...is a new beginning. ========================================================================= by PAM To look to the horizon is very exciting... and yet, as you approach the end of your journey, suddenly, you get hit by sadness. And you slow down, even pause from your brisk walk towards the 'finish line'. All of a sudden, you are gripped by an irrepressible longing - for those sweet moments along the way, and you can't help yourself from taking a full stop to reminisce, to go through the memories in your head... as your heart opens up to reveal those beautiful tapestry of emotions - weaved by experience with the thread of love as you walked your path that leads to the horizon. And then anxiety strikes... and the 'what-ifs' come in full 'attack' to scare you out of your wits, and you coil in sadness, clutching all the memories to your heart. And yet, where you stopped is not your destiny... albeit comfortable and peaceful. You look to the horizon once again... and you see the sun setting. And you know, it's now or never!
🎶 "You are my soul satellite, I'd be lost in space without you...
...and I will never lose my faith in you."🎶
And so, you pull yourself together, and let hope overcome sadness and anxiety. While what can be found at the end of the journey is unknown to you now, that's where the sun sets... and so, there will always be light... and where light is, happiness resides there, too.
Therefore, with the beautiful memories making your heart happy and excited, you go on... in pursuit of the 'last dot', the 'last piece of the puzzle', the key to constantly reliving the beautiful memories, where you rest in blissful peace... where every emotional ending means a joyful beginning of something more beautiful and happier... but only because it is shared with someone truly special - your 'soul satellite' in this very journey of yours.
So, you go on... you move on.
***
Video credit: Thanks, YouTube, for the video clip.
...because the rain continues to pour relentlessly. ========================================================================== by PAM I know I have been wishing for more 'rainy mornings', just to enjoy some blissful moment of solitude... away from work, and it all! But, after spending the whole day, working from home with the constant pouring of torrential rain, it got boring, too. So, I run to my trusty refuge - from torrential rains... and boredom as a whole: music. The first one is a great find... a pretty stimulus that brings out the real 'rocker chick' in the hopeless romantic moi! Hahahaha....
🎶 "More than words is all you have to do to make it real..."🎶
It's "More than Words" by Extreme, but interpreted by the indomitable frontman of Aerosmith with incredibly ageless voice, Steven Tyler, and the brilliant guitarist of Extreme, Nuno Bettencourt. What a collaboration this was! Tyler made effort to put restraint to his usually eardrums-piercing high-pitch voice, and the effort resulted to a different sort of energy being injected to the already 'perfect' song, making it a completely different sort of emotional concoction, spread over a beautiful melody. The guitar accompaniment, provided by Bettencourt, is excellent per Bettencourt's standard. And his singing of the chorus with Tyler and a few lines in the verses was, oh, so lovely. Swoon! And, it's true... "more than words is all you have to do to make it real...". How so very true. Don't we normally tend to lean on those who make us feel comfortable, welcomed, and, yes, loved? They may not say the words, and yet, you know that they will be there to catch you if you fall... and it gives you the confidence to dare accept the most intimidating of challenges, to attempt the impossible, to reach for those stars. No, true love does not need words... maybe, once, just to be sure. But what makes us feel loved are the little things... the little gestures that convey caring, a cup of steaming coffee waiting for you after a long day in the rain, ham and egg sandwich with warm bun that makes you think that you're smelling delicious aromas from the kitchen of heaven itself, those little bite-size chocolates, energy bars and a jar of nuts beside your laptop in those long days when you have no time at all to rise to grab lunch or dinner, some sweet wishes of good night that comforts you warmly all night long, and those cheerful greetings of good morning that start your day in positive light. Those are more powerful gestures to convey love than just saying "I love you". I think that music tripping against rain as background will not be complete without Goo Goo Dolls (GGD) howling "Iris" in the rain.
🎶 "When everything's meant to be broken
I just want you to know who I am." 🎶
John Rzeznik's voice is just awesome, rain notwithstanding! I don't play guitar myself, but all of rock music world knows that Rzeznik's guitar tunings give that distinct sound to GGD's music. They have that irresistible formula, and it always works! This is why, GGD is one of my 'go-to' bands when I feel like having a 'quick shot' of rock music to keep me going. The odd thing is, everytime... and I mean, everytime, I listen to GGD, Matchbox Twenty (M20) comes to mind, too. And it simply is not possible to listen to, at least, one M20 song.
🎶 "Well, everyone here, knows everyone here is thinking 'bout somebody else...
...But it's over now, and I don't know how, guess it's over now...
And there's no getting back to good." 🎶
Yes, it's for people who got played for a fool, became someone else's doormat, got humiliated and got terribly hurt... and yet, they still hope something good to come out of that terrible experience. In the end, when there's nothing else to anchor one's hopes on, because one should have moved on eons ago, then they admit that "there's no getting back to good". What good that belated realization is for? Well, not much, really... but when Rob Thomas of M20 sings about it, somehow, such grim scenario feels good. And I can't help myself, I wish for more. So, here's more...
🎶 "If you're lost, you can look - and you will find me
Time after time...
If you fall, I will catch you - I will be waiting
Time after time..." 🎶
I thought I'd post something that ties up with the first song above I thought M20's version of "Time after time", originally sang by Cyndi Lauper, fits the bill. I do have mixed feelings about this song though. It isn't as clear as "More than Words". I'm not sure if such extreme self-sacrifice is romantic love, or if the songs is suggesting friendship... about being there as a friend for someone to rely on. To me, what is most striking about this enigma of a song is this verse...
🎶 "Sometimes you picture me--
I'm walking too far ahead
You're calling to me, I can't hear
What you've said
Then you say-- go slow--
I fall behind
The second hand unwinds." 🎶
What does it mean? Why should one, pictured as walking too far ahead, go slow? In the first place, why is the other one falling behind? What kind of relationship is this? Is it a relationship at all when the two people involved are not shoulder to shoulder with each other as they journey through life? Uhm, yeah... blame it on the rain! ⛈ *** Video credit: Thanks, YouTube, for the video links. ***
...therefore, time for some 'sappy' love songs. ========================================================================== by PAM
It's one of those rainy mornings, and work is suspended in the University... so there's time to stay lying in bed, passing the time... just plainly enjoying the blissful 'extra time' in bed - doing nothing, not thinking (too much) about work, and just giving one's self to indulge in daydreaming... and not feeling guilty about it either. Such moment calls for music... something to wrap the moment around with, and shield it from external factors that may shatter the moment. Music makes the moment last, lovelier and more enjoyable. This came to mind, a suggestion from my 'love song buddy' from a few months ago...
🎶 "...when the world seems so unfair, you can count on me to stay
just take some time to lend an ear
to this ordinary song..." 🎶
It's "Ordinary Song" by the Filipino folk singer, Marc Velasco. It's one of those songs that you don't normally think about, but if you look wider and deeper, you'll find it... sitting inconspicuously on top of a pile of overplayed love songs. It's beautiful in its simplicity and honesty... so unpretentious and devoid of hype, a lovely serenade - from the heart. This is why, once you find it, it stays in your thoughts... it's almost haunting - but in a good way.
Speaking of 'haunting' - in a good way, my own addition to this morning's love songs galore is another unforgettable one once heard. It was sang so beautifully by the British singer and song writer, Beverly Craven, in her most emotionally 'haunting' voice... rendered with the heart-gripping melody in her own superb piano playing as backdrop.
🎶 "When I go away, I'll miss you
and I will be thinking of you every night and day
Just promise me, you'll wait for me
and I'll be saving all my love for you
and I will be home soon..." 🎶
Aaaww... goodness me, how beautiful! "A gift to the ears" is how one of Craven's fans call it. I do agree completely. It just makes me want to laze in bed for the longest time, and just enjoy, enjoy, enjoy the wonderful moment! And Craven herself is such a beautiful woman that watching her perform her own song is just so utterly mesmerizing. And her impressive talent and beauty do not fade with age... she is as stunning as ever after all these years.
Ahh, these rainy mornings... don't we wish we have more of them? I know I do!
***
Video credit: Thanks, YouTube, for the video links.
Still on turning fifty, and receiving presents... I can't help but for my heart to be warmed so sweetly in receiving a lovely birthday card from my former classmates - my "gang" - in college. The outer cover was a cheerful collage of cute and colorful drawings and 3-D birthday icons: gifts that are wrapped in colorful papers and bows, flowers and butterflies, hearts and twinkling stars. It was a festive piece of artwork, reminding me of my girlish sentiments
A colorful suprise that touches a fifty-year-old heart.
in those good old days of fantasies and make-believes... just beautiful, it warms the heart. And I thought that the sweetness ends there. I opened the card, and my eyes were treated once again to a collage of warm sweetness and pretty colors, but this time, they are accompanied by fun little messages of encouragement and hope on turning fifty years old! And the colorful backdrop was adorned with names of people that I love from so long ago... my College friends: my friends, my "gang"! It was impossible not to crack into a smile... the kind that originates from the heart, and goes full circle to touch all possible positive emotions and reside in the heart, burning with a warmth that felt incredibly good. In my sweet reverie, I failed to focus on the music that played cheerfully in the background as I reminisce the good old days. I thought that my mind was playing tricks on me... until my gaze fell on twinkling red letters that said "happy birthday". The timing of the cute twinkle seemed to sync with the tempo of the cheerful monophonic tune that plays in the background... 🎶 "happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you... "🎶 I can't help myself... it made me smile happily and hummed along. And then, it struck me so warmly. It was a musical birthday greeting card!! Hahahaha... who sends these things anymore these days? So very thoughtful! And I was flooded so warmly by some lovely nostalgic feels, and it was awesomely beautiful! Yes, I did feel loved, and cared for... suddenly, the age does not matter at all. Only this... only this feeling of love is all that matters. Ah, to be fifty! ***
It's the little things... made with gigantic and sincerest of goodwill and love... that are the most special things.
It's been a beautiful day... and the most perfect of all evenings in my life! I should love to write about this evening here in this little corner of mine some other time. What's the occasion? Actually, it's my 50th birthday celebration - the fulfillment of a promise. There I said it... I just turned 50 years old! In the meantime, I wish to express appreciation of this little present that I received from my little 'minions'. 😊 It was very surprising, to say the least. You'd expect these kids to try to act as grown up, and choose to give a present that shows how smart they are in figuring out what you wish to have... all expensive and pretty. But not these little minions of mine. They chose to
The simplest but sweetest of presents... made with thoughtfulness, the deepest of affection and kind understanding.
give the smallest of panda stuffed toy, fitted in a whole young coconut with empty shell, hence, calling it "buko panda", reminiscent of their favorite dessert, "buko pandan". Clutched by the little panda in its short arms and legs were sweet hand-written messages, expressing the minions' wishes for me... as I approach old age! 😜 Not inside the buko was a little 'black accordion book' of memories, covered with a print of vintage stamps (who uses stamps anymore these days?). Each panel of the little accordion book was adorned with photo/s of the minions in groups... all smiling adorably. The little minion who made the book of memories said, "when you're sad, just have a look at our photos. Hopefully, they would make your heart happy and bring smile to your lips," or something to that effect. This minion knows how stressed out I could get sometimes... how frustrated I feel sometimes... and how 'angry' I get over silly things that are blown out of proportion by many absurd people with absurd agenda. Yes, 'grown up stuff'... but they are made light and bearable by the sunny perspective of these adorable young people. They bring the rainbow to me on rainy days... and I feel incredibly lucky! What's not to love? I've grown old, yes... in age, and in emotions, but not necessarily in wisdom - I'm still working on that. Yes, I've grown old, but I remain 'work in progress'. But I do feel that I've become 'calmer'... kinder, happier... and definitely more capable of love - the simplest, least complicated, and sincerest of love. It's all thanks to these 'minions' of mine. They bring out the best in me... it may not be that side of me that wants to 'win everything', but that side that wants to be a good person. That side that wants to be better every single day... the side of me that wants to continuously journey in God's blissful will, propelled by genuine happiness, inspired by love, and fueled by hope and joy. And that side is fast becoming all of me... and it's all thanks to these adorable 'kids'. 💖 Yes, I am fifty years old... and I am absolutely content, and truly happy! Thanks be to God! ***
