed you too. So much." She said, as she hugged him back. It was warm. It felt good to be back. It felt great to feel his hug. "Let me get those." He said pointing at her luggage. "Then we'll have more time for hugging and chika."
"Okay."
Edsa, 4:30 am. Miguel's cellphone rings. Mama, the name flashes on the screen.
"You should really get that."
"No, you should get that. She's been waiting for you. She insist that we go straight to her after I pick you up form the airport. She also insist that you spend tomorrow with her." Miguel was talking about her mother. Miguel was an only child and his mother wanted a daughter. She would often tell Bea that since she doesn't have a mom anymore, she should let Tita Doris be her second mom. She loved Bea as if she were her own daughter.
"Hello? Yes, Tita. How are you nap po?... ah opo. Miguel already told me. Sige po. Okay po. I'll see you later." She turns off the phone and looks out the window. The phone rings again, this time the name "Sugar" flashes on the screen. Hmmm, "Sugar." He was quick. He got a hold of the phone and answered it. "Hello. Yeah. Pauwi na. I'm with her na. Yeah. Tomorrow, I will. Promise. We'll see you tomorrow."
We? Is that supposed to mean me and him? See Sugar? Who is Sugar, anyway? "Who was that?" she couldn't keep herself from asking. "Sugar ha?"
"I'll introduce her tomorrow. Uwi muna tayo sa bahay. By the way, kamusta na si Edward?" "Edward?"
"Oo, si Edward, naalala mo yung boyfriend na iniwan mo sa New York ? Anong klase ka ba naming girlfriend? Kaya hindi kita niligawan eh. Baka makalimutan mo rin ako."
"Ah si Edward. Hayun. Nasa New York ." Miguel has met Edward when he came to New York to give Bea a surprise visit. He seems a nice guy. Not the geeky economist Miguel pictured Bea would end up with. He is actually a cool guy and loves Bea a lot.
"He called me up, a week ago, asking a lot of things about you. Parang may balak ata?"
"Balak na?" "Tell me, did he propose to you? He sounded like he was going to propose to you kasi." "Ah look, here we are at Tita Doris."
At Tita Doris', 4:45 am. A pleasantly plump woman enters the living room. She was in her mid-fifties, a familiar warm smile and two open arms. She welcomed Bea, gave her a big hug and kissed her on the cheek. "Hay anak, kamusta ka na? Na-miss na kita. Pinakain ka ba nito si Miguel?"
"Opo, Tita." She looked around. Not much has changed in this house. She remembers spending her college days in this house. She remembers sinking into Tita Doris' arms when her mom died. She remembers only good things about this woman. She can't remember a time when she had been unkind to her and yes, she loves her like her own mother.
"Iha, sabihan mo nga yang si Miguel. Sabihin mo 'wag padalos-dalos magdesisyon. "
"Po?"
"Mama naman. Let Bea rest. I'll tell her everything tomorrow." Miguel interrupted his mother before she can spill the beans.
"Ha? What was that all about?" Bea was curious.
"Bukas na lang."
"Okay. Tita, if it's okay I'll go rest now." She hugged her, and proceeded to climb the stairs. Miguel followed her carrying her luggage.
"Alam mo I missed this house. Uy sino ba si Sugar? Tsaka bakit parang worried nanay mo sa iyo?"
"Bukas na. Sugar is having lunch here."
"Hmmm, intriguing, pero sige. Bukas na." They were both standing as the door to the guest room. "Alam mo, it's really good to be back in this house. I'll see you tomorrow."
Tita Doris' 10:00 am. She woke up, sunlight flooding her bedroom. She was able to rest. She got up, arranged the bed sheets and took a nice, cold shower. Minutes later, she was down at the garden having brunch with Tita Doris.
"Hi! Tita. Where is Miguel?"
"Sinundo si Sugar."
"Sino ba yang Sugar na yan? Nai-intriga na ako."
"Iha, I'll let Miguel tell you who Sugar is. Promise me something, though. Whatever happens you'll always be my daughter, Bea?"
She felt scared. Why was Tita Doris suddenly serious? "Opo naman."
"Anyway, iha. I heard from Miguel your boyfriend sounded like he was going to propose a week ago. Did he propose?"
Bea looked at her hands, bare of any engagement ring. She looked at Tita Doris and smiled. Before she could answer, Miguel showed up. With him is a woman she had not seen before. She was of medium frame, shoulder length hair and looked very feminine.
"Sugar, the sister I never had, Bea. Bea, Sugar, my fiance`." It felt as if somebody had thrown cold water on her. His what? Blood rushed to her head.She blushed. Her cheeks felt very warm. She couldn't swallow. Her heart beating a hundred beats per minute.
"Your what?" She looked at Miguel, blushing then suddenly white as with shock. "I'm sorry, Sugar but this is quite a surprise. Miguel has never mentioned you in any of his e-mails," she said as she looked at Sugar with a confused look. She looked at Tita Doris, she looked back as if she was consoling her.
"Yeah, I got engaged. I'm keeping my promise. I'm getting married on Saturday. O di ba you're here so in essence I've kept my promise."
She managed to smile faintly. She hugged Miguel and congratulated him.She even managed to tell Sugar "You got a catch here, girl. Take good care of him or else I will snatch him under your nose." It sounded as if she was just joking, turning over a very important possession to it's next owner. In the deepest recesses of her person, she knew she meant it. "He told me a lot of nice things about you." Sugar said, smiling at her as if they had been friends for the longest time.
"I'm sure he has."
Lunch was served. All of Bea's favorite Filipino dishes. She and Sugar spent time chatting the afternoon away, looking at Bea's and Miguel's college photos and yearbooks. She found out that Sugar likes most of the things she does. They both came from the same high school. As she tried to get to know Sugar better during their afternoon chat, she realized that not only was she perfect for Miguel, she also seemed like the best gal pal Bea could find. They talked about the wedding details, the dress, the ring, the shoes, the tiara. They like almost the same places, the same styles, the same shops. She told Sugar they should do shopping marathon together. Had it been another day, she would be telling herself that this is really a great opportunity to find someone who understands her shopping needs.Except that this is not one of those days? Except that this woman, this perfect, feminine girlfriend was Miguel's fiance`.
Bea's phone rings. The name Boyfriend flashes.
"You should really get that" Sugar told Bea.
"Yeah, I guess I should. Hello? Yes? I'm good. I'm here at Miguel's. Oh have in front of me Sugar, Miguel's fiance`." The words almost got stuck in her throat, but she still managed to give Sugar a smile. "Listen, I'll call you later. I have very good news for you."
Miguel sat down beside Bea. Sugar was looking at them and asked "So tell me? Was there never a time the two of you were more than Platonic?" Bea and Miguel looked at each other then looked at their own hands. Miguel's gaze turned to Sugar. He answered "Of course not. Bea and I were never like that." "As in?" Sugar inquired. "LOL, oo naman. She was a handful. Too much to handle for me. I can't keep up with her. She's never stands still." Miguel looked at Bea and smiled, his eyes turning into slits as his dimples gloriously show.
"I guess that's the way for you. But not for Edward." Bea replied, with a little hint of disappointment. "Okay lang yun. Edward is tough enough." Miguel was still smiling.
"Wait, speaking of Edward. I need to call him."
Bea left the garden and went up to her room to call Edward. "Hello? Edward. Here goes. Yes. The answer is Yes."
*********
The wedding went well. It was one of the most elegant weddings she had seen. Sugar had everything covered and she was a very beautiful, blushing bride. "I, Miguel, take you, Sugar, as my friend and love, beside me and apart from me, in laughter and in tears, in conflict and tranquility, asking that you be no other than yourself, love what I know of you, trusting what I do not know yet, in all the ways that life may find us." Bea felt a stab of pain hitting her heart. She slowly got up, walked away from the spectators. Tears streaming down her flushed cheeks.
**********
Bea is once again on her way to the airport. Miguel is driving for her, this time with a wedding ring on his left finger.
"Hay, here we go again. I'm driving you to the airport. Kailan na naman kaya tao magkikita?"
"Ewan ko. Tell me something," her tone all too serious. "What was it that you love about Sugar? How did you know she was the one?" Miguel just smiled. "Dali na ano? Malay mo I need to decide in a couple of days diba?"
"You know what I love about her? The same things I loved about you before. The only difference is that she's not as ambitious as you are. When you left for New York two years ago, I knew I don't have a place in the life you've chosen. I don't blame you for that. You're good in your field and I thought to myself that it's your right to move on without me. Moving away was a decision you made for yourself. I know this sounds silly and you might nag me about it but I found the better version of you in Sugar.She's so much like you in so many ways but the only difference is she loves me more than you do."
She wanted to cry the tears she had kept as he witnessed him say his vows, but kept her composure. She just chuckled a laugh. How could he move on without her? Why was it easy for him and not for her? As she got off the car, she gave Miguel one last hug. This time she felt her heart heavy.
"I guess this is goodbye?" she told Miguel.
"Wait, I'm not letting you out until you answer question. Did Edward propose?"
Bea showed Miguel her left hand. In it was a one carat diamond solitaire ring set in platinum. "Yes." Miguel let out a sigh and congratulated her. As Miguel turned his gaze from the steering wheel to Bea's face, he saw a single tear fall from her right eye and then she said, "If it gives any consolation. Edward was the best version of you that I can find in New York."
Thursday, November 05, 2009
The Wooden Bowl
A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered.
The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.
The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. "We must do something about Father," said the son. "I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor."
So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.
When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.
The four-year-old watched it all in silence.
One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.
The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.
That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.
The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.
The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. "We must do something about Father," said the son. "I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor."
So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.
When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.
The four-year-old watched it all in silence.
One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.
The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.
That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Going Home (A short film on Dementia)
Watch this prize-winning video produced by Vinn Bay and Tee Boon Leng for a video competition as part of the ADI (Alzheimer's Disease International) conference in March 2009.
Made me cry.
Made me cry.
Friday, October 09, 2009
Autistic Basketball Hero
A touching coverage about an autistic basketball player in Greece Athena High School.
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Marriage Proposal Trailer
When it comes to effort and money poured into a proposal, this must top all the others out there. The guy's explanation in his own words:
I have know my fiancée Tracey Wade for over 14 years and wanted to propose to her in a very unique way. Tracey thought we were just going to the movies on a Sunday afternoon. Little did she know, I had rented the entire theater and filled it with 160 of our friends and family. I made it seem as though we were showing up a little late to the movie and went in to the theater after the lights had gone down and the movie trailers were already playing. This was done to keep her from recognizing anyone in the theater. What I had done was make an entire movie trailer that had actors portraying both Tracey and I at different times in our lives, both present day and in the future. After a few trailers played including one for Lord of the Rings the one I had made started. Tracey thought it was just another trailer for a movie soon to be released. Tracey was just perplexed as to how many different things had similarities to our relationship, she kept nudging me throughout the trailer. Tracey had no idea this was a marriage proposal until the last three seconds of the trailer.
Nine months earlier in September of 2006 I started by hiring a professional production team, securing two and a half million dollars worth of film equipment (THANK YOU PANAVISION), and writing a script that would show what would go through someone's mind (Tracey's) if they were about to die. It is said "moments before you die your life flashes right before your eyes". JUST A NOTE: Ever since Tracey was a young girl, she has had a reoccurring dream that she was going to die in a plane crash. Actors were cast to portray both Tracey and I at different times in our lives (twenty years in the future as well as present day).
The explanations of the flashbacks are as follows:
HORSE JUMPING - Tracey has been an avid equestrian her entire life, both competing and teaching professionally. The location that we filmed, was the exact location Tracey won in, back in 2006.
DODGER STADIUM - Tracey and I have season tickets to the Dodgers. We both grew up in L.A. and are big baseball fans.
SKYDIVING - On Tracey's fathers 70th birthday we both went skydiving for the first time. The plane in the trailer is the same plane we jumped out of in real life. The actress portraying Tracey even wore the same jumpsuit.
KITE FLYING - This was filmed in the exact location Tracey and I have flown a kite before.
FISHING - When Tracey and I fell in love; we were down in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. One of our greatest memories in Mexico was chartering a boat and going marlin fishing. In the movie trailer both actors were wearing the exact same clothes, both Tracey and I were wearing when we went fishing. As a side note this scene was actually shot on location down in Cabo San Lucas.
RUNNING ON THE BEACH - Tracey and I had one of our best days ever on this exact beach near San Diego.
SAILING - I own a sailboat. Both Tracey and I love sailing. The exterior shot was not my boat, but the closes up shots were actually filmed on my sailboat.
AIRIAL SHOT OF BEACH AND HOTEL - This was the actual place we stayed in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. It is our very favorite place. Tracey always thought I might one day ask her to marry her there.
PROPOSAL LOCATION - Same hotel as mentioned above. This one area at the hotel was our very favorite spot.
SHE SAID YES!!
I have know my fiancée Tracey Wade for over 14 years and wanted to propose to her in a very unique way. Tracey thought we were just going to the movies on a Sunday afternoon. Little did she know, I had rented the entire theater and filled it with 160 of our friends and family. I made it seem as though we were showing up a little late to the movie and went in to the theater after the lights had gone down and the movie trailers were already playing. This was done to keep her from recognizing anyone in the theater. What I had done was make an entire movie trailer that had actors portraying both Tracey and I at different times in our lives, both present day and in the future. After a few trailers played including one for Lord of the Rings the one I had made started. Tracey thought it was just another trailer for a movie soon to be released. Tracey was just perplexed as to how many different things had similarities to our relationship, she kept nudging me throughout the trailer. Tracey had no idea this was a marriage proposal until the last three seconds of the trailer.
Nine months earlier in September of 2006 I started by hiring a professional production team, securing two and a half million dollars worth of film equipment (THANK YOU PANAVISION), and writing a script that would show what would go through someone's mind (Tracey's) if they were about to die. It is said "moments before you die your life flashes right before your eyes". JUST A NOTE: Ever since Tracey was a young girl, she has had a reoccurring dream that she was going to die in a plane crash. Actors were cast to portray both Tracey and I at different times in our lives (twenty years in the future as well as present day).
The explanations of the flashbacks are as follows:
HORSE JUMPING - Tracey has been an avid equestrian her entire life, both competing and teaching professionally. The location that we filmed, was the exact location Tracey won in, back in 2006.
DODGER STADIUM - Tracey and I have season tickets to the Dodgers. We both grew up in L.A. and are big baseball fans.
SKYDIVING - On Tracey's fathers 70th birthday we both went skydiving for the first time. The plane in the trailer is the same plane we jumped out of in real life. The actress portraying Tracey even wore the same jumpsuit.
KITE FLYING - This was filmed in the exact location Tracey and I have flown a kite before.
FISHING - When Tracey and I fell in love; we were down in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. One of our greatest memories in Mexico was chartering a boat and going marlin fishing. In the movie trailer both actors were wearing the exact same clothes, both Tracey and I were wearing when we went fishing. As a side note this scene was actually shot on location down in Cabo San Lucas.
RUNNING ON THE BEACH - Tracey and I had one of our best days ever on this exact beach near San Diego.
SAILING - I own a sailboat. Both Tracey and I love sailing. The exterior shot was not my boat, but the closes up shots were actually filmed on my sailboat.
AIRIAL SHOT OF BEACH AND HOTEL - This was the actual place we stayed in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. It is our very favorite place. Tracey always thought I might one day ask her to marry her there.
PROPOSAL LOCATION - Same hotel as mentioned above. This one area at the hotel was our very favorite spot.
SHE SAID YES!!
Thursday, October 01, 2009
For Whom Do We Live?
A sad commercial.
We often ask, why are we alive? What were we born for? Maybe those questions cannot not be answered but this instead: for whom do we live?
We often ask, why are we alive? What were we born for? Maybe those questions cannot not be answered but this instead: for whom do we live?
Dennis and Mandy's Love Story
I don't know them. I just found their video on YouTube and got hooked on their love story. In Mandy's words (taken from their wedding site):
The Beginning
Our story is one that can only be described as serendipitous. I was working out at the gym with a friend of mine who was always going out on dates. I asked her where she was meeting all these guys. She informed me that she was using one of the online dating sites. I sort of cringed because I had some previous experiences with online dating and it was...well..."unsuccessful." She said, "Just try it out." Since I had nothing to lose, I went on to 2 different sites and created profiles. I did some browsing on one of the sites and only found 3 or 4 guys that I found remotely cute or interesting. One of them I thought was VERY cute but he hadn't been on the site in months. I shot him a flirt anyway. On the other site I found numerous people that I connected with, and communicated with. One of these gentlemen and I hit it off quickly with some great conversation, but had some trouble nailing down a date to go out and meet face to face.
A few days later, I was back at the gym, although I was working this time. (I worked at the front desk to earn some extra cash while I was getting my Masters degree.) I started talking to one of the regular couples I saw on the weekends. As the conversation went on, the wife (Michelle) said to me, "I have a friend who would be great for you! Would you mind if I gave him your contact info?" I gave her my info, and went about my day. Later that night I was finally able to nail down a date with the guy from the Internet. We went out that night and had a really good time. It was the next day that Michelle's friend left me a voicemail, which I did not respond to since I wanted to see where this new relationship was going. A few days later I got an email from her friend too, which I also did not respond to.
That weekend I ran into Michelle again at the gym who asked if I had called her friend. When I told her the situation she said I should at least call to let him know. That evening, I sat down to make the 10 second "Thanks but no thanks" phone call and ended up talking to Dennis for 45 minutes. He was very respectful of my decision to pursue the other relationship, and we had a great conversation anyway. He sent me an email afterwards asking to remain in touch because, "you can never have too many friends." We did remain in touch via many emails. I was intrigued by the immediate sense of comfort I felt talking to Dennis.
During that initial phone conversation, Dennis mentioned to me that he really did not like the blind-date/fix-up scene, nor did he like online dating. That said, he told me the following story: On the morning I was talking to Michelle at the gym, Dennis was at home making airline reservations. He had been put on hold and was checking email while he waited. He received a spam message from one of the dating websites and decided that since he had nothing better to do -- it was 7:30 on a Sunday morning -- he would go browse. He went onto the site, put in his preferences and browsed through 7 pages of profiles before he found one woman he found attractive. He read the profile, and just as he finished, the airline representative came back on the phone. He closed out of the site and forgot about it. Later that morning Michelle called Dennis. She told him she knew how he felt about blind dates but had met a great girl that she thought would be perfect for him. "Let me tell you about her before you say no," she said. She proceeded to explain where I had gone to school, what I did after graduation, and that I was currently working on my Masters in teaching. Dennis said that he sat in silence because this sounded too familiar. He asked if she was near her computer. She said she was, so he told her to go to the website he had been on and look up the profile he had found. He sat waiting and the next thing her heard was "Oh my gosh! That's her." Dennis said that without that weird coincidence, he probably would not have called me.
About a week after our initial phone conversation, I got an email from Dennis telling me that he had another interesting story for me. He said once again that, although he knows it works for many people, he did not believe in online dating. However, one of his friends said Dennis needed to put himself out there more to meet women so his friend set up a profile on a dating site for him. Dennis said he never checked the account but got occasional emails that informed him he had mail in his inbox that was about to expire. He had just received one such email. After checking it, he found a flirt from a user named Mermandy whose description and profile matched the one he had read on the other website previously, so he knew it was me. I asked what his user name was, and it turned out that the one flirt I had sent to the "VERY cute guy" who hadn't logged in months was sent to the man I was now talking to. Now I was thinking a little more about him.
Soon thereafter, the guy I had started dating and I had a falling out that ended our relationship. Later that day, I was at my computer responding to one of Dennis' emails and told him that my day had been pretty bad because the guy I was seeing had stood me up. No more than 30 seconds had passed after I sent the email, and a response popped up on my screen. Strange that he was on at the exact same moment, but what made it even more interesting was that he happened to be in Italy at the time. He asked me if the "WAS SEEING" was a typo. I replied that it was not. Again, no more than 30 seconds passed when my cell phone rang. Dennis was calling from Italy! We spoke for about 40 minutes!
It was hard to ignore that there were 3 completely separate events that had caused our paths to cross. I am a big believer in signs and things happening for a reason. This was a MAJOR sign! I was hooked. We made plans to meet when he returned from Europe about a week later. The evening we met was incredible. We talked until 3 am as though we had known each other for years. Since that day we have been together and are now engaged, which leads to...
The Engagement
It was a moment straight from a fairy tale!
It is July 21, 2007 and we are in Paris for a short layover before heading to Italy. It is also the day Harry Potter 7 is released. Dennis told me he had made reservations for dinner at The Jules Verne restaurant on the Eiffel Tower. The restaurant required a blazer which Dennis had to carry in his backpack all day since I was not going to carry it, though I usually carry everything else. In the early part of the morning, we walked by the Eiffel Tower and saw there was no line, so I dragged Dennis to the top. Once there, he informed me that he had a gift that was going to shock me. My immediate thought was "Oh my gosh! He's going to propose!" Then I remembered that he said he would never propose overseas. Then I thought, "Oh my gosh He got me Harry Potter!" Sure enough, Dennis pulled a present out of his bag the size of a book. I ripped open the paper and saw "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." I was elated but very confused since it had come out at midnight the evening prior and we had been together ever since. I flipped through the book to try to make some sense of the quandary I was in and found the middle had been cut out. Nestled in the center was a video iPod. I asked if it was a book on tape, somewhat distraught that he had ruined my book. Dennis snickered, said no, and plugged in 2 sets of headphones. (He later informed me he had gotten an advance copy of only the cover and had used an old copy of the 5th Harry Potter book to cut up.) He turned on the iPod, and I proceeded to watch the most amazing photo montage set to our song.
There was a letter super-imposed on the photos talking about our relationship and how he was done looking and ready to begin his journey through life with me as his wife. He then got down on one knee and asked if I would marry him. Through tears and complete shock, I sobbed "Yes, of course!" People around us were from all over the world but all of them began clapping, cheering and taking photos. It was amazing!
On the way down from the top, Dennis told me that he had wanted to do this later because it was 4 am in the States, so I couldn't call anyone at home. Oh well. Later that afternoon I began making phone calls. First to my parents who were not at home and then to my brother and best friends. Dinner time rolled around and I still had not reached my parents. I said that I would call them after dinner in hopes to find them available. We went into the restaurant (not the Jules Verne which had been a ploy) and gave them our name. They led us around towards the back of the restaurant where, to my disbelief, my parents and Dennis' parents were sitting at the table waiting for us. I was speechless, but it was exactly the way I wanted to share one of the most amazing and special moments of my life!
The Beginning
Our story is one that can only be described as serendipitous. I was working out at the gym with a friend of mine who was always going out on dates. I asked her where she was meeting all these guys. She informed me that she was using one of the online dating sites. I sort of cringed because I had some previous experiences with online dating and it was...well..."unsuccessful." She said, "Just try it out." Since I had nothing to lose, I went on to 2 different sites and created profiles. I did some browsing on one of the sites and only found 3 or 4 guys that I found remotely cute or interesting. One of them I thought was VERY cute but he hadn't been on the site in months. I shot him a flirt anyway. On the other site I found numerous people that I connected with, and communicated with. One of these gentlemen and I hit it off quickly with some great conversation, but had some trouble nailing down a date to go out and meet face to face.
A few days later, I was back at the gym, although I was working this time. (I worked at the front desk to earn some extra cash while I was getting my Masters degree.) I started talking to one of the regular couples I saw on the weekends. As the conversation went on, the wife (Michelle) said to me, "I have a friend who would be great for you! Would you mind if I gave him your contact info?" I gave her my info, and went about my day. Later that night I was finally able to nail down a date with the guy from the Internet. We went out that night and had a really good time. It was the next day that Michelle's friend left me a voicemail, which I did not respond to since I wanted to see where this new relationship was going. A few days later I got an email from her friend too, which I also did not respond to.
That weekend I ran into Michelle again at the gym who asked if I had called her friend. When I told her the situation she said I should at least call to let him know. That evening, I sat down to make the 10 second "Thanks but no thanks" phone call and ended up talking to Dennis for 45 minutes. He was very respectful of my decision to pursue the other relationship, and we had a great conversation anyway. He sent me an email afterwards asking to remain in touch because, "you can never have too many friends." We did remain in touch via many emails. I was intrigued by the immediate sense of comfort I felt talking to Dennis.
During that initial phone conversation, Dennis mentioned to me that he really did not like the blind-date/fix-up scene, nor did he like online dating. That said, he told me the following story: On the morning I was talking to Michelle at the gym, Dennis was at home making airline reservations. He had been put on hold and was checking email while he waited. He received a spam message from one of the dating websites and decided that since he had nothing better to do -- it was 7:30 on a Sunday morning -- he would go browse. He went onto the site, put in his preferences and browsed through 7 pages of profiles before he found one woman he found attractive. He read the profile, and just as he finished, the airline representative came back on the phone. He closed out of the site and forgot about it. Later that morning Michelle called Dennis. She told him she knew how he felt about blind dates but had met a great girl that she thought would be perfect for him. "Let me tell you about her before you say no," she said. She proceeded to explain where I had gone to school, what I did after graduation, and that I was currently working on my Masters in teaching. Dennis said that he sat in silence because this sounded too familiar. He asked if she was near her computer. She said she was, so he told her to go to the website he had been on and look up the profile he had found. He sat waiting and the next thing her heard was "Oh my gosh! That's her." Dennis said that without that weird coincidence, he probably would not have called me.
About a week after our initial phone conversation, I got an email from Dennis telling me that he had another interesting story for me. He said once again that, although he knows it works for many people, he did not believe in online dating. However, one of his friends said Dennis needed to put himself out there more to meet women so his friend set up a profile on a dating site for him. Dennis said he never checked the account but got occasional emails that informed him he had mail in his inbox that was about to expire. He had just received one such email. After checking it, he found a flirt from a user named Mermandy whose description and profile matched the one he had read on the other website previously, so he knew it was me. I asked what his user name was, and it turned out that the one flirt I had sent to the "VERY cute guy" who hadn't logged in months was sent to the man I was now talking to. Now I was thinking a little more about him.
Soon thereafter, the guy I had started dating and I had a falling out that ended our relationship. Later that day, I was at my computer responding to one of Dennis' emails and told him that my day had been pretty bad because the guy I was seeing had stood me up. No more than 30 seconds had passed after I sent the email, and a response popped up on my screen. Strange that he was on at the exact same moment, but what made it even more interesting was that he happened to be in Italy at the time. He asked me if the "WAS SEEING" was a typo. I replied that it was not. Again, no more than 30 seconds passed when my cell phone rang. Dennis was calling from Italy! We spoke for about 40 minutes!
It was hard to ignore that there were 3 completely separate events that had caused our paths to cross. I am a big believer in signs and things happening for a reason. This was a MAJOR sign! I was hooked. We made plans to meet when he returned from Europe about a week later. The evening we met was incredible. We talked until 3 am as though we had known each other for years. Since that day we have been together and are now engaged, which leads to...
The Engagement
It was a moment straight from a fairy tale!
It is July 21, 2007 and we are in Paris for a short layover before heading to Italy. It is also the day Harry Potter 7 is released. Dennis told me he had made reservations for dinner at The Jules Verne restaurant on the Eiffel Tower. The restaurant required a blazer which Dennis had to carry in his backpack all day since I was not going to carry it, though I usually carry everything else. In the early part of the morning, we walked by the Eiffel Tower and saw there was no line, so I dragged Dennis to the top. Once there, he informed me that he had a gift that was going to shock me. My immediate thought was "Oh my gosh! He's going to propose!" Then I remembered that he said he would never propose overseas. Then I thought, "Oh my gosh He got me Harry Potter!" Sure enough, Dennis pulled a present out of his bag the size of a book. I ripped open the paper and saw "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." I was elated but very confused since it had come out at midnight the evening prior and we had been together ever since. I flipped through the book to try to make some sense of the quandary I was in and found the middle had been cut out. Nestled in the center was a video iPod. I asked if it was a book on tape, somewhat distraught that he had ruined my book. Dennis snickered, said no, and plugged in 2 sets of headphones. (He later informed me he had gotten an advance copy of only the cover and had used an old copy of the 5th Harry Potter book to cut up.) He turned on the iPod, and I proceeded to watch the most amazing photo montage set to our song.
There was a letter super-imposed on the photos talking about our relationship and how he was done looking and ready to begin his journey through life with me as his wife. He then got down on one knee and asked if I would marry him. Through tears and complete shock, I sobbed "Yes, of course!" People around us were from all over the world but all of them began clapping, cheering and taking photos. It was amazing!
On the way down from the top, Dennis told me that he had wanted to do this later because it was 4 am in the States, so I couldn't call anyone at home. Oh well. Later that afternoon I began making phone calls. First to my parents who were not at home and then to my brother and best friends. Dinner time rolled around and I still had not reached my parents. I said that I would call them after dinner in hopes to find them available. We went into the restaurant (not the Jules Verne which had been a ploy) and gave them our name. They led us around towards the back of the restaurant where, to my disbelief, my parents and Dennis' parents were sitting at the table waiting for us. I was speechless, but it was exactly the way I wanted to share one of the most amazing and special moments of my life!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
10 Years in 6 Minutes Wedding Narrative
It's on Facebook so it can't be embedded, but it's the cutest wedding video ever. Instead of just your typical collection of pre-nuptial shots, the couple's love story was narrated and acted out like a TV show. Every couple should have one!
Though adapted, a lot of elements were taken from the couple's true life account. This is Moomedia's first official MV shot almost entirely on the 5DmkII. Click here to view in HD. The performances by the extras are fictitious and in good fun.
Though adapted, a lot of elements were taken from the couple's true life account. This is Moomedia's first official MV shot almost entirely on the 5DmkII. Click here to view in HD. The performances by the extras are fictitious and in good fun.