As long as you’re breathing, nothing is still something. I still enjoy days like yesterday, when everything is the same old, same old. Excitement isn’t a requirement for appreciating the gift of another day among the living.
Swan had business to attend to, so I took a boring Barretto street walk on my own. I brought my earbuds along and enjoyed listening to some of my old favorite songs as I got in my steps.
This is the only thing of interest that caught my eye during my walk:
Swan was still busy with her day, so I headed out at beer o’clock on my own.
Next stop, It Doesn’t Matter, where I was scheduled to rendezvous with Swan. There was only one other customer on the outdoor patio.
Swan arrived thirty minutes later and we had some grub delivered from Foodies to satisfy our appetites. Then we moved on to Wet Spot for our nightcap.
There were several other customers at Wet Spot, and one of them was particularly generous, giving each of the dancers a 100-peso tip. I’ve been known to do that in the past, and it’s a nice way to show appreciation for the hard work of performing in a bar. We enjoyed chatting with our regular waitresses, Beth and Irene, who both received two lady drinks. I was also gifted a free beer, so the good times rolled.
I’d had my fill by 8 p.m., so we headed out. Swan was craving ice cream, and we walked to the shop up the highway, only to discover that it was closed. Apparently, their machine was out of order. Who do they think they are, McDonald’s? So we grabbed a trike home, and I satiated Swan’s sweet tooth with a batch of sugar-free vanilla pudding with bananas and raisins. It served its purpose, and we went to sleep satisfied.
As anyone can see, nothing really matters to me.
Continuing with the July 2023 LTG archives, I’ve come to understand Swan’s need to grieve the passing of her longtime love, and I’ve accepted the fact that I’ll have to wait before we can explore a future relationship. I decided she was worth waiting for, and as it turned out, I was right.
For today’s YouTube video, I invite you to take a gander around my little town, including some of the places I frequent and mention here on the blog. The highway traffic does suck, but so far, at least, I’ve survived it. Fingers crossed.
Laughter is the best medicine, but doesn’t have FDA approval. Read on at your own risk:
And with that, we will lock up today’s post and throw away the key. Come back for visitors’ hours tomorrow!
It’s 1986, and the video for this song is one I’ve always enjoyed for some reason. Sad to see Palmer died in 2003 at only 54 years old.
Mac, that highway looks pretty scary to cross. Add a few lagers and you’re rolling the dice. I think the time has come to buy one of those fluorescent safety vest I see the highway repair crews wear. Perhaps a local tailor could have GWAPO emblazoned on the front and back. Since we’re talking safety, might as well add a hard hat and safety glasses to the ensemble. And finally, god-forbid all those countermeasure should fail and a trike should clip you, your final line of defense should be a Life Alert. “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up”. I’ll leave you with the line that Sergeant Phil from Hill Street Blues gave his patrol officers before they hit the streets, “Let’s be careful out there”.
Chop, In my 8+ years here, I know at least two expats who’ve been squished crossing the highway. It’s at the top of my list on ways I’m likely to die in the PI. But you roll the dice and see what happens. Mary Chapin Carpenter sang it best:
I took a walk in the rain one day on the wrong side of the tracks
I stood on the rails till I saw that train
Just to see how my heart would react
Now some people say that you shouldn’t tempt fate
And for them I would not disagree
But I never learned nothing from playing it safe
I say fate should not tempt me
I take my chances, I don’t mind working without a net
I take my chances, I take my chances every chance I get
Re : That Baretto video.
It looks absolutely horrid. Why do you choose to live in what is essentially squalor? Run down, trash everywhere, ugly people trying to cheat you.
Can you afford to live in a nice place? If you didn’t adequately prepare for your retirement or divorces ate up your savings, I might understand seeing out your autumn years living an impoverished type of livestyle. Ignoring of course a penchant for saucier proclivities such as frequenting prostitutes, underaged girls or shemales which may mot be so widely available in someplace like Croatia or Portugal.
But if you have the financial means why not smarten up and move somewhere nice?
*Shaking head in disgust* This is a genuinely grim existence, buddy.
Travers, I’m a little surprised that you would let one video shape your perception of life in the Philippines. I post pictures every day showing the natural beauty that surrounds me. Yes, there is poverty and litter, but that isn’t the whole story. I certainly feel much safer here than I would in one of those “first-world” countries where people riot, burn, and rape.
I have a generous pension income that allows me to live just about anywhere I choose. I’m happy with my decision to live among the Filipino people. I live in a gated subdivision with mountain and bay views. It’s a very comfortable life for me.
I recall how shocking it was during my first trip here as a tourist to see the poverty up close. But after a couple of days, I was overwhelmed by the genuine friendliness and happiness of the people around me. They had little materially, but the love, family, sharing, and caring were enough for them. I would never walk through the slums of Chicago or L.A., but here, I’m welcomed by smiling faces.
You can live in your rich country and pretend this world doesn’t exist. I choose to be part of the community and make life better for at least some of the people here. This life isn’t for everyone, but it works for me.