EVER...AFTER

In every love story, everybody wants an ever after. But that is not always the case for most of us. No matter how excited we were about the plot, we’ll never know the ending once the twist comes in. So, its either we are frustrated, drained, aghast, angry, elated, euphoric, ecstatic, or contented. But, in any case, we want an ending. Audience roars in anger when the screen just went blank at the end (just like the Soprano’s). They don’t want to be kept hanging.

Just this week, we fully learned of our friends’ love story ending. It was rather tragic. What we thought from the start was very much opposite to its ending.

For how can you not aspire for an ever after when you look at the past? Theirs was a modern classic story. They have lived up to the true meaning of “tatawirin ko ang limang ilog, Makita ka lamang.” It was a love story traversing seas from Sorsogon to Sigma, burning mileage of gas and candles. It was a roller coaster love story of texting, fixed line calls, emails and IM. Not counting the midnight dreams and daydreaming exhaustion. Nor don’t forget the sneaking and lies from Mayor and Doctors just to gaze one’s own beloved. Don’t mind the bills, its all part of the thrill.

At the beginning, they have withered the doomsayers, attackers, fought hard for their hearts and really work hard to make love happen but in the end everything falters.

Imagine how their friends reacted, the “See, I told you so!” “I knew it from the beginning; he is not serious about it,” (as if they knew the future, yet they can not predict their own love story).

Imagine the hatred, the pain, the tears and furry of anger.

Imagine the questions, “was there a third party, a fourth?”

Imagine the beautiful love story crumbles into pieces.

Who is to blame? We often ask. I don’t even know. Right now, all that is left is anger and sadness

In the world where we often look for stability, permanency, exactness, equilibrium, how can you reconcile breaking up?

If there is one thing that this sadness taught us, it is transcending anger, hatred, failure, heartbrokenness and death.

But no matter how painful our experience maybe, I bet you, we will continue to love more in the future. We are an evolving human person. And we evolve in and through love.

That is always our EVER…AFTER

COUPONS AND MORE COUPONS

Jesus saves and so do I. I mean, I save some money (not soul).

With only one of us working and with the ever increasing costs of groceries and gas, you really have to find a way to save.

Thanks to the Sunday newspaper we can save a couple of bucks. You only have to be diligent in cutting and keeping them (even segregating them by department; home and beauty, laundry, food and toiletries). At first, I was ashamed to bring the coupon with me during shopping. Its demeaning and pooralizing (if you know what I mean). But when I found out how much I can save, all those insecurities vanished. Glad I can help, even a little.

One key to saving is to align our needs to what we have. Most of the products are basically the same in their categories. Salsa tastes salsa whether that is from Sams or any Mexican brand. Condensed mushroom soup tastes the same whether that is from Campbell or Great Value. Get the brand that you can save most (but with quality).

Another area where we save a lot is by shopping at Giant Eagle. This grocery store gives back 10c off in gasoline per gallon for every $50.00 you purchase. Now there are some items that are of the same price in Wal-Mart and Giant eagle or any other grocery store. Point of case is Enfamil. Wal-Mart price is 23. 89, so as Giant Eagle. So why buy Enfamil in Wal-Mart if I can get a 10c from Giant Eagle? Steaks and other meat products seem to be fresher in Giant Eagle for the same price in Wal-Mart. So why bother going to Wal-Mart?

Indeed, here you have to be creative and resourceful. Yes, you can earn easily here and you can purchase almost anything you want but if you don’t watch out you’ll end up buried in credit card debt.

Save if you can and it is not embarrassing to bring coupons while shopping.

RISE UP....CLEVELAND!!!!!

There is so much hype and hope going on in Northeast Ohio these days. Right after the Cavs beat the most favored Detroit during the last Eastern Conference Finals most of us are hopeful here. The hype is amazing too. People are talking about how LeBron put the Cleveland on the sports map again. For more than 30 years Cleveland has been a source of joke in all sports world. The Browns is dismal, the Indians can’t get their touch and it seems the Cavs during the season was off.

But not after a turn around during the middle of the conference, all we have was an amazing performance of the Cavs. And of course, LeBron.

Have you seen if not tivoed the Game 5 where LeBron single-handedly beat the Detroit? That was real and we are still re-living it.

Definitely, LeBron made us believe again that with great resolve everything can be overcome. WE ARE WITNESSES.


Tonight over chicken wings, pizza and cold beer I will definitely shout! RISE UP CLEVELAND, GO CAVS!!!