To All the Friends I’ve Loved Before

I'm 29 now! I think it's crazy too. 15 years ago, we thought this was the age of boring and old. It's nice to be boring and a little old.

First off, I'm married! It's only been a little more than half-year and it's too early to tell but I agree that it's fun to be married to your best friend. Marc makes up for everything I'm not. Yep, you still know me enough to confirm that it includes making up for my homemaking skills.

In other news, I'm gravely in love with street food now. Aside from being the girl who had freshly cooked lunch delivered at school, some of you will remember me as someone with an ick for street siomai who couldn't poke a hole in a plastic bag as a makeshift straw. But now, this obsession is my life's guilty pleasure. Tulo ka ginabot ug duha ka crab meat, ki. Yes, I can count in Bisaya now too. A little. Kind of.

Contrary to high school's cool, I now associate with intimate groups (1, 2, 3, 4). I like being by myself sometimes too (1, 2). Not to defend my juvenile boundaries and teenage angst but at the back of my head, I've always thought there was magic in romanticizing the company of oneself. As always, I put trust in the wise words of Jason Mraz. It reads "I don't care what you might think about me. You can vibe without me if you want." My therapist might've had a hand in this validation too.

Family is still number 1 to me whether by blood or by choice (1, 2, 3, 4). While I don't get to see everyone as much, every moment together feels closer to the heart. My dad still cooks my favorite meals and my mom checks up on me every day like I'm 5 years old. The little things are forever and I refuse to take it for granted now. Like everything else, it may be wisdom that comes with age but even if I'm not sure what it is, I won't have it any other way.

For whatever it's worth, I'm grateful whatever happened to us did. You helped me learn the power of falling in love with my insecurities instead of shrugging them off and that being the bigger person is more than just showing you're the better one–it's actually about being a good person. My 16-year-old self would cringe at God for saying love your enemies in Matthew book 5. Among the many things we've done together, that was the best lesson you've left me with. He really said listen, kid. All's well that ends well.

While some things change, some stay the same. Hanna Montana's wisdom on the best of both worlds really stuck after all these years. I watch K-drama now but still find myself running to Dr. House or The OC when I don't have the energy for anything new. I still like reading books but I think podcasts are entertaining too. I used to just sing to Simple Plan and Jason Mraz but now I have Bisrock and Bini playlists to vibe with also. I haven't done ballet for 10 years but my weekends are now for Pilates. I can't remember the last time I've had Starbucks but Marc brews me a latte every day.

Some of you are married now too, maybe even have a family of your own, or are on a completely different path that I absolutely know nothing about. If there's one thing I can't help but say, I hope all is well with you too because damn, life really is beautiful.