Monday, February 28, 2011

Ironic


My friend: I'm listening to Ironic by Alanis. Isn't it ironic to find the man of your dreams then later meet his beautiful wife?
Milai: Nah, the irony there is meeting the man of your dreams. (laughs)
The above exchange made me do a double take. Have I gotten too cynical beyond redemption?

There is no denying that I am romantic to the core.  You see, I began reading romance novels at an early age.  While most children read fairytales and picture books, I, much to my mom's dismay, took delight in reading Mills and Boon and Harlequin novels starting at age eight.  I also loved reading the works of Barbara Cartland.  At age ten, I was into Danielle Steel and at twelve, was into novels by Judith McNaught, Johanna Lindsey and Jude Deveraux.  Reading about their heroines ending up with the man of their dreams sure made me think about my own happy ending.

Ten years after, my view on love, or rather, on men, soured due to the fact that some of my friends and acquaintances became victims of their infidelity or were in an abusive relationship.  There were some too who fell in love with men who were difficult to love in the first place.  And some who were with men who could not find it in themselves to commit to a relationship or marriage.

With the above, and also because I experienced heartbreaks and heartaches firsthand, I became very wary of love.  Or rather, of men.

A friend in college said not just once that those like us who grew up reading romance novels would have a difficult time finding the "man of our dreams" basically because we already have our ideals on who or what we want in and from them.  "Admit it, unconsciously, you have the tendency to compare a suitor to that dashing, romantic duke from the Victorian era in historical romance novels or to that confident, urbane, a little difficult but loving man you read about in your contemporary novels."  And we laughed because it was partly true.  Matthew Allen Parker from McNaught's Paradise, where are you?  Ha ha!

Then there's this Linda Howard novel I read where they joked about Mr. Perfect being "science fiction."  Ha!  I just had to laugh on that one.

When I was home in Aklan last January, a relative, knowing I am already twenty-seven and most of my batchmates were already married, joked, "So when is the grand walk down the aisle?"  I laughed and replied that I am even yet to find THAT  man I will walk down the aisle with.  Polite queries followed, with most of them asking all the hows and whys that they could think of regarding my being uncommitted and all later coming to a concession that I am just being choosy.  Ooooooo-kay.  Whatever.

Is there anything wrong with being single, especially when it is someone's personal choice and she's happy being such, as I said so in a previous post?  Is there anything wrong with having standards for THE man a woman wants to marry?  I'm not looking for Mr. Perfect because we all know that perfection in anyone or anything does not exist.  But I do have standards for the man of my dreams.  And on this I refuse to compromise.  Why?  Because we are all entitled to choose who we want to spend the rest of our lives with.  And mine is to be with a man who is like Daddy.  Oh, he isn't perfect.  He sometimes drinks and used to smoke and he is scary when he gets mad but he's faithful to my mom and wonderful to us.

You may have noticed I wrote "on love or rather, on men" twice in this post.  I want to emphasize this because men (and of course, women), may become unfaithful or jealous or insincere but love is not and never will be.  It is and will always be the same kind of wondrous, saving love that it is made to be.  Anything less than that is not true and lasting love - the reason why most relationships don't last these days and why some marriages crumble.

I want to end this post by addressing my cynicism.  Yes, I admit to having gotten jaded over the years but there's still that part of me who sees the world through rose-tinted glasses.  Who still believes in the wonders of love and in God's perfect timing for everything.

True love waits.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Past and Future Love


Seasons change and people too
But I believe that some feelings don't
The clock keeps on ticking and people come and go
But our longing for them just continues to grow.

We may forget some of yesterday's memories
But those that we wove with that special someone 
Would remain, and may even haunt us
That we couldn't help but look back on what was.

I miss your smiles, those bedimpled cheeks
And the way your knowing eyes would look me over
I miss all the laughter, and even our silly fights
And the kiss-and-make-up that is sure to come later.

I sorely miss the way you always inspire me
Those words and acts of love that you share
But most of all I miss being with you
And being enveloped in your sweet and tender care.

I remember all these, and painfully, more
For I also remember the day we parted ways
I remember saying goodbye for I thought it was best
Turning a deaf ear to the pleas you expressed.

Until now, I don't know why or how we drifted apart
And I have stopped trying to analyze everything
All I know is that somewhere, somehow, we changed
That what used to be two sides of a coin became estranged.

Things happen for a reason, so they always say
And maybe, ours is to learn to lose ourselves to an US
Because admit it, when we were together we seldom compromise
Self-absorbed and stubborn, to our own self each one relies.

I still believe that what happened is for the best
And though I still sometimes miss you, I can smile
Knowing that you and I have grown individually
In ways that our being together did not allow us to be. 

Wherever you are, my love, I hope you now know
That sometimes the greater proof of love is in letting go
May love teach us to truly love in ways we failed the other
That we may become braver, wiser and better.

Monday, February 14, 2011

The Heart Chooses to Heal


In all its fragility, I marvel about the capacity of the heart to withstand innumerable heartaches and hurts.  I guess in the end,  a heart that CHOOSES to freely bask in sincere, selfless love is bigger than any and all of life's struggles.  Cheers to all WARRIORS OF THE HEART who never give up on love despite being heartbroken at some points in their lives.  Happy hearts day!  :)