Life’s a journey

By Netnet Camomot .

LAST year, a friend and I were talking over the phone about the pandemic and the business matters we were facing then, which we are still facing now, by the way.

The economy had already reopened at that time since the government could not afford to provide ayuda anymore. Here we were, dealing with collections and payments. We are not government officials, we don’t make the laws, so we had to face the music and even dance with it. Before ending our call, she said, “Ang importante buhî.”

But for more than a week since Feb. 1, I was sending condolences to friends. Daily. At first, I didn’t notice that it was happening daily. Until I did and started to ask, What’s going on? Facebook had these black or candle profile photos, and I was now afraid of seeing more.

These are not normal times, in case you haven’t noticed. Choosing to go back to sleep after waking up in the morning; eating one more serving of pasta even if the tummy is pleading, Enough already; crying for no reason, although there’s indeed a reason but you’d rather not discuss it. This list of pandemic woes can go on and on.

Thanks to reading and writing for helping me look forward to each day. Puera buyag.

I’m now reading the newspapers that have been sitting on a chair since their delivery resumed months ago after the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Metro Manila.

Before sleeping, I read Gary Shteyngart’s “Super Sad True Love Story.” Which I bought at Fully Booked Limketkai on Dec. 31, 2014. Yes, New Year’s Eve eons ago. And why am I sure of that? I note down those details on every book I purchase—one of my hard habits to break.

Usually, I stay home during the holidays to escape from traffic and the crowds. But there I was, and I do remember why I chose this particular book—its third paragraph:

“Don’t let them tell you life’s a journey. A journey is when you end up somewhere. When I take the number 6 train to see my social worker, that’s a journey. When I beg the pilot of this rickety UnitedContinentalDeltamerican plane currently trembling its way across the Atlantic to turn around and head straight back to Rome and into Eunice Park’s fickle arms, that’s a journey.”

Now that I’m reading it, I’ve realized it’s about a China-controlled US somewhere in the future. Since this was published in 2010, that future could be today. Well, what do you know! Covid-19 began in Wuhan, China in December 2019 (or much earlier, depending on who’s telling the story), and somehow this virus is now controlling not only the US but the world. Truth is indeed much stranger than fiction.

The book does live up to its title—super sad true love stories inserted here and there, and I’m reading that in this month of love. How timely.

My schedule used to be one sh*t at a time, one day at a time. But the pandemic has taught me that Wednesday is the best working day. It’s not manic Monday anymore, it’s two days away from TGIF, so, face challenges on a Wednesday. If di pa rin carry ng powers, wait for next Wednesday.

Life does manage to go on. And this is how it goes on: winter storms in the US, typhoons in Pinas, anti-coup protests in Myanmar. “No rest for the weary,” as the saying goes.

Myanmar is particularly in some kind of a strange place, kind of confused: yes to Aung San Suu Kyi; no to Aung San Suu Kyi. Ano ba talaga, Kuya? Since I’m Chinoy and have no idea about Myanmar politics, let’s stop there.

Instead, let’s go back to Pinas and how it prepares for typhoons. Expect preemptive evacuations, flash flood warnings, landslides, and revivals of that most difficult news to accept that Cagayan de Oro is sinking. That’s why the Cagayanon is relocating to the uptown area and buying mountains. If you thought he’s merely taking selfies with the overlooking view, think again.

There are places in the US not used to winter storms and last week they realized they’re not exempt anymore. Climate change is happening worldwide, from Pinas to the US. If there’s one thing that the pandemic is teaching us, it’s this: anything is possible. How about that for positive thinking. But Covid-19 has taught us that even the word “positive” can cause negative thinking.