An excerpt from A Reason For Being Fairbanks, Alaska 1994 In 1994, my youngest sister became ill with encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain that could’ve been deadly. She had a mosquito bite on her ankle that she did not pay attention to nor bothered to tell me. My parents had separated at this time, and … Continue reading Sunflowers (an excerpt from A Reason For Being)
Truth 1: no one ever realized that the state of Alaska was sitting on a gold mine that didn't include gold. I was told at a peony class I sat in that a few scientists from Europe had visited Fairbanks, Alaska, and during that visit they had mentioned to some agriculturalist that Alaska was … Continue reading Ma Vie En Rose: Peony Loyalist
I appreciate a good morning. Most especially when the daily drive to work is greeted with a beautiful sky. I took this photo yesterday (March 8th) soon after I dropped my daughter off to school, and I had the International Women's Day on my mind. There were some news yesterday morning about the travesty … Continue reading Morning Drive
I'm not always all about pondering life's realizations or philosophical musings, or even admitting to my own shortcomings, and chastising myself for arriving at some conclusion that I should have already been at years ago. I do attempt to find balance, and joy at things that are often overlooked. Sometimes I become so obsessed with … Continue reading Ma Vie en Rose
Freedom from Impulsive Reactivity In my 20s when I embarked on being an undergrad, there were moments that I would react impulsively at anything being thrown at me. I felt immense passion for my beliefs or my cause, and I felt compelled to defend them at all times. It was a pure luxury of … Continue reading Freedom
I’ll be somewhat disclosing my age here by writing this essay, but there’s a point to be made about the generation that I am a member of. The generation that has been defined by experts as those who came after the baby boomers are now grown. The Generation X—because no one could fucking come … Continue reading The X Legacy
I treated myself to a Harry Potter marathon this weekend. Guilty as charged. But, I must say that watching the HP movies (aside from reading the books a million times over) under the current social climate---brings forth a new revelation. One would sincerely believe that J.K. Rowling is a modernized oracle who was able … Continue reading To pity or not.
The saying goes that "if you are not changing, you are dying." I take it that this must means that a person must continue to strive for change--whether it is a physical change for the better, a philosophical perspective kind of change, a spiritual change--whatever it may be--it's change, right? There are those of … Continue reading Cruelty
The first elementary school I attended in the U.S. was Emerson Elementary School located in Oakland, California. My dad was stationed at Oakland Army Base for three years, and my family flew in from Cavite City, Philippines. Before Emerson elementary, I went to a regular public school, and before that a Catholic private school … Continue reading The Way to Dream..
Full confession here: I didn't want to leave the comfort of my family holiday traditions. The tradition composes of Christmas and New Year's to be celebrated quietly at home. The kids and I would spend our days lazily on the couch enjoying a marathon of Harry Potter movies, as well as, the Lord of the … Continue reading Family is Beauty. Beauty is Ohana
The Echo Muse 