IMHO

Home Again

Home again after what appears to be the last of the series of scheduled trips for the first half of the year (doesn't sound too bad, considering that next month the second half of the year begins and I've already got a few expeditions pencilled in, teehee...)

This particular trip to Kabayan - on a (insert Snappy/Austin Powers/Travolta hand movements here) "medical mission" - had a totally different flavor to it, considering the company I had the pleasure to spend the last five days with: save for the wonderfully familiar company of AG and Johanna, everyone else was a first-time travel companion to each other under the phenomenon of Six Degrees of AG Sano (or, in this particular case for Bro Daniel and Doc Roger, of Honey Oliveros). And yet I (and I hope everyone else concerned) had an absolutely luuuuverrrrly time. Good combo of personalities, thank God for small miracles!

I will probably remember the conversations on this trip, more than anything else. These last series of travels, I've become used to comfortable silences (e.g., AG's kilometric moments of quiet) and comfortable noises (e.g., Bakang's non-stop talking and AG's snoring) and of course, the comfortable conversations between familiar friends. But, this time around, the conversations were between individuals just newly developing friendly relationships with each other, and the talks we had were classic, precisely because of our mutual "new"-ness.

Literature, literature, and literature with Snaps and Lex behind the dormitory outhouse, with greening rice fields and fog-enveloped mountains playing out before us like a four-dimensional motion picture.

Reminiscing pranks and silly moments and talking about the-one-who-could-have-been-but-isn't with Roger, my loyal buddy of many years, whom I have spent way too little time with lately.

Talking about mission, and God's calling, and the uncompromising truths of the Church - as well as anthropology, sociology, history, and Filipino culinary traditions with good Brother Daniel, whom I am sure will make one wonderful missionary priest (assigned hopefully in the mountains of Northern Luzon?) one day soon.

Discussing, without hang-ups or hesitation, life and love and everything in between. While posing for "rock band" photos.

And just laughing and laughing and laughing at how very silly these supremely gifted conversationalists - who I now call my new friends - can be (and I'm sure they find me supremely silly as well).

Here's to more of those outstanding conversations that develop so beautifully (and oftentimes so ridiculously) without our even trying too hard - you guys are great value, thanks for the company (insert Ojaye expression here...darn it, wish you could have met him!)

And yes Snappy...you snore.

posted by Honey Oliveros @ 11:42 PM