So, the weather is better, not so cold, but any complacency we may have been tempted to indulge in after the Christmas holiday has been shaken by the horrible earthquake in Haiti. I think Hillary Clinton had it right when she said "it is biblical." Those poor people. Everyone has said it all in the news. I'm glued to the news on TV everyday because it doesn't seem to get better. All that aid is coming in but nothing is really being released to the people.....I know there is no infrastructure available to do this formally but the heck with crowds and pushing - (reasons why some US military person said why the goods were still sitting on the airport tarmac), just get a couple of big trucks that roll over concrete rubble and distribute the food and water, blankets and tents throughout the city and so what if its not in an orderly military manner - who cares! Worry about order later, these people are dying. As for the dead, God rest their poor souls - use people in protective clothing - get trucks and stuff and bury them in mass graves - its Dantenesque, but better that than start an epidemic if these things are not addressed. This is the 5th (or 6th) day after the earthquake and people are still lying around the streets. I hope presidents Clinton and Bush Sr. can do for Haiti what they did for New Orleans - though this is 100 times worse. Now let's hope, this poor island isn't hit by heavy rains.
On a lighter note - I'm in the middle of my book "Dias de otono....donde esta el Rey?" and its really getting interesting. I never read the end of a book first but I am so tempted this time. BUT, I am resisting. In the meantime, my Spanish is improving and and I am getting back into the rhythm of reading Spanish and after this book, I should read two books that were sent to me by a good friend in Spain, that were best-sellers there and continue to read more books in Spanish. Actually, one of the books has an English translation but I didn't like it in English. Of course I can't download onto my Kindle, but like the present books, I read before going to sleep.
Anyway, its the dull days of January which will lead to the dull days of February but I prefer dull to the awful news like earthquakes reducing a nation to nothing.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
A couple of books, cold weather and a wedding.
Hey there folks. I know I have been silent since January 6th but, truthfully, there is nothing that moved me to write as I have been COLD!! I know, I know, its winter and I live in New York. So maybe I've been spoiled as it seems the winters in the past many years have not been this cold nor for so long, in consecutive days. So, during the day I'm at the office and when I come home at night, I check Facebook (recently for new pictures of Patricia Muniosguren Yulo's wedding in Manila on January 10) or watching "The Forsyte Saga" on Netflix. (I first watched it on PBS and loved it, so I am watching the series all over again.) I've also really beginning to enjoy "Dias de otono.....donde esta el Rey?" fiction-based-on-fact novel written by an old love. When I started it, I couldn't get into it - I found the Spanish difficult and I couldn't concentrate which was weird since I know off the plot of the book. Then I realized I was mentally blocked by the fact that I was reading it with the presence of the man who wrote it looking over my shoulder so I told myself - the heck with this - I started the book all over again forgetting who wrote it and now I am swimming smoothly through it and enjoying the story and its nuances. Though of course, now and then finding little pieces of the author in a character or a description of a manner of dressing or the ambiance of a city - Barcelona, which I can relate to as well. Fascinating. I also realize that my Spanish vocabulary needs stretching so I am writing down the words I don't know the exact meaning off and will look them up in my Spanish dictionary. Not a Spanish/English dictionary but a Spanish one alone.
Aside from the reasons above that I haven't written is that I've been paying more attention to friends from the past on Facebook which have now become - PRESENT! How great is that?!
In case y'all think I've abandoned my Kindle, I haven't. I read the book mentioned above before going to sleep here at home and the Kindle I carry in my handbag to read on the subway or during my lunch hour at the office. Therein I am reading the novel "Wolf Hall" which is a more mature and very interesting novel about Henry VIII's court, the major character being Thomas Cromwell. The book is on the New York Times best seller list and since it is fairly new, in hardcover and a fairly long book, what better way to read it than in my slim, portable Kindle!
And so it goes for today....
Now I will leave you to see if there are more pictures of Patricia's wedding.....
Aside from the reasons above that I haven't written is that I've been paying more attention to friends from the past on Facebook which have now become - PRESENT! How great is that?!
In case y'all think I've abandoned my Kindle, I haven't. I read the book mentioned above before going to sleep here at home and the Kindle I carry in my handbag to read on the subway or during my lunch hour at the office. Therein I am reading the novel "Wolf Hall" which is a more mature and very interesting novel about Henry VIII's court, the major character being Thomas Cromwell. The book is on the New York Times best seller list and since it is fairly new, in hardcover and a fairly long book, what better way to read it than in my slim, portable Kindle!
And so it goes for today....
Now I will leave you to see if there are more pictures of Patricia's wedding.....
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Happy Three Kings!
HAPPY THREE KINGS or Feliz Dia de los Reyes - everyone!
Still getting connected with old friends like Danny Hernandez, Laura Peragallo, Elisa Llamoglia, Ernie Racz (son), Sue Karavolas, Miren Berenguer, etc.
And best of all, my wonderful cousin Carlos in Madrid came through and I did get my old love's just published book from Spain como regalo para los Reyes. I've already started to read it and I see that my Spanish needs updating because there are words therein I never heard before, or to put it another way, I should be reading more Spanish and keep my Spanish/English dictionary handy. It's a good way to brush up on my Spanish but to think that for nine years I only read, thought and wrote in Spanish! Talk about verguenza!
I know I am weather obsessive but consider the title of this blog and you'll get why I am miserable when I hear the weather is getting even colder and that it might snow tomorrow. Aaaarrrgghhhh.
So were the Three Kings, Santa, the Blue Smurfs (or whatever you believe in) good to you this holiday season? I'm not complaining....got the book, good wine, cava, prosecco, a cashmere sweater, a year's subscription to Netflix among other things. More importantly, I spent time with my daughter and granddaughter and I've "discovered" my old gang in Manila all over again. So life is good.
More tomorrow....
Still getting connected with old friends like Danny Hernandez, Laura Peragallo, Elisa Llamoglia, Ernie Racz (son), Sue Karavolas, Miren Berenguer, etc.
And best of all, my wonderful cousin Carlos in Madrid came through and I did get my old love's just published book from Spain como regalo para los Reyes. I've already started to read it and I see that my Spanish needs updating because there are words therein I never heard before, or to put it another way, I should be reading more Spanish and keep my Spanish/English dictionary handy. It's a good way to brush up on my Spanish but to think that for nine years I only read, thought and wrote in Spanish! Talk about verguenza!
I know I am weather obsessive but consider the title of this blog and you'll get why I am miserable when I hear the weather is getting even colder and that it might snow tomorrow. Aaaarrrgghhhh.
So were the Three Kings, Santa, the Blue Smurfs (or whatever you believe in) good to you this holiday season? I'm not complaining....got the book, good wine, cava, prosecco, a cashmere sweater, a year's subscription to Netflix among other things. More importantly, I spent time with my daughter and granddaughter and I've "discovered" my old gang in Manila all over again. So life is good.
More tomorrow....
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Connections with old friends!!!!
Well, today was an embarrassment of riches on finding old friends through Facebook and my blog - who knew?!! Nadia Rindler and I reconnected after more than 45 years of separation. Which in turn I found my best friend Mercy's youngest son Johann who lives in Australia and then a woman who read my blog and knew many of the main characters from My Diaries who went to the American School the same time that Kathy Bruns and Carlos Garcia and Ginny were there! Her name is Christine Korfhage (don't know if Korfhage is her maiden name) but she has written a book of poems which a lot has to do with our young days in Manila - I found it on Amazon like she suggested and its titled "We Are Who We Are and this world isn't either." I have ordered it and can't wait to see what's its about. Incidentally, I've never met her but aint the Manila connection wonderful?!!!
I also "found" Danny Hernandez" on Facebook, brother of Marimil and Freddy and though I've contacted him he hasn't confirmed the connection. Can't win them all I guess. So, through Lyn Muniosguren I found Nadia and through Nadia I found Johann Gallent....and it goes on. Also some of the pictures I've posted have brought back good memories to the parties therein so it makes me happy that I've connected to yet more of the great Gang of Manila in the 60s! I have promised to post more pictures of my last stay in Manila but for some reason, this particular Facebook endeavor I haven't mastered yet. Sometimes I get it and I have a lot of pictures therein and sometimes, it slips by me.
Margotin (Magu) Ubago Ripoll keeps in touch through the blog too and keeps me grounded to that other great part of my life there - my high school days at St. Paul's. Also just received Monnette Martinez's SPU newsletter, which honestly, I haven't read yet. I have to wait to get home to indulge in personal web and email monitoring so I am doing this at 9 pm at night.
So, I received an email from my cousin in Madrid that the book written by a special man in my life is arriving by Fedex tomorrow - just in time for my Three Kings present. Can't wait!
Is it just me that can't get over how Tiger Woods mucked up his life?!! I've always thought that most men are fickle and so far, I haven't been proven wrong but the man had everything going for him and he blows it all on a bit of .....well, you know what I want going to say. The last person I thought that would be caught like this. Ok, I've gotten that off my chest.
In four days (New York time), Patricia Muniosguren and Anton Yulo will celebrate their wedding in Manila. How I wish I could be there but then I've haven't attended not one wedding of any of my friends or friends' children. I little cross to bear and one that saddens me but thank goodness for Facebook, email and the internet. Pictures will be forthcoming and shared. Yay!
Alright folks, enough for today. Keep in touch. It's not a bad world afer all.
I also "found" Danny Hernandez" on Facebook, brother of Marimil and Freddy and though I've contacted him he hasn't confirmed the connection. Can't win them all I guess. So, through Lyn Muniosguren I found Nadia and through Nadia I found Johann Gallent....and it goes on. Also some of the pictures I've posted have brought back good memories to the parties therein so it makes me happy that I've connected to yet more of the great Gang of Manila in the 60s! I have promised to post more pictures of my last stay in Manila but for some reason, this particular Facebook endeavor I haven't mastered yet. Sometimes I get it and I have a lot of pictures therein and sometimes, it slips by me.
Margotin (Magu) Ubago Ripoll keeps in touch through the blog too and keeps me grounded to that other great part of my life there - my high school days at St. Paul's. Also just received Monnette Martinez's SPU newsletter, which honestly, I haven't read yet. I have to wait to get home to indulge in personal web and email monitoring so I am doing this at 9 pm at night.
So, I received an email from my cousin in Madrid that the book written by a special man in my life is arriving by Fedex tomorrow - just in time for my Three Kings present. Can't wait!
Is it just me that can't get over how Tiger Woods mucked up his life?!! I've always thought that most men are fickle and so far, I haven't been proven wrong but the man had everything going for him and he blows it all on a bit of .....well, you know what I want going to say. The last person I thought that would be caught like this. Ok, I've gotten that off my chest.
In four days (New York time), Patricia Muniosguren and Anton Yulo will celebrate their wedding in Manila. How I wish I could be there but then I've haven't attended not one wedding of any of my friends or friends' children. I little cross to bear and one that saddens me but thank goodness for Facebook, email and the internet. Pictures will be forthcoming and shared. Yay!
Alright folks, enough for today. Keep in touch. It's not a bad world afer all.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Good advise from my parish priest and a warning......
Hi all,
Well, first day back to work after 13 days off for the Christmas and New Year's holidays. Of course, its bitterly cold and just heard on the evening news that it will get colder toward the coming weekend and that this may turn out to be the coldest winter in 25 years. Oh joy. Oh where are my palm trees!!
Anyway, yesterday the flyer we pick up after Mass had the following list "for a better life" in 2010. I thought I'd share with you.
- NO ONE is in charge of your happiness except you!
- Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In 5 years, will this matter?"
- What other people think of you is none of your business. (I really like this one.)
- However good or bad a situation is, it will change. (in other words, there is no status quo)
- Envy is a waste of time and energy.
- Each night before you to to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for _______. Today I accomplished ____________.
- No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up!
- Forgive everyone for everything.
- Make peace with your past so it won't spoil your future.
- Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
- Life is too short to waste on hating anyone.
- Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
- Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.
- Call your family often or email them to death. (I think we ALL do this anyway.)
- Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
- Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride!
I just found out that a whole lot of "freebies" that I got from points from a credit card weren't free at all. I looked at my statement and found more than $100 shipping charge - which $$ amount is much more than the stuff I chose from the freebies offered is worth!!! Goes to show, there really are NO free lunches. Anyway, I called the number on the statement and they said if I returned it all, they would credit my account. I usually am pretty smart about stuff like this but I didn't see anything about shipping charges - trouble is I threw away the original offer after I got the stuff in the mail. I am sharing this with you so you don't fall for the same "come-on." By the way, it was not Chase but American Express. I got the offer through my boss's corporate American Express card. I AM RETURNING EVERYTHING TOMORROW. It was silly junky stuff anyway. Que sinverguenzas!!!! Y, que tonta yo.
Keep warm those of you in the US because it seems it is even cold in Florida!
Well, first day back to work after 13 days off for the Christmas and New Year's holidays. Of course, its bitterly cold and just heard on the evening news that it will get colder toward the coming weekend and that this may turn out to be the coldest winter in 25 years. Oh joy. Oh where are my palm trees!!
Anyway, yesterday the flyer we pick up after Mass had the following list "for a better life" in 2010. I thought I'd share with you.
- NO ONE is in charge of your happiness except you!
- Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In 5 years, will this matter?"
- What other people think of you is none of your business. (I really like this one.)
- However good or bad a situation is, it will change. (in other words, there is no status quo)
- Envy is a waste of time and energy.
- Each night before you to to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for _______. Today I accomplished ____________.
- No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up!
- Forgive everyone for everything.
- Make peace with your past so it won't spoil your future.
- Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
- Life is too short to waste on hating anyone.
- Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
- Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.
- Call your family often or email them to death. (I think we ALL do this anyway.)
- Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
- Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride!
I just found out that a whole lot of "freebies" that I got from points from a credit card weren't free at all. I looked at my statement and found more than $100 shipping charge - which $$ amount is much more than the stuff I chose from the freebies offered is worth!!! Goes to show, there really are NO free lunches. Anyway, I called the number on the statement and they said if I returned it all, they would credit my account. I usually am pretty smart about stuff like this but I didn't see anything about shipping charges - trouble is I threw away the original offer after I got the stuff in the mail. I am sharing this with you so you don't fall for the same "come-on." By the way, it was not Chase but American Express. I got the offer through my boss's corporate American Express card. I AM RETURNING EVERYTHING TOMORROW. It was silly junky stuff anyway. Que sinverguenzas!!!! Y, que tonta yo.
Keep warm those of you in the US because it seems it is even cold in Florida!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
New Year 2010 thoughts
Now that we have just entered the New Year I want to share reflections of mine of the past and present.
First of all, to all of you who followed the blog of My Diaries (some of you who had read them before re-visiting them again) and enjoyed the journey to my (and our) lives in the early 60s, my heart-felt joy, really, that you took the journey with me. Some may view my sentimental visit to the past as a bore or even a negative thing but on a personal level, I see nothing wrong with remembering a good time of our young lives. I've had great times years later and someday I will write about them but some of the persons involved in my grown up life may not appreciate my sharing a portion of their lives with all and sundry. But, we shall see. If Truman Capote and Dominic Dunne did it, why can't I? All you have to do is change names. Hah! There's an idea....I will work on it.
This has been a great holiday because aside from hearing from all my dearest friends and family - I got surprises like a phone call from Spain from my only female cousin and another call from Arlette Teucher Jan who is visiting the Philippines. My little family and I had spent a lovely 2 weeks with her at her lovely home on the Costa Brava (appropriately named "Mabuhay") and she had invited me to come along with her to Manila but right now the job situation is tenuous and after 26 years at Polytechnic, I cannot be away from my job for any bit of time. But it was nice getting a call from her.
Another wonderful event going on in Manila soon that I am really sorry to miss is the wedding of Patricia Muniosguren to Anton Yulo. But I know that Pat or her mom, Lyn, will provide pictures so that us ex-pats who are stuck here in the COLD U.S. (at least New York is), can share this happy day which will take place on January 10.
And I don't have to mention names here but an old boyfriend just had a book published in Spain and a cousin of mine will be sending it to me soon. I am curious to read the book as the reviews so far in Spain have been favourable. It is a novel - fiction based on fact and since I was privy to his life for almost 8 years, I know that the fact part of the book is real. We shall see, and yes, I can be objective.
I got Christmas cards and e-mail cards from everyone near and dear to me and some surprises like a card from the wife of my only cousin on the Bowie side who died about 10 years ago. But since she is the only living relative on my dad's side of the family, it was especially nice to get a card from her telling me of her children and grandchildren.
The best gift I had this Christmas is getting time to spend with my dear granddaughter, Laura. She and I always have a good time together - we "click" much like my mother used to get along better with my daughter Frances than me. I guess it is always like that with grandmothers and their grandchildren. Laura unfortunately had a bit of a stomach bug while with me so for two days she was upchucking and dryheaving but being the little trooper that she is, she never complained and was still the sunny little girl she normally is. Though she will be 11 in March and little girl I will not be able to call her for very much longer.
So, everyone, I hope you all had a great holiday. Right now, we are experiencing one of the coldest days so far here in New York so all of you who are NOT here, count your blessings.
I will keep writing just to keep this blog "alive" and have enjoyed all your comments, so keep writing, if you like.
PS: I have a Kindle so I read voraciously and have Netflix so watch a lot of movies and rarely go to the movie theaters but treated myself to two of the popular movies out. Verdict:
- "It's Complicated" with Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin - enjoyed it, but its a bit of a fairy tale
- "Up In the Air" with George Clooney (who is yummy no matter what he does) - good movie but NOT a "feel good" movie. It's actually a bit depressing but I am a Clooney fan so he can do no wrong.
Movies I want to see - "An Education," "The Last Station," "New Moon," "Nine," and some others which I might wait till they are available on DVD (otherwise known as Netflix for me)
HAPPY NEW YEAR, again, and stay safe and sound.
First of all, to all of you who followed the blog of My Diaries (some of you who had read them before re-visiting them again) and enjoyed the journey to my (and our) lives in the early 60s, my heart-felt joy, really, that you took the journey with me. Some may view my sentimental visit to the past as a bore or even a negative thing but on a personal level, I see nothing wrong with remembering a good time of our young lives. I've had great times years later and someday I will write about them but some of the persons involved in my grown up life may not appreciate my sharing a portion of their lives with all and sundry. But, we shall see. If Truman Capote and Dominic Dunne did it, why can't I? All you have to do is change names. Hah! There's an idea....I will work on it.
This has been a great holiday because aside from hearing from all my dearest friends and family - I got surprises like a phone call from Spain from my only female cousin and another call from Arlette Teucher Jan who is visiting the Philippines. My little family and I had spent a lovely 2 weeks with her at her lovely home on the Costa Brava (appropriately named "Mabuhay") and she had invited me to come along with her to Manila but right now the job situation is tenuous and after 26 years at Polytechnic, I cannot be away from my job for any bit of time. But it was nice getting a call from her.
Another wonderful event going on in Manila soon that I am really sorry to miss is the wedding of Patricia Muniosguren to Anton Yulo. But I know that Pat or her mom, Lyn, will provide pictures so that us ex-pats who are stuck here in the COLD U.S. (at least New York is), can share this happy day which will take place on January 10.
And I don't have to mention names here but an old boyfriend just had a book published in Spain and a cousin of mine will be sending it to me soon. I am curious to read the book as the reviews so far in Spain have been favourable. It is a novel - fiction based on fact and since I was privy to his life for almost 8 years, I know that the fact part of the book is real. We shall see, and yes, I can be objective.
I got Christmas cards and e-mail cards from everyone near and dear to me and some surprises like a card from the wife of my only cousin on the Bowie side who died about 10 years ago. But since she is the only living relative on my dad's side of the family, it was especially nice to get a card from her telling me of her children and grandchildren.
The best gift I had this Christmas is getting time to spend with my dear granddaughter, Laura. She and I always have a good time together - we "click" much like my mother used to get along better with my daughter Frances than me. I guess it is always like that with grandmothers and their grandchildren. Laura unfortunately had a bit of a stomach bug while with me so for two days she was upchucking and dryheaving but being the little trooper that she is, she never complained and was still the sunny little girl she normally is. Though she will be 11 in March and little girl I will not be able to call her for very much longer.
So, everyone, I hope you all had a great holiday. Right now, we are experiencing one of the coldest days so far here in New York so all of you who are NOT here, count your blessings.
I will keep writing just to keep this blog "alive" and have enjoyed all your comments, so keep writing, if you like.
PS: I have a Kindle so I read voraciously and have Netflix so watch a lot of movies and rarely go to the movie theaters but treated myself to two of the popular movies out. Verdict:
- "It's Complicated" with Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin - enjoyed it, but its a bit of a fairy tale
- "Up In the Air" with George Clooney (who is yummy no matter what he does) - good movie but NOT a "feel good" movie. It's actually a bit depressing but I am a Clooney fan so he can do no wrong.
Movies I want to see - "An Education," "The Last Station," "New Moon," "Nine," and some others which I might wait till they are available on DVD (otherwise known as Netflix for me)
HAPPY NEW YEAR, again, and stay safe and sound.
Friday, January 1, 2010
December 16 - 31, 1964
December 16 - Wednesday
Ditto above.
December 17 - Thursday
Cocktails at Tita Lol’s house. Cliff was invited and he was there. Saw Joe’s mother at Mass. Joey brought Lita and me home. Had a fairly nice evening. Honey at hospital this evening. (Another evening I recall very well. I remember Tito Ramon advising me to stop pining for the guys around me and concentrate on Cliff. I also remember Honey’s getting sick and that upsetting me a lot.)
December 19 - Saturday
Went to the hospital to visit Honey. I think I would die if something happened to him. (A bit overdramatic of me, wasn't I?!)
December 20 - Sunday
Ramos home with Cliff. Went to the circus later.
December 23 - Wednesday
Went shopping this afternoon.
December 24 - Thursday
Mercy’s house this evening.
December 25 - Friday
Cliff ate dinner with us this evening.
December 26 - Saturday
Went to Valley Golf Club with Cliff. This evening to Jai-Alai with Mercy, George and Cliff. Saw Joe, Monica, Lita and Anthony. Had a nice evening.
December 27 - Sunday
Birthday party at Muscat house. I got bugged at Mercy and Honey. How stupid can I get!
December 29 - Tuesday
Cliff sent me desk diary this morning. Talked to him this afternoon over the phone. He asked me out for tomorrow night but I declined.
December 31 - Thursday
New Year’s Eve with Joe Vincent. Although, it almost didn’t happen. I was at Mercy’s house this afternoon, chatting with Honey. I was feeling a bit sad as it seemed everyone was going out that night with someone. Mercy had a date (was it with George? Or Diego?), but Joe, I thought, was in Baguio, as was Monica and his other fans - all hoping they would spend New Years Eve with him. I was feeling slightly sorry for myself when the phone rang and Mercy excitedly tells me and it was Joe asking for me! He asked me if I had a date for the evening and I said no so he asked me if I would like to spend NYE with him and Pepito Vera Perez. They had just arrived from Baguio. For a moment, all I could think of was how disappointed Monica and the rest would be. Needless to say, I had the best New Year’s Eve I’ve ever had in a long time! First we went to the Jai-Alai were we were treated like royalty - natch. And then to the Polo Club where Pearly and her group of prima dona friends found themselves staring open mouthed at Joe with me and Pepito. They called us to join their table but Joe declined and we sat the three of us at our own table and proceeded to have a ball!!! We drank a lot of champagne between us. Sometime in the evening Pepito went his own way and Joe dropped me home in the early morning of January 1, 1965. He later told me he passed out in the car. Albeit practically last minute, but I did get to “go to the ball” tonight. It made up for the many balls and proms I never got invited to.
(Little did I know that that New Year’s Eve would be the last one I would spend in Manila until 1996 (32 years later) where I would again start the evening talking to Honey Muniosguren. My life changed in January 1965. I accepted Cliff Harkness’s proposal of marriage and married him in April of that year. We left Manila, never to live there again. I left my homeland, my parents, my friends and a way of life that I thought I could return to at will. I was too young and too naive to appreciate the good man I had married, and the life he wanted to make for his new family in New York. I thought I was going to prance around New York City like Jane Fonda in “Sunday In New York” (or was that “Barefoot in the Park?”) or be like Audrey Hepburn in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (I never realized until many years later that Audrey's character plays a lady of easy virtue in that enchanting movie.) My fantasy continued - after a brief stay in the Big City, we would live in a house like “Father Knows Best” and I would have three perfect little blond haired kids and somehow manage to maintain the life I had in Manila too. What a bubble I lived in! And when that bubble burst, I broke my husband’s heart, my parents’ heart, and my dream. Later I would move to Barcelona and make another life for myself, but that's a story for another time.)
I finished transcribing these diaries in 2005/2006 and brought them to Manila and gave them to many of the friends who featured within - from Margotin Ubago Ripoll, to Mercy, Nena Marti, and many others including our dear, recently departed Leo Kahn, who had a good time re-living and remembering our lives in the early sixties.
Today is New Year's Day 2010 - and light years away from the events of the years I faithfully chronicled. I hope all who read my original hard copies and who read this blog are all well and had a good time reading this. I hope this year is good to us. Health being the main good wish and then for us who still have to hold on to our jobs - that we can do so! I will keep posting other thoughts in here and when I get a scanner, I will post pictures of our past and present. God bless and keep you all safe and happy - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
Ditto above.
December 17 - Thursday
Cocktails at Tita Lol’s house. Cliff was invited and he was there. Saw Joe’s mother at Mass. Joey brought Lita and me home. Had a fairly nice evening. Honey at hospital this evening. (Another evening I recall very well. I remember Tito Ramon advising me to stop pining for the guys around me and concentrate on Cliff. I also remember Honey’s getting sick and that upsetting me a lot.)
December 19 - Saturday
Went to the hospital to visit Honey. I think I would die if something happened to him. (A bit overdramatic of me, wasn't I?!)
December 20 - Sunday
Ramos home with Cliff. Went to the circus later.
December 23 - Wednesday
Went shopping this afternoon.
December 24 - Thursday
Mercy’s house this evening.
December 25 - Friday
Cliff ate dinner with us this evening.
December 26 - Saturday
Went to Valley Golf Club with Cliff. This evening to Jai-Alai with Mercy, George and Cliff. Saw Joe, Monica, Lita and Anthony. Had a nice evening.
December 27 - Sunday
Birthday party at Muscat house. I got bugged at Mercy and Honey. How stupid can I get!
December 29 - Tuesday
Cliff sent me desk diary this morning. Talked to him this afternoon over the phone. He asked me out for tomorrow night but I declined.
December 31 - Thursday
New Year’s Eve with Joe Vincent. Although, it almost didn’t happen. I was at Mercy’s house this afternoon, chatting with Honey. I was feeling a bit sad as it seemed everyone was going out that night with someone. Mercy had a date (was it with George? Or Diego?), but Joe, I thought, was in Baguio, as was Monica and his other fans - all hoping they would spend New Years Eve with him. I was feeling slightly sorry for myself when the phone rang and Mercy excitedly tells me and it was Joe asking for me! He asked me if I had a date for the evening and I said no so he asked me if I would like to spend NYE with him and Pepito Vera Perez. They had just arrived from Baguio. For a moment, all I could think of was how disappointed Monica and the rest would be. Needless to say, I had the best New Year’s Eve I’ve ever had in a long time! First we went to the Jai-Alai were we were treated like royalty - natch. And then to the Polo Club where Pearly and her group of prima dona friends found themselves staring open mouthed at Joe with me and Pepito. They called us to join their table but Joe declined and we sat the three of us at our own table and proceeded to have a ball!!! We drank a lot of champagne between us. Sometime in the evening Pepito went his own way and Joe dropped me home in the early morning of January 1, 1965. He later told me he passed out in the car. Albeit practically last minute, but I did get to “go to the ball” tonight. It made up for the many balls and proms I never got invited to.
(Little did I know that that New Year’s Eve would be the last one I would spend in Manila until 1996 (32 years later) where I would again start the evening talking to Honey Muniosguren. My life changed in January 1965. I accepted Cliff Harkness’s proposal of marriage and married him in April of that year. We left Manila, never to live there again. I left my homeland, my parents, my friends and a way of life that I thought I could return to at will. I was too young and too naive to appreciate the good man I had married, and the life he wanted to make for his new family in New York. I thought I was going to prance around New York City like Jane Fonda in “Sunday In New York” (or was that “Barefoot in the Park?”) or be like Audrey Hepburn in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (I never realized until many years later that Audrey's character plays a lady of easy virtue in that enchanting movie.) My fantasy continued - after a brief stay in the Big City, we would live in a house like “Father Knows Best” and I would have three perfect little blond haired kids and somehow manage to maintain the life I had in Manila too. What a bubble I lived in! And when that bubble burst, I broke my husband’s heart, my parents’ heart, and my dream. Later I would move to Barcelona and make another life for myself, but that's a story for another time.)
I finished transcribing these diaries in 2005/2006 and brought them to Manila and gave them to many of the friends who featured within - from Margotin Ubago Ripoll, to Mercy, Nena Marti, and many others including our dear, recently departed Leo Kahn, who had a good time re-living and remembering our lives in the early sixties.
Today is New Year's Day 2010 - and light years away from the events of the years I faithfully chronicled. I hope all who read my original hard copies and who read this blog are all well and had a good time reading this. I hope this year is good to us. Health being the main good wish and then for us who still have to hold on to our jobs - that we can do so! I will keep posting other thoughts in here and when I get a scanner, I will post pictures of our past and present. God bless and keep you all safe and happy - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
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