Hello everyone, how's everybody here? Today is special for me as I officially turned 40. Time flies so fast. It seemed like it was only yesterday when I celebrated my 18th birthday; how come, in the blink of an eye, I'm already 40? It still doesn't sink in..
It's been six years since I celebrated my birthday away from home,and it still brings sadness in my heart every time I celebrate it alone. I guess I still haven't gotten used to it. (I started to write this draft on my birthday.)
When I woke up this morning, I was flooded with birthday wishes from families and friends when I opened my social media. Unlike in my country, where if it's your birthday, people around you will make you feel special and celebrate you through parties, foods and drinks, and a lot more to enjoy your day. Here, it is different. It's just an ordinary day for them ( my boss) they just bought me a cake. We sing a birthday song, and then I blow out the cake, and we eat a slice; after that, everything returns to normal, just like Some ordinary days.
But we OFW(overseas Filipino workers) have our ways of celebrating our birthdays. We (my friends) gather together on our off days and observe. It's either we sit in the park and bring food to share, sometimes also drinks, and eat and drink together, catching up about what's happening in our lives and distorting ourselves from all the stress and struggles we endure for the whole week. It's good for me to see my friends once in a while to freshen up my mind, so I have the energy to face the next battle again, sometimes we also go swimming on the beach, but this day the weather is hotter than usual so it's better to stay indoors, by the way we mostly take Sundays off.
I just go out in the afternoon and eat dinner outside. I go to the famous fast food chain, MCDO. I was surprised because only a few people were there. Usually, I go out mostly on Sundays during my off day; everywhere is crowded, and there is always a long queue whether you are buying foods or buying things. But today, since only a few people are around, I relax and eat slowly.
While eating, I couldn't help but wonder if I am at home. By this time, my father is already busy cooking tinola. Anyone familiar with? If not, it was like chicken soup with papaya, moringa chili leaves, lemon grass. Before I forget, it tastes more delicious if native chicken not what we call 45 days that is often sold in the supermarket.
Aside from tinola there could be some fried bihon or sotanghon. For long life.. This belief from my ancestors that every birthdays, there should be a meal of bihon,pancit or sotanghon even spaghetti to represents a long life for the birthday celebrant! So this menu is always present in every birthday occasion. My father is a great cook, and often, I miss the taste of the food he prepares. When I went home for a vacation last year, he cooked my favorite food, but that was a year ago, as I stated. Now, I am facing the reality that this is my life now. I should be used to celebrating special occasions and holidays alone in this foreign land.
So much with some drama thoughts, it is much better to think of something good like what awaits now I am approaching the silver age. Many say life starts at 40. Was it? My sister @Lhes told me I could join this community #Silverbloggers, and she confirmed it with @tengolotodo.
It took me few days before I am done writing this post! For someone new to blogging it was indeed not that easy.
Thus, thanks for dropping by and hope everyone had a great day!