Month: December 2018

Gratitude · Jodythinks · Love/Life

Merry Christmas Nanay

Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

Dear Nanay,

We were all home and got to spend Christmas together (except for Ann but you know she’s committed to the thing). We ate a bunch of things. Ninong taught most of us a game. The fathers drank whiskey, the kids (is it still kids if no one is younger than 21?) drank bottles of sweet wine.

You were still part of the raffle, and actually got to the end, but lost out to Joannaman. I bet if you did win you’d give it to us anyway like the year you did win the top prize.

Almost all the kids give gifts now so it took a good 15 minutes with several people walking around to just give away presents. Did you see the portrait we had made of you? It’s gorgeous and I think it really captured your spirit. The painting feels happy, like you always felt to me.

We miss you Nay, and I am curently typing this in the chair. Next to the bed that was yours wishing you were still napping here. As you would after a big lunch of Kare Kare, ribs and chicken lollipops.

It’s been so different without you but still we carry on. We learned from the best. It’s just so much better when you’re around.

Merry Christmas Nay.

Love,

Jody Anne

Jodythinks · Songs to listen to

I think you should listen to Bastille’s and Marshmello’s Happier today

Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

One of my biggest regrets in life was when I wiped my 7 year old ipod nano (which still works now) of the songs I curated since 2007. Until now I can’t find some of the songs I had on there that meant a lot. Reason being was that I wanted to start over and make new memories with new songs, turns out, I no longer have the time, patience or resources to curate something to that effect (around 639 songs at the time of wiping).

I like very old songs, and those who probably have people sick of them by now. My excuse is that I don’t really listen to the radio now, and depend on people’s recommendations of new songs. So I hardly have any new artists on my playlists. So I appreciate all recommendations of all genres.

Our friend Carla showed me the video to Happier, by Bastille and Marshmello, which is heartbreaking for anyone who’s ever owned a dog. Its lyrics are quite spot on too:

When the evening falls
And I’m left there with my thoughts
And the image of you being with someone else
Well, it’s eating me up inside
But we ran our course, we pretended we’re okay
Now if we jump together at least we can swim
Far away from the wreck we made

So before you swim away, listen to this song today. And try not to cry at the video.

Jodythinks · Songs to listen to

I think you should listen to Fra Lippo Lippi’s “Later” today

Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

I know it’s sad, and I actually started my day putting up my Christmas tree to Christmas carols. However, seeing Pier Sorenson on CNN Philippines sing it by himself really resonated with me. If you’ve never heard it, or it’s been years since you thought about it, please listen to it here.

Its lyrics are simple. Here is a sample of a few lines:

How could you ask for more

With an innocent smile
Trusting me to stay
How could you close the door
And leave me here
Supposing I’m okay

How could you break down my disguise

And uncover my fears
How could you look into my eyes
Ignoring my tears

It’s pain and it’s longing and it’s knowing it’s never going to be the same, but it’s real. I recently read in a book that “without suffering there is no compassion” and I agree. We have to experience pain to really empathize and realize how much things can hurt, and appreciate the good when it comes along.

Even if I am patched up and there are scars and bruises that show up in my being, it has allowed me to really experience humanity, and I can’t really regret that.