Last week, I had time to visit some of my friends' profiles in a virtual rendezvous of almost everyone in my generation (and even those of earlier ones and - come to think of it - even babies) - commonly and popularly known as FRIENDSTER. Here are the common things that surfaced right before my very eyes:
1. Many have gone to places - from Bora, to Hongkong, to the US, and to Europe.
2. Cafes and restaurants are favorites for backdrops.
3. Reunion pictures are common things to behold.
4. Many have either their wedding shot or a pose with a baby (which, i suppose, is theirs) for their primary photo.
5. Every is (or seems to be) happy and content with how things are going on with their lives.
That moment brought me back to the time when everything was simple... when a hundred bucks is a treasure... when we didn't care about anything else but our recitations, examinations... and the "bottle session" after that... when I was still "in".
Now... the only albums that have my face on it are those of my officemates and classmates in law school... during official office or school activities.
I must admit that I miss those years when I was still part of the big crowd... when there was never a party without me... when I was with people I call friends... doing things that other people might have perceived as nonsense. Given the chance, I would love to do it all again with my friends.
But no such chance is being given to me. I spend my days trying to do everything at work within 8 hours... but not so I could rest or go somewhere fun like everyone else. I do that because my law books are waiting for me at home. I curse myself whenever I sleep for more than 4 hours a day, because I shouldn't. I practically bid farewell to my old self. I turned by back on my easy life and lost the things that made me happy over the years.
But the weird thing is: I AM HAPPY.
While everybody travels, I am having my own journey to the profession I have been dreaming of since I was 10. While everybody is raving about the latest novel in town, I read books and countless cases. People might see me complaining, but deep down inside, I love doing it.
While everyone else is having coffee or dinner with friends, I am sipping my own cup of coffee in the company of distinguished authors and justices. Someday, I will be one of them.
For now, I can't attend those reunions... but someday I'll get to be invited as the guest of honor in important events, and that will give my secretary a hard time trying to fit all those invitations in my schedule. Of course I'll have time for reunions by then.
I may still be single, but I have the best boyfriend in the world, who stays by my side even though it requires extra patience and understading on his part, who lightens up my days no matter how frustrating things might be, who lets me rest in his loving arms whenever I get knocked out by all those things that exhaust my energy, who compensates for the impossibility of me being with my friends... and who is just waiting for the right time to marry me.
No question about it. I am happy.
The sweet truth is... I never really gave up all those things. I just put them on hold. I never really lost my friends. They are still there, and I know they understand. At the end of the day, I'll get to have the best of both worlds.
These grapes are not sour, after all.
