Monday, September 28, 2009

Inspiring... and Inspired!

"You know, in your next job, if they don't like you, they'll love you. It's one or the other, nothing less." - what a sweet compliment from a colleague at work! After having been away from healthcare field for so many years, and to hear such words - WOW!!

I've learned in life to never be short on praises for others. Give credit where credit is due. And, most important, be sincere. Say what you feel and feel what you say. It doesn't matter how others take it (or mistake it!). Don't hold back 'cause it may come at a time when someone needs it most and/or, in return, it may come at a time when you need it most.

I remember playing the piano at Nordstrom one day when the music director of the Southwest Division came to meet with the store manager. Thinking it was Monday, he was surprised to see me playing, but that was Tuesday. This was when the economy was going down the first time about the early 2000s, and Nordstrom was cutting down the piano schedule to just the weekends. When some of the employees saw him by the piano, they approached him and asked him to keep me there 'cause, they said, everybody liked me.

You know, except for the flagship store that kept the piano playing everyday, I was the only pianist left to play on a weekday among all Nordstrom stores so rumors had it that I was kept because I was a "great pianist!" Shhh, I wasn't gonna say anything, but can you believe that? All other stores stopped the piano playing on weekdays. Quite a few pianists lost their Nordstrom gig.

My colleagues' feedback came at a time when I needed it the most and what perfect timing, too! I was playing the piano right there when he came - on the wrong day!! If my colleagues didn't see us together, they might not have approached him as not everyone knew him. That wasn't his main store, he was just visiting.

 Now is that luck or what?!

Saturday, September 26, 2009

When it rains, it pours!

Two job offers, back to back, on the same day
Sometimes I get lucky, other times, luckier
With the job market that is today
And I get interviews and offers?!
Count all my blessings
I'm proud, I'm humbled
Praise the Lord
Thank you, Lord.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SEPTEMBER!

To the birthday celebrants
Migoy, Ponch, Tony
Am I missing anyone? 
And you, too, I greet you 
Happy Birthday
Celebrate, have fun, everyone!!

Autumn

Colors of fall as leaves a-changing -
Green, blue, purple, red, crimson
Orange, yellow, golden, brown...
They answer to Nature's calling

The grandeur of Autumn abounds
From up the skies down to the grounds
Mountains' mighty majesty unfolds
Breath-taking sight, all glory, behold!

(copyright 2009 Socorro de Castro)

Saturday, September 19, 2009

40th Death Anniversary

On Sep 18, 2009, at 9:05 AM, Cesar Ejerta wrote:




Hi, Inday, & Nonoy,
Today (18th) marks Mama's (Caring) 40th anniversary and thought of writing you guys about it.
When Mama came back from the States in September'68 wth Lola Ceria ( both Bless their Souls), I remember how I feel about it and how more loving she was with us, experiencing the good life in the States, attending the wedding of Tita Helen and (the late) Tito Carding and how wonderful to meet relatives and friends living here in the US. But one memorable thought that was planted in my brain then that Mama shared with me and still with my habits after 40 long years was something passed on from a priest, a chaplain in the Lourdes Hospital, and goes something like these... "everytime you see (meet) people in the streets, and everywhere, specially the handicapped, the sick, the poor, and the elderly... whisper in prayer... Bless this person with what he needs most... Bless him in his difficulty,... Bless him with better opportunity,... and Bless his soul." And you will be Blessed as well in return.
Lola Ceria is marking her 18th death anniversary tomorrow (19th) and allow me to remember her as well and one of her words of wisdom,
"Pray for good and better opportunities" not money or material things, as they will come by with you later...
I thank them for these words of wisdom today and God Bless you all.
Much Love,
Bambi


This is a beautiful letter by my cousin, Bambi, to his younger sister, Inday, and brother, Nonoy, on the 40th anniversary of their Mom's death. With his permission, I'm posting it here in her memory. I had just written a post, On Their Anniversaries...

"There's Somethin' about Wayne"

Called up my eye doctor today about something in my eye that was bothering me. After a few questions and instructions to do with my eyes, he said, "Not to worry."

There's just something special about him, the way he talks, what he says to his patients, and especially how he says things. Lemme try to explain, lemme think what to say and how to say it, then you'll understand.

On their Anniversaries...

Remembering tita Gloria, tita Caring and lola Ceria on their death
anniversaries this month of September - my grandma and 2 sisters of my Mom.
They passed away on different years of the same month.

Love to you all. Rest in peace. Amen.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Post Script

These are words coming out. Still don't know if it's poetry or a song. I'll let it be.

Song or Poem

LOVE and CONNECTION

Is this love?... Are you connecting?
Are you in love... or denying?
There are hints... there are signs
Yet nothing's clear... what is it?
Is it fear?... why is it?
What's holding you back?... Time, perhaps
What's taking time?... Love, perhaps

Is it love?... Are you connecting?
Are you in love... or denying?

There are hints... there are signs
Yet nothing's clear... what is it?
Is it fear?... why is it?
What's holding you back?... Love, perhaps
What's taking time?... Time, perhaps

Love to Be

LOVETOBE
On a license plate
A hint??
LOVE BE IT.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Comment on - Check This Out!

WOW! Indeed, an amazing sand drawing!

The whole act, with the lighting of the candle before and after, the music, the artistry, was a beautiful ritual! It told a complete story. It was a total performance by the artist! It was PERFECTION!!

BRAVO - To Kseniya Simonova, from Ukrania!

Check This Out!!

Amazing Sand Drawing on Yahoo! Video

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Remembering... Deena

On her anniversary today...


Remembering Deena...
My mother-in-law, New Yorker
Beautiful, classy, elegant
Passionate about life and music

Remembering Deena...
She adored me! I don't know why but she did
I would have been content just being loved or liked
I don't know what I did to deserve it
When my side of the family met her for the first time
They whispered to me, "She adores you!"
She just did!

Remembering Deena...
And our Saturday mornings at Starbucks with Norman
She'd pick us up early morning from her night work on weekends
Have our coffees and hot chocolate and muffins and scones
With soft guitar music on the background

Remembering Deena...
Flamboyant with her looks from head to toe
The way she dressed, her make-up on all the time
"Always ready either for a talent scout or a mortician!"

Remembering Deena...
Her sense of humor, her laughter, infectious
Her keen sense of appreciation for music
And a deep understanding of it, quite impressive
As she proudly talks of her 2 musician sons,
"They got their talent from me", she'd teased them.

Remembering Deena...
I've never seen nurses loved a patient so much
The nurses even kissed her
I had never seen that before,
The nurses simply adored her!

Deena lifted their spirits up
When they were all exhausted from the day's and night's work
Going from one room to another to answer to other patients' calls and complaints
Deena just never complained, her smile inspired them...

When she was brought back to the ICU from the rehab
And the nurses who took care of her before learned about it,
They took time to visit her and later prepared a room back on their floor ready for her.

At both centers, she was loved, well taken care of until her last breath...

Remembering Deena...
So much to say, yet never enough
Thanks for everything, Mom,
You were an inspiration to so many of us
Coming in full circle, you were adored and loved!


(Copyright 2009 Socorro de Castro)

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Things to Remember

Got this email from my aunt, Perla, and it's beautiful so I'm sharing it with you -
Things to Remember in our Lifetime - by Perla Gabuya, M.D.

THINGS TO REMEMBER
1) BE TRUE TO YOURSELF AS TO WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO ACHIEVE IN YOUR LIFETIME
2) BE HONEST AND SINCERE TO OTHERS AS WHAT YOU EXPECT OTHERS TO BE HONEST AND SINCERE TO YOU
3) LEAVE NO REGRETS FOR THINGS THAT YOU REALLY WORKED HARD FOR BUT FAILED TO ACHIEVE
4) LEARN TO LOVE AND OTHERS WILL LEARN TO LOVE YOU
5) LEARN TO LIVE FOR THE MOMENT AND LEARN TO LET GO

GOD BE WITH YOU

PERLA

P. S. Thanks for sharing, tita Perla.

Friday, September 11, 2009

On a Personal Note...

Dulce, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, today, September 11! You know that in our hearts, your family's, your friends', your classmates', 9/11 is your birthday. Celebrate! Have fun! Enjoy!

Agnes, I remember your personal grief with the loss of your loving mother on 9/11/01. Mamang, she was fondly called, her name was also Dulce.

So strange that my cd, Socorro, reflecting "on life and death, on birth and dying, joy and pain, on what is and what is not, on everything and nothing...", also reflected on 2 very special people with the same name, Dulce, one, younger, the other, older, one celebrating her birthday, and the other, passing on, on the same day, 9/11. I didn't realize its significance till I was writing down my liner notes on my album. Strange as it may seem, it's sacred, it's beautiful.

My composition, DAY OF REMEMBRANCE, remembers both Dulces.

I love you both. I love you, too, Agnes.

9/11

Today is the 8th anniversary of 9/11. Normally, I'd watch all the news, documentaries about it on tv, the annual rites, etc., but today, Norman is off, and he doesn't want to watch any of these.
Originally from NY, and witnessing how the World Trade Center was built from beginning to end, driving around it everyday on his way to and from his rehearsals with his rock bands, MOUNTAIN and, later on, HAMMER... then seeing it on tv live as it collapsed, Norman feels violated... I respect his feelings.

I've just called up my cousin, Zenaida, in NY. Every year, I call her on this day. She's one of the survivors of the WTC attack along with another cousin, Joe, from the 81st floor of both towers -

When we finally connected on the phone, the day after the attack, I learned from her that the elevator she took coming down was the very last elevator that made it to the ground floor. All the rest had stopped!! She said when the announcement to evacuate the building was made, she rushed to the elevator.

In 1993, when the WTC was bombed, she was there, too. She and thousand others were stranded inside the building for about 5 hours before they were allowed to leave using only the stairways. It took her and others from the 88th floor about 2 1/2 hours to reach the ground.

This is why on 9/11, without hesitation, she took the elevator. That's how she got out.
When she saw the 2nd plane hit the South Tower from the street where she was standing, she knew... she knew, at that very instant, that the plane went through her office right through her corner desk on the 81st floor!! I asked her how she knew from the ground what floor was struck, she said, "I've worked there for 15 years, I would look thru my window everyday and know exactly the angle at which the sun hits which building, the heights of the surrounding buildings on my floor, standing at my corner, sitting at my desk, looking up at my office from the streets from all sides..."

Sure enough, when the news came out later, "... the 2nd plane went right between the 79th and 83rd floors of the South Tower."

One day, months later, my cousin told me, "In any disaster where you're trapped in a building, DON'T EVER TAKE THE ELEVATOR!!"
"But it saved your LIFE!!" I literally yelled at her.
"DON'T EVER TAKE THE ELEVATOR."
I kept telling her it saved her life!
Looking back, her voice cracking on the other end of the line, she softly said, "what if...".


My other cousin, Joe, to this day, will not talk about 9/11... I respect his silence.


I wrote a music composition entitled, DAY OF REMEMBRANCE, in memory of 9/11/2001. It's in my debut album, Socorro.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Jai Guru Dev

Today, 09/09/09, is my 25 years of doing Transcendental Meditation! My mother and I learned TM in Manila together on 09/09/84 and my brother, Mike, followed exactly a month later...What precious gift!

Right now, I just wanna be by myself, I need my time alone, so if you'd excuse me...

I'll be back.

Jai Guru Dev.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Connecting...

Something told me to call my mom home just when Norman was starting to set the table for dinner, (he hates it when I have so many "ceremonies" just when we're ready to do something else!!). I usually call my mother lunch time in MNL but today I called her breakfast time there, don't know why.

Again, the word that showed on the phone as soon as I pressed the button (and it was the wrong button, too!) was "Connecting".

Connect... Connection

Lately, this word has been calling my attention. Beginning with that extraordinary experience I had on the bus last Aug 29, then the "RELAX AND RESTORE WITH CRYSTAL BOWL " class when the teacher's words, "Love and Connection" struck the right chord, and then today, on a bus advertisement in big letters, and just a while ago on Jay Leno's article, "Persistence Pays off!" on SF Chronicle's PARADE Magazine, YOU CAN GET A JOB NOW!, (I have no doubt about it!). I see it everywhere - Connect, Connection, Connect... It kinda reminds me of that old old movie, OH GOD!, with John Denver, d'ya remember that? Did you ever see that? And BRUCE ALMIGHTY with, who was in it, Jim Carrey.

I'm in a totally different world, different space, when this happens, you've ever had that experience? I'm sure you have. Anyway, it's tellin' me something.

Speak to me, Lord, for I'm listening.

Today is Mother Mary's Birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOTHER MARY!

I love You... I thank you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Hey, Welcome Back!

How was your weekend? Where'd you go?

I went to a barbecue party at a friend's house, or rather, mansion, nearby. She's got an elevator in the house, would you believe, a mini entertainment/movie theatre, a popcorn room, a beautiful, intimate chapel, (my favorite part of the house!), a master's bedroom to die for, 2 grand pianos, (and that's why we click, she loves to sing and I love to play the piano. Music is a natural high, who needs drugs??), a garage with marble tiles, what else! And she's one of the most humble people I've ever met in my life, how can you beat that!!


Well, welcome back to my home... Someday, we'll be talking in my mansion. I believe in dreams...

Remember that "serendipitous coincidence" I had at the gym last week? Well, today, Tuesday, after Tai chi, I was going to my yoga class when I remembered the incident. So I wondered if I should take pilates again. After vacillating between the two, I finally went to the pilates class, and you know what, clearly, it's what I needed.

You'd think it's no big deal but, always, we should listen to our bodies.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Question

How do we know when to give up or when to let go?
We don't give up, we just let go.

When do we let go?
You know when.

When?
You'll know.

How do we know when we know?
When you know, YOU KNOW.

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Hardly anybody at church today! Everybody took some time-off. Shouldn't LABOR DAY be the only day of the year when we should all go to work and the rest of the year, be off?! Wish I were Oprah, Donald Trump, Barbra Streisand, Beyonce, all the rich and famous musicians!

Someday, one day, I'll be a GREAT musician, rich and famous, if not in this lifetime, in the next!

Once I said this to a friend who, at the time, was studying to become a life coach. She asked, "Why wait till the next lifetime, why not now? Are you giving up?"

I said, "No, I'm not giving up. I DON'T give up. I DON'T KNOW how to give up! I'm just detached."

It's our human nature to chase our dreams, that's why we can't let go. But our Divine Nature KNOWS, that's why we can!

My 2 cents worth!! Okay, 1 cent, recession!...Go enjoy the weekend! Be safe. See you later.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Experiencing God

After a glimpse of enlightenment...a tiny glimpse
After surrendering...completely surrendering -

God is Huge...Beyond Huge...

Beyond Thought...Beyond...

Michael Jackson (1958-2009)

Norman's watching an old Beatles' movie on tv, A HARD DAY'S NIGHT, in the living room... wait, breaking news -
Michael Jackson is finally buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in L.A.

How sad, a young man gone too soon - An icon, a phenomenon, a legend!

I'm speechless... so much I want to say about him, but ... can't talk.


Goodbye, Michael. Your legacy lives on... Rest in peace.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Love and Connection

In our yoga class today, the teacher said something that struck a chord with me, "LOVE and CONNECTION". I don't know yet what will come out of it, a poem, a song...

Renewed

How wonderful that I didn't waste a single moment to renew myself with the Relax and Restore with Crystal Bowls Class at the gym this afternoon especially after chastising myself for spending too much time on blogging! The class is offered on first Thursday of each month only! Perfect timing! My first time, too! A fresh start...

On blogging, writing...

Boy, this new passion is addicting! This is it!! Gotta discipline myself. Gotta find a job! Gotta prepare for my concert! - GOTTA, GOTTA, GOTTA!!

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

A Glimpse of Enlightenment

Walking in my neighborhood the other day, I decided to go to a bookstore. I love inspirational books, CDs, greeting cards, and the like. There was one I saw by Rumi -

DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT........... SURRENDER

At that moment, that VERY moment, something inside me, I, completely surrendered.

That night, for the first time in my life, or should I say,...Finally, I realized what I wanted to be "when I grow up."

Took this long??...

Today, Charise sang her debut single, A Note to God, at OPRAH'S. While listening, I realized I had my own personal note to God -

Thank you, Lord.

OPRAH

Just came back from the gym again and watched a rerun on Oprah, THE WORLD'S SMARTEST AND MOST TALENTED YOUNG KIDS!!, which included Charise, the phenomenal singer from the Philippines. Boy, she makes me so proud to be a Filipino! You, go, girl!

What Oprah has done to help these children fulfill their dreams, how she has touched millions of lives all over the world, inspired them, motivated them, all of us!! Words can never describe OPRAH enough!!

Simply, she is one beautiful woman, one beautiful human being, one beautiful soul to have lived in our lifetime! It is my wish to meet her in person.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Serendipity, Coincidence, or What??

I was in my yoga class when, little by little, I realized it wasn't yoga we were doing. We had a substitute teacher I've never met before so I thought she simply had a different style of warming up but it went on and on. You know what, though, she was REALLY GOOD!! I enjoyed so much I stayed for her hardcore class next! After we finished, I decided to check the class schedules for September when I realized today was Tuesday and my yoga class was on the 3rd floor. Thinking today was Thursday I went to the 2nd floor where I go for my other yoga class. Well, it was pilates!

Serendipitous, coincidental?

According to Wikipedia -
Serendipity is the effect by which one accidentally discovers something fortunate especially while looking for something totally unrelated.
Coincidence is the noteworthy alignment of two or more events without obvious causal connection.

Today was a fortunate incident - Serendipitous?? But nothing happens accidentally and unrelated!! Things happen for a reason. Everything in the universe, aligned or misaligned, is connected, we're all connected, obvious or not, - Coincidental??

What happened today was what my body needed. I'm happy, and it's no accident!