Always Wandering

Summer.

Ah, a field of late summer blooms.

Show-stopping, abundant beauties that worship the hot season;
Multicolored flowers that lead the way on a summer walk;
Solid and breathtaking, the ones that brighten in the sunshine.

My field of summer blooms.

I hope your dreams take you to the corners of your smiles, to the highest of your hopes, to the windows of your opportunities, and to the most special places your heart has ever known. ~Author Unknown

School may be over, but as they say, graduation is not the end; it’s the beginning. Enjoy the summer while you still can, dear Brother. For when the new chapter comes knocking ’round, you’ll take the world into your hands.

 
The love month kicked off with what I hold close to my heart: travel!

I bade hello to weekly trips and to the start of the sun-soaked season with bumpy bus rides, dusty roads, and a view of the rolling landscape. And I had more! The striking sun bit my skin, the fine white sandy beaches covered my toes, and the salty air filled my core.

Because I promise to see more.

Of the outdoors, of blue skies, of lush landscapes, of amazing beaches, of rich cultures and of soaring peaks.

Because there is more to travel that benefits the wandering soul.

Of appreciation, of pleasure, of temporary disconnection, of knowledge, of lifetime memories and of a hole in my pocket.

On that particular afternoon, leaning back with legs outstretched and head tilted to the sky, the passing of the moment made me recall what Hal Borland once said, “Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.”

2011 had been a very good year for my wandering feet and mind. Going on and moving ahead, my thoughts shift between looking back and looking forward. To past experiences that became life’s lessons; to future adventures that will become life’s treasures.

Thank you for being with me this year.

“Chocolate causes certain endocrine glands to secrete hormones that affect your feelings and behavior by making you happy. Therefore, it counteracts depression, in turn reducing the stress of depression. Your stress-free life helps you maintain a youthful disposition, both physically and mentally. So, eat lots of chocolate!” – Elaine Sherman, Book of Divine Indulgences

They both turned s-i-x-t-y!

The big 6 and 0 finally caught up with my Mom and Dad. My Dad threw a surprise party for my Mom and for a change, my Dad chose to celebrate his privately.

The best parents in my universe deserve all the love and gratitude. Cheers to their compatibility and insanity. And to the set of happy and normal children they brought to this era.

Dangerous as it seems, here is one for the books: planking at 400+ MASL. An instant adventure is what happens when you do something risky and over-daring.

Taken at one of the rock faces of Mt. Marami with the verdant landscape of Cavite in the background.

Just look at a rosy sunset,
And wonder about running off into his rays.

Before sunset, after sunset,
There’s the ruddy glow of the sky.

And I quote:

“Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.”

- Rabindranath Tagore

 
July was a lazy month.

Save for my foray into a race upgrade at the end of the month, I was mostly an onlooker and cheerleader at the sidelines.

I waited and watched like the Matabungkay audience in the photo during a local sports event.