Life’s a rollercoaster ride sometimes. Lots of ups and downs and usually a thrill or two along the way. And sometimes a day in the life can feel like that too.

Nothing as nice to see as those, but here is the Relive anyway.

A trike delivered a little Joy to my place in the afternoon. I’m trying real hard to be accepting of the reality that is my life. I did away with the old FWB program because it felt exploitive and wrong somehow. But a couple of the former participants continue to contact me, desperate for the opportunity to earn some cash. So, it puts me in the position of either denying them outright, letting them come over, or just giving them the cash as a matter of charity. None of those options are especially satisfying–it seems I can either be a prick, a dick, or a sucker. Or a combination of all three. I guess there are worse problems to have.

We said our goodbyes after eating and I moseyed over to It Doesn’t Matter to ponder the circumstances that led to a melancholy outcome. My regulars weren’t around, so I drank alone. I’m okay with that. I didn’t find any answers at the bottom of my beer bottle, so I ordered up another one. That didn’t work either, but I’m no quitter, so I kept trying. Eventually, I realized that the mystery would remain unsolved so I paid my tab and left.

The next stop was BarCelona. My Facebook friend Samantha had advised that she was once again at work. I figured I would welcome her back with a lady drink or two and see if there was any comfort to be found in her company. There was not. I feel sorry for her actually. A young widow who seems lost and showing symptoms of depression (she told me sometimes she just wants to stay in her room and cry all day). Well, I’m probably not going to be able to help her with that. It’s sad though.

Then the school teacher I’ve been exchanging messages with for the past month or so asked if we could meet up that night. This was surprising because I had not seen her in person since the night we were introduced. I was in no condition to do so last night. But what pissed me off was her caveat “will you see me or are you going to reject me again?” WTF? We had been chatting in the morning and in the early afternoon. Maybe if she had indicated then she was interested in joining me, I would have been receptive. Or maybe not. But damn, I don’t like ultimatums and that is what this felt like. So, I chose to “reject” her and I’m probably going to eject her from my life. She’s demonstrated that she is not a good fit for me. My bad mood was now foul. I said goodnight to Sam and headed out.

Where to next? I wasn’t in the mood for any of my regular haunts nor did I desire the company of a bargirl. Given those limited options I decided to visit Outback. It was more crowded than on my previous visits, but I spied an open seat on the far side of the bar. Except it wasn’t open, the floor in front of the chair had shoes and purses belonging to the bargirls. My bartender friend said something I didn’t quite hear but she also didn’t seem interested in having the space cleared. So, I said again “I can’t sit here” and she responded, “just take it home with you”. Alright then, I took that as a pretty clear indicator that my business wasn’t needed or wanted. So, I turned around, said goodbye, and walked out.

Granted, I might have handled the situation differently if I wasn’t already disgruntled. What I had hoped would be a safe space proved to be the opposite. At least I maintained my cool–didn’t shout, didn’t cuss, just left. I sent the bartender a message later though expressing my disappointment and reminding her that when I was the only customer during my last visit I had bought everyone a drink so they’d have at least some commission. She responded with an apology and that what she had said was meant to be a joke. I guess I just didn’t have a sense of humor. Anyway, I have no intention of going back. And in case you are wondering, yes, this is the bartender whose surgery I paid for a few months back. You’re welcome!

I finished out my night at Queen Victoria. Still didn’t want bargirl company, so I pretty much ignored my two regulars there. A Hasher came in a bit after I arrived and we had a nice chat at least. Once I had satiated my thirst I caught a trike home. Wasn’t even nine when I gave up the ghost and hit the sack.

But it is not all bad. Earlier that day I had been introduced online through a mutual friend to another schoolteacher working in Olongapo (a different school, thankfully). We hadn’t had a chance to get beyond the introductions, but we were connected through Facebook. I woke up early this morning (3 a.m.) and sent her a good morning message. She responded immediately. And then we engaged in one of the best chats ever. Both on messenger and in a video call. I was very impressed with her intelligence and ability to articulate some pretty profound viewpoints. One example: she asked me which vaxx I had received. I told her I wasn’t vaccinated. She let out a whoop and said neither had she! Got to say, that’s a pretty brave stance for a school teacher here in the Philippines to take. She and some other like-minded teachers have lawyered up and are fighting for their freedom. Anyway, suffice to say her stance on the whole scamdemic pretty much parallels mine. I like that. Oh, and she told me she likes Trump. What a gal, huh?

Anyway, she’s older (mid to late 40s with three kids in their early 20s), a college-educated professional, has a good sense of humor, speaks good English, and is a great conversationalist. Just the type some of you commenters said I should be looking for! Too soon to know if she is a potential soul mate, but damn, we are definitely kindred spirits. Looking forward to meeting her in person one day soon and seeing if there is a spark. At the very least though I feel like I’ve made a great new friend. Oh, her name is Grace.

It’s interesting how things go sometimes. Double-checking to make sure this post title was unique, I came across something I had written on New Year’s Day in 2012 called “Into the Great Wide Open”. In that post, I asked the question: If by some magic you could be shown your future life, would you want to view it? I had to smile at my musings from ten years ago and think of them in terms of my current life:

And today I wondered what would the me of back then have thought upon seeing the me of today mailing a letter of such importance and yet its contents were beyond my wildest imaginings just a few short years ago.   I hope I would have laughed at the absurdity of it all.

Despite all the hopes and dreams and best-laid plans, we are after all destined to live in the moment.  I never envisioned this life that I’ve lived turning out as it did.  The detours and heartbreaks and disappointments all inevitably led me back to this place, but changed me almost completely from who that man looking down from the window way back then.  And I don’t just mean those extra pounds around my belly.  All those experiences that I never planned for, dreamed about, or even knew that I desired have not necessarily made me better, and I certainly hope not worse.  But this is who I have become, and I am glad for it.

It’s funny. Everything has changed since then (the letter was for Jee Yeun’s fiancee visa). Still, I could pose the same question to that me in 2012. This life I’m living was unimaginable back then. And yet, it may be the best life ever. It’s definitely the best life I have.

An interesting turn of events that may or may not prove to be significant. It actually began Monday evening when I was still at the Hash. I checked my Facebook and had a friend request from one of the Wednesday/Friday group hikers I’m acquainted with. I mentally shrugged, added her as a friend, and didn’t think anything more about it. Then I got this message:

Hi John. It’s Susan. Wife of Sam. Your hiking buddy. I have a friend here right now. I want you to meet her. She’s very pretty.

She will go hiking with us sometimes. She will be here on friday thru Sunday. I told her that you’re a nice and giving person. She like that. She wants to meet you and hang out with you.

Well, sounds good so far, right? The thing is, it turns out she wanted to meet up that night. By the time I found that out I was already home after a sweaty Hash hike and more than my share of beers. Susan sent me this photo of her friend to try and further entice me:

But as I said, I was in no condition to meet up that night. I did get her Facebook name and sent her a friend request. She accepted and told me she was playing pool at BarCelona while waiting for me. I broke the news that I wouldn’t be making it that night. She said we could meet the next day then. I asked her where she was staying and she told me she didn’t have a place yet. I suggested a couple of inexpensive nearby motels, wished her a good night and went to bed.

For some inexplicable reason, I woke up at 3:00 a.m. and couldn’t go back to sleep. So, I fired up the laptop and noticed the new girl was online. I shrugged it off and went about my business, then I got a message from her. I asked her where she was and she told me she was waiting for a Jeepney to Olongapo. WTF? “You didn’t get a room?” She said no, she had stayed at BarCelona until they closed. I asked what are you going to do in Olongapo at three in the morning? She didn’t know, she would just wait for me.

Okay, this was a little crazy, but I didn’t know what else to do but invite her over. At least she’d be safe here. She told me her phone battery was almost empty. I sent directions to my house and waited for her to arrive. And waited. Finally, I hear the sound of a trike approaching on the road behind my house. And then when it got to the new construction, it stopped and turned around. I figured it was her, so I shouted “where are you going?” The trike stopped again, someone got out, and the trike left. I went out front and a few minutes later a pretty young woman walked up and introduced herself “I’m Lane.” Nice to finally meet you!

As you might imagine, she was quite exhausted. I gave her a pillow and she snoozed on the couch for a while.

Tuesday is my grocery shopping day, so Lane couldn’t sleep long. I made her a nice breakfast and she come along for the trip to Royal. She seemed to get along well with my helper and my driver, that’s always nice to see. I asked if there was anything she needed at the store and she said no.

When we got back home, we were both ready for more sleep. Me being me, I tried to entice her into lovemaking, but she gently rebuffed my advances. So, we cuddled up and slept in each other’s arms. I like that too. I got up after an hour or so, she slept for three. When she woke up, I took her out to Mango’s for a late lunch/early dinner.

After our meal, I put her in a Jeepney and she headed into Olongapo to catch the bus back home to Angeles City. She wants to come back and join me for a Hash one day soon. We shall see what the future brings.

Yeah, I accepted her offer for a date.

Fifteen minutes later the big head was saying “told ya so!”. She seems like a sweet girl though and I was happy to help her out.

Walked her out of the neighborhood, then headed to Sit-n-Bull for an early supper. Had a nice chat with owner Ron then enjoyed a roast beef dinner. It looked (and tasted) so good I was almost done before I remembered I hadn’t taken a photograph. Just have to take my word for it this time.

After my meal, I went around the corner and up the stairs to BarCelona. They must have a lot of turnover because I didn’t see any of my favorite waitresses working. So, I just enjoyed my beer and the view.

Paid my tab after a couple of brews, then moved up the highway to It Doesn’t Matter for some more. A Hash buddy, Max (Nosey Bastard), came in and we had a nice chat. A bit later, the nighttime crew of waitresses arrived, including my pals Roan and Agnes. It’s hard to be lonely in this town!

Meanwhile, my friend Joy from the Hideaway bar was messaging that she didn’t have any customers and would I please come spend some money on her. Well, it was still early so I made the longish walk to help out a gal in need. A couple of more beers there and I called it a night.

So, I got an email from my landlord. The septic system and water drains have to be moved because the wastewater is intruding on the lot behind me where the house is being constructed. I can’t imagine why a bit of sewage would be a problem, but the new neighbors insist it be stopped. What that means for me is construction work in my backyard for the next 30 days or so. Oh well, maybe it will drown out the noise from the construction behind me. More concerning is there will be three days during the work where my toilets will be incapacitated as the switch is made to the new septic tank. Oh well, that’s what hotels are for, right?

And this is Hash Monday so another hike is in store. I did part of the trail on Friday’s walk, so I guess I won’t be too surprised. And I’m not shy about going my own way should I deem the work of the Hares not to be in my best interest.

Speaking of the Hash, Holy week is coming soon. That’s a really big deal in this predominately Catholic country. Our Hash tradition is to climb Easter mountain on the Monday following Easter. The photo I posted yesterday made the mountain look less challenging than it is in reality. I blame the camera! I did find a photo from the first (and only time) I made that climb. This one is looking directly down at where I was standing when I took this shot:

Stay tuned for some Hash photos tomorrow.