Perfect Life

Is there a time in your life in which your life has been perfect?

Mine was during my senior year in high school. Back then my Dad was still alive. We are still complete. My family and I would go to church together then, right after, we would go with Dad to drive Mom to our store. My favourite was when we would drop by the petrol station to get some snacks while Dad get the petrol.

It was also the happiest year of my high school. I have great friends. Our group was formed after each of us had some dramas with our own group of friends. We were all hanging out in the classroom one lunch break and we just clicked. From then on, I felt that I belong. I also enjoyed all of my classes then, especially World History. Our teacher was really cool and he made us analyze the story which made us feel good whenever we would get the right answer.

Back then, influential TV shows for me were “My So-Called Life”, a bit of “Felicity” and the start of “Ally McBeal”. These TV shows made me feel hopeful about my future.

My grades are also great. I am always included in the Top 10 of our batch.; however, in the end, because of my “lack” of extracurricular activities, I didn’t make it in the Top 10. A lesson on popularity and how to make it to your advantage.

Senior year meant preparing for college so we did a lot of college admission tests. I applied to 5 schools. I passed all of them which is great.

Lots of projects but they’re all okay. It was hard but sweet. Lots of sleepless nights. But all those experiences helped me with college.

It was also that time when I wrote a heartfelt article about a friend in grade school, this article got a high score although it wasn’t featured. It made me love writing more. Moreover, it was also the time when my poem got chosen by my favourite teacher. He praised it in class which made me love poetry and writing it as well. I had so many poems written when I was in uni but sadly, I lost my notebook where I write them.

This was also the time where I wrote letters to my classmates. I formed new friendships because of that.

It was also the year when I took a lot of photos, back when cameras use film still. I don’t think there is any digital camera at that time. I was glad my Mom was supportive of my hobby.

It was really a perfect year. Full of hope, love and I felt so safe. Even though it was only for a year, I’m glad it happened in my life. Now, it’s time to look forward again to better years and brighter tomorrow. It happened in my earlier life, I know it will happen again in my middle and later life.

INFJ

With Taylor Swift’s version of All Too Well, it makes me remember all the reasons why things don’t work out. Looking deeper, I realize that when it comes to moving on, I am really an INFJ.

Books recently

A well-spent rest day, for me, is going to town to have brunch, usually a scone with jam and cream, and coffee, then going to different stores to window shop. But because of the pandemic, I have learned to love staying home. I am very much of a home buddy now but I still try to go out to unwind because it helps with my energy.

Today, being a rest day, I went to town (a 5-minute drive from our house) to buy an iced coffee and look for books.

I’ve been itching to buy books because the ones I’ve purchased online are taking so long to arrive. When it comes to books, I prefer buying them from our local bookstore. Or if it’s not available there, I’d buy just the ebooks. But these 2 books I bought online are not yet available in iBooks and our local bookstore does not have them. Anyway, I should have them this week–hopefully.

At our local bookstore, my favourite shop in town, I bought Isabel Allende’s latest book. The last time I read one of her books was way back in college/uni and I liked it. When I first saw her book, I was not convinced to buy it because I was not feeling magical realism at the time but I think I’m more open to it again. I also bought a letter set because I want to try writing letters again. Upon browsing, I saw the new Minalima Harry Potter book (Chamber of Secrets) but it was so expensive there. I wonder why. But since I already have the first book, it is just logical to buy the second book, being a Harry Potter fan. I know Target would have them so I went there and as expected, I wouldn’t be buying just one book.

I also bought A Disney Twisted Tale (Part of Your world) and Sally Rooney’s Beautiful World, Where are You. I’ve bought The Song of Achilles from our local bookstore last week, I just included it in the photo because it is one of my current reads. I’m liking it so far.

Back to Minalima’s version of Harry Potter, the second book is very beautiful just like the first book. Like everything that you would expect to be highlighted in the second book are there. It is definitely something that children and adults will love. This book is something that I would want to pass on to my loved ones (grandchildren) in the future.

The spray edges enticed me to get this book, plus, I love the Little Mermaid. The story of this twisted tale is also promising. I plan to read the whole book right away. I’m loving its design as well. I think I might collect these books from Disney not just for their enlightening stories but also for their beauty.

My bookworm heart is happy. 🙂

Stickers on My Mind

I have discovered the YT channel of maidenmanila. It makes me want to journal/write letters. I used to write letters to my friends every summer in high school. I looked forward to those letters from friends and also, I was always excited to use my stationery sets. My Mom and I would also often go to Divisoria in Manila to buy stuff for our store and we used to go to this store which sold pretty but affordable stationery sets, which were unique and creative. Much like the stationery trend now.

Maidenmanila is just so artistic. Her design is not over-the-top which keeps me interested. Watching her do her designs makes me wish to have the same talent she has. I wondered if it was still possible to have an artistic talent or was it something that you are born with. Like, how does she get her ideas? Having ideas is one thing but having the skill to do calligraphy/lettering is another. I tried but I am not good. Maybe I need to practice more and use the right tools to do it beautifully. I want to make beautiful things, too.

Tools. She has lots of stamps, washi tapes, markers, sticker books and just thinking of buying them made me want to set aside this kind of hobby. I’m pretty sure, whatever she has, she didn’t buy in one go. It took time to accumulate those. But then again, I don’t know where to buy from here. How I wish I can go to Japan so I can get them. Tokyo is heaven for stationery lovers. 🙂

If you’re curious, her channel link is at https://www.youtube.com/c/maidenManila and her Instagram is at https://www.instagram.com/maidenmanila/

Almost Like Harry Potter

The Harry Potter series has been my favourite book of all time. It took me years to go back to reading again just because I have been busy with everything. A lot of things has happened. Pandemic has brought me back to my love for reading. Although this time, I am choosy with what I read. One thing I have learned in life is that I don’t need to read everything or to know about everything. It’s not good to be exposed to all the evils of this world. I know we should be aware that it could exist but knowing the full detail, staring it in the eye is not good. Maybe that’s why God has specifically told Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit from the tree of good and evil. Anyway, after a few book vlogs, someone recommended the book by VE Schwab which is A Darker Shade of Magic. This is basically a story about 4 Londons. Gray London without magic, Red London with balanced magic, white London with dangerous magic, and black London consumed by magic that is believed to no longer exist.

I have finished the first book and I am currently reading the second one. So far, I am liking the second book as well.

After this series, I’m thinking of reading StarWars-like stories. Dune, maybe.