It has been a month since my sister took the car.

My mom thought it would be best if my sister, Francine, who lives all the way in Cubao and is in her final year of med school, uses the car first because she has a crazy schedule in the hospital and I think one of her classmates got stabbed en route to school/the hospital. She also said that my sister's cab fare expenses are driving her nuts on top of my sister's rent, utilities, etc. Her finances are not very good so she wants to save money.

I have no qualms about commuting as I've been taking public transpo since HS.  I only live 6 kilometers away from the office (2 tricyle rides, a jeepney ride and a 5-minute walk to be exact) so it isn't really much of a hassle. What I was worried about was Joaquin and how we would get around.

And God forbid, what are we going to do in case of an emergency?

I tried to reason with my mom and said that maybe it would be best if my sister moves back home with me (save on rent!) since she already has the car and at least, we'll have something to use in case of emergencies.

Wag na daw. Magtiis na lang daw muna ako.  It's not my car coz I didn't buy it so, okay.

It's a good thing that Joaquin only walks to school and that his therapy center is within the village so all he needs to do is take a tricycle.  It's the weekends that are difficult because we can't just eat out anymore or make pasyal, visit Papa in the cemetery or go to events we're invited to.

Compassion.  I have received so much of that this past month.

My kumare and kumpare (Thank you  Mia and JM!) who lives in the same village offered to give me rides to work in the morning.

April, my friend since childhood is now my palengke and supermarket buddy.  On days when she goes straight home from work (which is most of the time), she offers to pick me up at the Paseo de Magallanes area (I walk going there) so I don't have to commute going home.  She also lent me her car when I had to take Joaquin to get a haircut and last Saturday night when I had to meet my friends for dinner in BHS.

My good friend, Carla, a mom of 2 adorable children, invites me and Joaquin to go out with her kids on weekends.  She also calls me whenever she's in Makati to ask if I need a ride home.

Today, my boss left for Cebu with her family and she called me to tell me that she asked her driver to give me her car keys because she is lending me her car for the weekend.  "Take Joaquin out! Just have the car back in the office by 8am on Monday", she said.

My son and I are very lucky to be surrounded by these people, who we're not even related to but treat us and love us like family.

All this compassion, kindness and love, just because I lost a car.

God is good. :)

A recent study shows that most people are happiest at 33. They say that “By this age innocence has been lost, but our sense of reality is mixed with a strong sense of hope, a ‘can do’ spirit, and a healthy belief in our own talents and abilities.”

But it doesn't say anything about being happy in love.


"Many respondents claimed that their happiness at 33 came from fulfillment in their professional lives, as well as having a support system of family and friends. Not surprisingly, 36% said they were happiest when they had children."

Fulfillment in professional life-- Yes, pretty much.

Support system of family friends-- Check!

Happiest when I had Joaquin-- OF COURSE!

But again, none of the respondents mentioned anything about settling down, getting married or just being happy in the Lu-huv department.

Ha.

Looks like a lot of people have been burned by love and have found true happiness in other things. Seems to me like the universe is saying that there a lot of loveless not-in-committed-relationships people out there and they're happy anyway, so I can conclude that I don't need a someone/partner/boyfriend/husband to be in high spirits.  That all these--a promising career, a steady support system and kids--are all you need and you're set for a blissful rainbow-colored life. 

I guess in this day and age, a relationship has been demoted to something nice-to-have instead of a must-have.


And believe me, I can live with that without feeling any resentment from cupid and his bow and arrow.


But who knows, lightning can strike.