Back at my grandparents' place, decades ago, this was the source of news, music, entertainment and even messages (much like voicemail except everyone can hear it).
Matnog to Allen
It takes just an hour and a half for the barge to get to Allen from Matnog. It's getting the documents approved and waiting to embark that could take forever!
Pray and Paddle Home
The earliest recollection I have of the 'power' of prayer is when I was about three or four years old. My mother, cousin, and I were on our way home from a nearby town to get replenishments for our small sari-sari.The sun just disappeared from the west and evening was starting.
The small boat the three of us were in was riding the gentle waves. It was getting dark, and the wind, soft at first, was starting to pick up. I was getting drowsier by the minute.
I must have dozed off as the next thing I remember was mother telling me to hold on tight, rain feeling like dogs falling from the sky, and angry waves. We were now going up and down, left to right. I was holding on tight to both sides of the boat, while my cousin was paddling fast to shore.
Mother told me to pray, so we could get to that part up ahead where there were lights. I wanted to ask how prayers could do that, but rain water was getting into my eyes, and it was difficult to breathe. So, I prayed silently, and my hands hurt from the force of my grip of the boat. This went on for as long as trips from my house in the city to grandma's place. Very long.
Then, the lights ahead got brighter and bigger and, moments later, I felt the boat hit sand.
We're back home.
The prayer I said saved us.
Maybe, my cousin did, too.
2021 and Cycling
I had always been scared of biking on the road, with thoughts of getting hit by a truck and dying in a really embarrassing manner. I know how to ride a bike, yes, but I had only been able to do it in parks or inside the village where I live. I thought biking to be utterly dangerous...like sky diving.
This year, however, with the limited outdoor activities and very little chance to do exercise because of the lockdowns and travel restrictions, I decided to seriously think about biking and embrace my fear (biking is allowed during certain hours of the day). After all, it was the same feeling I had when learning to drive and I learned it in spite of myself. So, I thought, how could biking on the road be any different? And so, the night before I was going to try out cycling from my village to a nearby park, I slept late reading blogs and watching videos that offer tips on how to safely bike on the road.
My first try was horrible. Cars were honking past me, and one motorist even told me to get off the road if I was just going to block traffic, anyway. I froze a lot and my stress level was off the charts! I decided to get off my bike and just walked with it to the park. Going back home was no different.
To put it simply, it was a disaster!
That night, I reviewed everything in my mind- where I made mistakes, how I almost got hit by a car, how I should have changed lanes, what I forgot to do, etc. I needed to learn more. For the next few days, I practised inside our village how to effectively get up to speed from stopping, watched a lot of videos and read a lot more on biking, too.
The following weekend, I tried again, determined to do better. All the late night videos and reading paid off! I was no tour de france cyclist, but I made it to the park and back home pedaling. Since, then, I have become much more comfortable biking on the road. And, as they say, achievement unlocked!
This 2021 and the entire pandemic, to me, was marked with fear. Just like trying out to go biking. With friends of friends and some of their loved ones succumbing to the virus, and me contracting it last year (and fortunately, survived), it has been difficult to greet each day with enthusiasm. But I must continue to collect myself. Get up each day. Stretch. Get a cup of coffee. Walk the dogs. And believe that each day gets better and better, because it does. That I still have a job to keep (when many have become jobless) and do it excellently still, in spite of the distance, with the help of technology, is something that I am always grateful for. And even more thankful for loved ones who continue to be safe.
Being able to go biking on the road is not the achievement but more a consequence of several accomplishments. These are accomplishments that I have had to reach in the many shifts I had to adjust to because of this pandemic. For many of us, that we continue to face the fear for our family and friends is the greatest achievement this year. And, on the side, for me, overcome the fear of biking on the road.
And live. Really LIVE.
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