For they’re a jolly good fellow,—but very loud-mouthed too—that nobody can deny. Therefore, my diligent efforts to deny that yesterday was my birthday all proved futile. Okay, many decades ago, exactly on the day yesterday, a Monday—I let friends tell the year exactly—the story of my life began officially, neither with a bang nor a whimper but with a simple cry just like everybody.
I could still replay in mind vestiges of joy and happiness that did dominate this life since I was three. How can I forget those years when the regular menu was that familiar sweetened porridge “only”? But don’t you ever underestimate the power of its taste when it’s mixed superbly with testosterone-booster coconut milk and scraped young coco fiber we only cooked annually. The joy was exhilarating. The satisfaction was everlasting.
I never had the chance to blow a birthday candle from childhood to puberty until lately, but that’s insignificant as it taught me well the virtue of accepting things and event come what may. Just only four years ago that I had had my first cake, that was why I never did try neither did learn to make a birthday wish.
Early in life, despite the colors around were dull and drab, I knew already the great divide between a “have-not” and a “have.” Therefore, after I felt for the very first time that amazing feeling called “crush,” all I dreamed about was to love and be loved. To be loved by my “crush” simply. And, yes, to love Jollibee. It’s because Jollibee and my unforgettable “crush” were related to each other. She was like Lucy in the sky with diamonds which, almost like Jollibee, were seemed to be forever.
I first heard the word Jollibee back in the first semester of 1984, from a sojourner in our house named Ms. Cora Alinea, then a UDMC Cubao Nursing senior. Along with her another gal classmate and obviously close buddy, they came for OJT elsewhere in the province for a week stay.
Oh, how lovely and wonderful that strange feeling for a stranger was, of an innocent creature’s in his puberty for his first serious “crush.” If I could only put that one-week time with her in a bottle when my heart did beat abnormally fast, I’m sure I would, just to make those mem’ries last.
Yesterday, it was a good thing there was a celebration in my workplace courtesy of our supervisor, although I was not around for I believe that when I’m on duty, it’s always business before pleasure. Of course, I have had readied myself for a treat though with only a little budget for it, but when I happened to drop by in a hospital for a confined relative I know what to do when the matter’s between life and death.
I never cease to dream that one day I could celebrate my birthday right inside Jollibee no matter how it’s too late. Just like my hope that Ms. Cora Alinea would show up one day and treat me at its very first store in Cubao to fulfill her promise.
But if ever on my succeeding—God willing—birthdays, there’ll be again some more pressing need, to cancel the celebration of joy—or Chickenjoy for that matter—I know I will never hesitate. Like God for us sinners to repent, He’s here today to give that chance, and to accommodate. Thus, if you have that real desire now to surrender as well your life to Him, you better grab it.
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