Thankful

Article 016.

Let me start with this. I’ve been sick. The last few days have been a struggle. I try to take care of myself as best as I can and it’s not often that I get ill. But when I do, I feel like it hits me hard.  My fever has been fickle-minded in the last 4 days not knowing if it wanna stay or leave. Make up your mind please. And because of a clingy acid-reflux problem, I’ve developed a big love-hate relationship with ibuprofen which ironically is my ticket to seeing icky fever go away. So I’m left with good ole Tylenol, no offense, but not my first choice when it comes to pain relief. Soup and crackers had been the only items on the menu. Oh, and some chocolate cake. You’ll find out later where it came from. At press time, I’m about 90. Good enough to blog.

THE WEEKEND OF
It’s the birthday eve and greetings from Manila have started pouring in since it’s technically the 20th there already. I’m still astonished by people who greets me in social media despite the gap in silence (and affinity to an extent) between us. I want you all to know that it is not overlooked and I will do better to return the favor. I promise.

There was no palpable plan. There was no Filipino way of celebrating birthdays were the celebrant is the one who spends the effort and money to have friends over. Even if I wanted to, I got no means, at least not this year. So I welcome those who came through. As Kevin Durant have said, you the real MVPs!

Howard came around 12, it was a Saturday. His wife Jen and Jen’s daughter Rachel, dropped him off on their way to Porto’s, obviously giving me and my best buddy some alone time. How considerate. Good job Jen. I opened up the Special Edition Roku Gin I bought from DFS Japan. The aroma on that bottle was heavenly. I got tingles. Howard was smiling. He knows it would be a great session. After all, he was the one who recommended the liquor. He came in wearing his favorite white Crocs. I always call him out on those and why oh why he always goes with the fashion faux pas. It’s telling though why I keep wondering about this when I’ve known since childhood that Howard is more about comfort than style. I maybe on the wrong here for expecting otherwise. But little did I know that besides me barking on the wrong side of the fence, that I’ll be dragged over. He hands me a gift bag and inside was… tadaaaah! The same white Crocs he was wearing with all the Charms fix-ins!!! I could barely hold my laughter. Not only did I chewed out the footwear, now I get to wear them #twinning. In the middle of our spree, Jen and Rachel came back. They brought me a birthday cake, didn’t expect that at all. Jen is trying to get into my good side after a really tumultuous few years of the wife trying to win her husband’s best friend’s vote of confidence. I know it should be the other way around or the wife not giving a rat’s ass about what I think, but me and Howard, we go way way back. So in this dynamic, it’s socially acceptable. Thought I just make that clear, in case you readers are wondering (wink). It was a good modest celebration made possible by the couple. I had fun.

THE DAY OF
I was really planning of just doing chores the day of, but Gigi insisted she takes me out for brunch. It’s not like I’m passing up on free food, so I said yes and got dressed. Thought I wear the brown jacket I bought that looked very similar to what Andy Garcia was wearing in The Untouchables. It was slick. Gigi picked me up and was very casually dressed, and for a quick second I felt way too over, but immediately and completely nixed the concern. It’s my birthday, so I can dress up as Clark Gable if I wanted to, it shouldn’t really matter. Besides, it was a beautiful Monday to dress up fancy. We get to the diner and the Loaded Biscuit I ordered lived up to its name. In fact, it was too loaded, I only ate a biscuit and a half of the three servings. The cocktail I had was not impressive yet I had two. All it did was to get me sleepy, so Gigi dropped me back home and I thanked her for the treat. Backstory: I lost Gigi as a friend once (long story) and I’m very grateful she forgave me and accepted our friendship back. I have a lot to make up for so I’m hoping I’ll be worthy this time. We shall see.

Night came. Joaquin got closing at work so we decided that we would have dinner instead the next day. It was cool but Justin insisted he wanted to come over to bring dinner and asked me what I wanted. So we ended up with some good ole greasy Mickey D’s and I can’t remember the last time I had a Big Mac meal. The sauce on that burger is so distinct, for a moment, I really missed eating that calorie-horror. Oooh and the fries were fresh off the fryer, it was sinfully delightful. The cap off was hearty eventhough I was burping the entire night. I curtained the rest of the hours by thanking every greeter in social media, PM, texts and even got some surprising calls. Got me really smiling through my sleep.

THE NIGHT AFTER
My two boys snatched me up around 6pm the next night. They were starving they said. I really wasn’t craving for anything but suggested a Korean restaurant somewhere in Buena Park. Mind you, this is not an AYCE place. I can sense the two was not into it but was being polite since I should have last say. But eventually I had them picking up the spot. They brought me to, not surprisingly, a KBBQ AYCE place but one that I’ve never been before— Mr. BBQ at Fullerton. It was packed. The wait was a little over an hour so while waiting, Joaquin ordered a bottle of Cass beer for him and I as Justin is DD for the night.

We finally got a table. At this time I was famished and the two, well, reaching first-degree cannibalism by the look on their eyes. There was a different vibe to this spot unlike the other hundred KBBQ spots we’ve been. Seems brighter. The kids had nothing but good praise about the place and they should because the prices on the menu were stiffer. The meats are of quality, sides were generous and because Joaquin knows one of the servers (they always know a server somewhere), we got free drinks (woohoo)! They top it off with a generous scoop of ice cream so in the end, it was all worth it. I had a really good time with my boys. Been a minute and loving the intimate celebration. And the Adidas Samba shoes as a birthday gift, that’s fire!!!

Thanksgiving was on the same week and up to that day, there’s still some sporadic well-wishers for my birthday. Four days after and still getting greeted. I’m amused and still very appreciative. Spent Thanksgiving night with the Arcadios, Black Friday at Howard’s and then the bug hit me Saturday. Sunday onwards was a nightmare. I barely listened to any music, which is a true indication that I’m sick. But now that I’ve recovered, I’m very thankful of health, of life, even of challenges, and also of peace.

I watched the film It’s Complicated with Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin before heading into bed. Don’t know what to make of it this time. Just got me in the mood for some easy-listening tunes. And what a perfect song to put me to sleep— Harvest Moon by Neil Young [https://youtu.be/n2MtEsrcTTs?si=OrghdwzffWZrKYe6]. If you don’t know this song, try it. Thank me later.

Never in my life would I've thought I would wear this :)