[L, diary, ephēmeris] 1) BLOG

"(0638hrs.) Sunday, April 26th, 2015 - A whiff of mornings-past hit me as I was tying up the dinghy a few minutes ago; the coolness of semi-cloudy, fall-like air caught me unawares.  As I write I am still aching from the memory of how fulsome those early days were with Bill, of building Pilar together.  How complete and safe I felt.  So much ahead...the commitment so exciting.

THINGS CHANGE, changes which are not always choices, but yesterday in town again, I was aware of how much closer I’ve come to choosing an equally challenging commitment.  It is only a matter of a few small steps further (I sense this) for it to become as all-engrossing as with Bill, forty years ago.

The awareness of a change occurring came as I was starting for home, driving through the chaotic streets of downtown with Renato in the front seat, Ludy in the back with her newly spayed dog, Sunshine, amidst a carload of fresh vegetables and boat parts.  I was weaving my way through traffic, mentally reviewing how stimulating every encounter during the day had been. Even though it was drippingly hot, the weather was beautiful.  My heart sang praises of sky, clouds, lush vegetation and the insane humanity surging around me—tricycles, cars, vans, pedestrians, masses of motorcycles weaving in and out—even to reviewing ahead to the drive beyond the city...

the anticipated sharing of pavement with carabao, chickens, dogs, more tricycles, motorcycles, and lumbering jeepneys packed with cargo, the old and young squashed hip-to-knees-to-noses, inside. 

The largest part of my joy came from being able to bring Ludy into town with us.  She’d told me she only comes into town to pay land taxes, once a year.  An hour away and only once a YEAR?!  It was gratifying to bring her to the small eatery where Roselyn, her daughter-in-law, works.  Both of their statures were enhanced when her co-workers saw the book that Avelino, their husband/son had illustrated.  I’d hoped that after we’d eaten lunch there would be a lull in customers, to allow Ludy to sit in a corner and begin writing her story for another book.  Wasn’t possible; still too busy so we went elsewhere.

  Found a small cafe that reeked of Bohemia, a place where she could sit at a tiny table, drink coffee as long as she wished, and write without anyone bothering her, while Renato and I went in search of wind vane parts.

Which included stumbling onto a secluded, dragon-embellished temple after turning onto a (wrong) dead-end street.

When we returned to the coffee shop, sitting unawares next to Ludy was Elle, with a friend she introduced, the young Filipino fashion designer, Dan Duran, who lives just twenty minutes away from us, in Tambobo! So close!  And so fortuitous for my fledgling visions of drawing together a community of creative people to enhance local livelihood opportunities.  Briefly we discussed some of my ideas. Dan, equally excited, gave me his number and next weekend we will get together with the three Filipinas who have fashion skills, to talk more…

So much seems to be falling into place.  Driving through downtown Dumaguete streets I suddenly felt a loosening begin inside me.  An acceptance, an awareness.  A simplicity of purpose emerging.  Tambobo is untapped fertile ground for the stimulating individuals I continually encounter in Dumaguete.  There are all sorts of connections and collaborations possible that would be...MEANINGFUL.

Why look elsewhere??"