Bonfire/ABC Wednesday

B is for Bonfire

A bonfire we built at the beach to keep us warm.  A beacon in the dark night to guide us back from the water.  We talked about ghosts and spirits, of old friends, fireflies and  falling in love.  The  flickering orange flames danced, and the scent of burning wood made us nostalgic---we wondered out loud where the years have gone.  We regretted the days we threw in bunches into the bonfire and watched them go up in fragrant smoke.   In a moment of silence, we understood that this bonfire was like our life---fragile.  Left alone, it would destroy the very things it meant to illuminate.

Linking to ABC Wednesday

New Year Thoughts/ABC Wednesday

After the Yuletide madness, we are now on the first day of the New Year.   What a year that was!  But I don't like to dwell on regrets, heartaches, and blunders of the past year, instead, I am grateful for lessons learned, small victories and hurdles I overcame in the past year.

Whether we like it or not, the New Year will throw us new challenges as well as new opportunities.  Whatever we do with what come our way, I hope we come out of it a bit better, stronger and wiser. 

Undoubtedly, we will make mistakes---I fervently pray they're new mistakes.   I promise to forgive myself and move on. 

Be enriched with new experiences and welcome the New Year with renewed hope and resolve to get it right this time around. 

Wishing you all the best in 2013!

   

Linking to ABC Wednesday

Farewell, Whitney/Signs

Spotted this at the mall two weekends ago on my way to the supermarket.  Whitney is very popular in the Philippines---fans and music artists mourned her passing.  People wrote messages here to bid farewell to a great singer.  In this country of music-lovers, Whitney's vocal intensity and power have greatly influenced a generation of singers and aspiring singers.  I remember when "All at Once" was first heard over the airwaves in the 80's, my friends and I were awed by her incredible vocal range, and we did our karaoke versions every time we got the chance.:p 

Goodbye, Whitney...your music lives on!

Linking to Signs, Signs

Nostalgia: Christmas postmortem (Repost)

@ mirandablue

Christmas is over. How’s your Christmas hangover? Is the pocket bruised? The heart soothed? The wishes satisfied to the point of burping?  If you pretended at giving, succumbing to the season’s expectations, are you squirming still?  Is there any Christmas spirit left, or you're back to your grinchy self the day after Christmas?  Did you rekindle good memories, and remind yourself of the "reason for the season"?   Or maxed-out your Visa to buy people you don't like things they don't need? 

Forgive yourself and breath a sigh of relief.  It's 300 more days to go before the next one.:p

I usually feel deflated the day after Christmas. After the season’s excitement, the quietness of the following days is a welcome respite. The cool morning breezes roused my aching limbs but I stayed in bed a while longer and listened to the voices outside the door. I could hear Fritz barking as he runs into the house, anxious for its friendly smells and comforting hums of conversation. Aromas of leftover ham and coffee, sleepy footsteps, boards creaking under the weight of remembered feet, laughter of all pitches and ages. The music of a family, my personal scrapbook of memories. 

But still, four days to recuperate and gather strength for the hassle and bustle of New Year's eve seem too short.  I feel another wave of holiday stress coming in--too much togetherness is driving me nuts!

This post is linked to Nostalgic Marveling