Kidding Around

There is always something about traveling on a long and winding road that gets me all sentimental. I often find myself looking at my fellow passengers and wondering what their life is like, what are they thinking and most importantly- are they happy? Afterwards, I turn to myself and ask the same questions. Am I happy? I don't know for sure. I know I try to be. Someone once said, “happiness is a choice.” So it IS up to us to make the decision.

Today as I was riding a jeepney on my way home from school, I sat across a mother and her daughter. From the first look, it was quite evident that the woman works in the market. She carried with her a sack of corn or potatoes, maybe, and wore a light cotton shirt and cargo shorts. Shortly after handing their payment for the fare, the woman drowsed off and left me with only the little girl beside her to observe. The girl with her worn-out rubber sandals and Dora the Explorer t-shirt was a perfect picture of innocence and middle class life. Her hair was neatly tucked into place with a simple ponytail- no adornments of flowers and butterflies whatsoever. And so despite how plain that little angel was, my eyes could not stop staring. I forgot to mention that lately I have been obsessing on kids, young girls in particular. I feel all warm and fuzzy when they're around. I could just play with them all day long. Anyway, there I was fixed on the little girl who was overpowering with her sweet simple adorable-ness. And to escalate the cuteness effect, to my surprise, she started singing. And not even the current songs of today but those that belong to my parents' era. I desperately tried to stifle a wide smile during that whole encounter but it was just too much. Soon, I found myself softly singing with her. We cooed to Martina McBride's My Valentine, local hits like Sana Maulit Muli and Pagdating Ng Panahon , and many more.

Then when it was time for the little girl and her sleeping beauty mother to get off the jeep, I felt a tinge of curiosity. I wondered if people saw me the way I saw the kid. I wondered if beneath all this ordinary, awkward and flawed self, others could still see potential and beauty. I was amazed with that girl, being young as she is but still able to appreciate the grand music conceived even before she was. It was a gift and I was proud to have witnessed it. Us, people nowadays look for the dirty spots on a clean canvass and I wish it would not be that way anymore. I wondered if people looked at me when I was younger and made guesses on what and who I was going to be. I hoped it was something good, something positive, something like what I saw in that little girl.