hello there friend, happy new year! viva pit senyor weekend! this is late, so this will be quick. just wanted to say hi! :) -k
As the dust settles slowly in this new house, there are a lot of things I am learning and re-learning—how to build a Kallax (lmao), how to help C re-assemble her standing desk, where the previously stored things are. How to prune back to the basics, how to let go of old things so new ones can take their place. Seems like it’s always a good idea to move at the start of the year—turn a new page altogether, so to speak.
Anyway, auntie in the family gc reminded us that our mother would have turned 65 this year.
So I guess I’d just like to note that. She would have loved Ikea lamps, just saying.
Anyway, that’s my learning: When someone tells you that your house needs a lamp, believe them. I’m happy that C is the one in charge of decorating this house—her taste in lamps is impeccable. Meanwhile, I’m just around here to lift things and carry them around. Haha.
We’re almost done—thanks to the help of Transportify kuyas, my sister and her boyfriend, who all pitched in to the move. (Huhu my sister was so helpful, naipit pa nga siya sa elevator namin during one move wtf the poor thing lmao) Last week, we finally managed to move the refrigerator and the bed at the same time! It’s… a significant initiative, to be totally understated about it, but I’m just glad we were able to pull it off. That said: MY BACK. my back… haha! When we got back to work from vacation, I received a lot of belated birthday greetings, and one of my coworkers asked me how old I was: Are you already—
and before she even finished, I was like: Not yet! Not yet. I still have an entire year to go, or almost. haha.
But as mentioned, my 38th year was more my milestone year, relative to my mother’s age when she passed, so making it to 39—x number of twice concerts after—is the achievement for me.
Incidentally, I have been pondering my parents’ ages when I realized that my dad had me when he was 39! What a coincidence. So I guess this is me transitioning into my dad’s era, in a way. Haha.
Though honestly, looking for navigation tips in our parents’ journeys sometimes feels like… flipping through the Yellow Pages looking for a number to call using your smartphone, or using the printed Metro Manila Streetmap when everyone else is on Waze.
It just doesn’t work that way anymore—but isn’t it comforting, knowing anyone was also 39 once, living in a country that was an outright mess, trying to work through the worst economic crises they’ve seen, paying taxes under a really bad government—yeah 1984 Philippines wasn’t a joke at all—AND STILL.
Finding enough hope in themselves to have me. I guess that is something I will continuously honor with every year that passes.
TWICE postscript
Oh hey, TWICE comeback is coming! Been loving the content so far, because HAVE YOU SEEN THEM.
It looks like a prenup video, but it’s the bridesmaids and they are all gorgeous, what the hell.
In any case, looks like our marching orders for 2023 2024 have been served.
ANYWAY let me end this newsletter with this Jihyo photo from Paris, where she joined Paris Fashion week for Ami. BECAUSE WHAT THE HELL.
That’s it, thank you for reading! Happy New Year friends!
XO,
K