Dilemma: Jubilee Celebration vs. Covid-19 “Lockdown”

The young adults speak of reunions way back their high school years as they continue their professional lives. But 50 years? In this case 1970-2020- This is one rare opportunity to see each other again when most of the batchmates have NOT seen each other for 50 years and most of them are in their early 70’s. What a feat! So what can we say about Jubilee Reunions?

As the term implies, reunion can be dissected as uniting again especially when a long time has lapsed since the time they last saw each other like 50 years ago!. What is most significant when this happens or will happen? So meetings were called. When these gatherings were called they were planned to be joined with special events like birthdays or fiestas. In some instances many would come while in some fewer than 10 of the expected 50 or so. Patience and understanding are two of the many ingredients why the plan is pushed.

Finally the dates are set: April 17 for arrival and pre-acquaintance moments and April 18 for the grand Jubilee celebration. The committees are set and everyone is set to wait for the said dates.

Then Covid-19 scare comes along and so we are left in a dilemma…

But at the back of our senior citizen minds, it is not really a dilemma. After all, the elderly are the ones who are the most vulnerable and the target of Covid- 19 infection…Indeed a sad reality but is one we have to accept and especially because we are all senior citizens.

So dilemma or not, we are left with our anchor: our faith, hope and love in the One who gave us this gift of long life. Perhaps we can plan a re-schedule…an openness to a future that is freed from Covid- 19 not only for our good but for each one of us in the whole world.

 

 

3 reasons to say thank you just for today

3 reasons? only 3 reasons? Yes! you can start with 3 and then tomorrow another 3 and then the following day,  3 until you can safely say you have to give thanks everyday! AGREE?!

  1. The way we come into this world is already one essential reason to say thanks. Reality tells us two people decided to fall in love and as one manifestation of their love, a love child comes along. Thank you my Tatay and Nanay for bringing me to this world and in a nice way raised me up to be simple yet loaded with talents coming from both your persons. Furthermore, I thank you for giving me brothers and sisters who really made my family life full of good and happy memories. No wonder many express dissatisfaction when they talk about their personal experiences because they had painful and sad events growing up. Thank you Lorenzo Sr. and Filemoncita.
  2.  As one has a path to follow, one destiny is married life. My marriage lasted for 20 years and this love-hate relationship produced 4 beautiful and handsome children. Why love-hate? It is because it is…in fact the good and the bad intersperse only to make you a better wife, mother and citizen of the world. Indeed, marriage is not meant for everybody for like the other paths namely single lay state and religious life, the challenges are basically tarnished with the good and the bad. My husband died when he was 55 years old and I was a widow at 47 years. The story one has when getting married, raising the children, becoming a single parent and entering senior citizenship is one story after another and to this date, continues  to go on. One can only give thanks for accepting the bearable and the unbearable incidents of living. Of the many branches of life, seeing the children become adults themselves is the crown of your existence. As though you can cease to exist already and not be sad for every one is capable of living on her/his own. Everything is already a bonus when the children become productive citizens of the world. Thank you Irene, Benedict, Nathaniel and Lorenzo Paul.
  3. The technological world is a world of wonder especially for the senior citizens and widows. In my case I decided to become a Girl Scout volunteer and a Social Media blogger. The gadgets that come our way give glitter and excitement to each of us especially when all we can do is toy with it even as we become updated with what is happening here, there and everywhere. For as long as you have an Android, a cellphone and if possible, a laptop or a netbook, you have enough to occupy your time. Thank you Samsung, Oppo and Dell. How I wish I can have Apple and Samsung Galaxy…any sponsor reading this? Thank you technological advances for making the world small and reachable just using the tips of our fingers!

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Turning 70 years old is big for me. How about you?

When I was a child, age was not an issue. Coming from a big family all I cared about was to go to school, help at home and play games. Elementary: done! High school:done! College: done! Employment: done! and now Retirement: done and moving on! Since I am retired the days are all open and managed by me to the fullest. One exciting event coming up is my 70 year-old birthday celebration  by July 2020. Soon this will be one full blog/video blog post!

Now that the children are adults and I have at least one granddaughter, the years are all considered bonus years, more appropriately labelled, gifts from God’s generosity. One worthwhile gift of a retiree is travel opportunity!

visited some Asian countries: Hongkong/Zhenzhen/Macao, Malaysia, Singapore

and stayed for few months in New York City.

 

And many more grand sites it will last a lifetime to reminisce…

Now what about 70 that it must be given attention and must be celebrated with grandeur?

Our Google search states: “Since the Bible, no one has lived nearly that long, except perhaps Zsa Zsa Gabor. Nowadays, life expectancy is about 70 years, for the very oldest boomers. … The good news is that as you age, your life expectancy actually increases. all sorts Each year you live means that you have survived many trials in life…”Some already reached 100 years plus so 70 is not really very ancient…What matters is that being 70 is a reminder of the wisdom that comes with age. It also reflects that one’s physical features show signs of “wrinkles” but one’s insights far exceed in depth. So we are in good hands fellow 70 year colleagues.

Take our batch, way back Bukidnon Normal School circa 1970…Most of us have reached 70 or are celebrating 70 next year. So we are the Golden Jubilarians – Alumni but we look forward to a grand reunion with batchmates we have not seen for a long time and here we are raring to go @Bukidnon Normal School circa 1970 Batchmates.

So is turning 70 big for me? Indeed yes and if you felt the same as you read my post especially my fellow senior citizens/retirees, do you feel with me too?