Deliriously Happy

There is nothing like good pizza, good stories, and a good-looking woman to make your day. My officemate tells me that my guest looked like Sam Oh. But I remember her as my OJT, many many years ago, when the Online Learning Center still existed.

I marvel at our similarities... She was Chinese-Filipino with a Filipino howe (girlfriend/boyfriend)... I was a Filipino with a Chinese-Filipino howe... Both of us had our fair share of pains with our clandestine relationships... and last but not least... we were both very sensitive souls... and we would find ourselves both crying about the crazy things happening in our lives back then.

She amused me with her stories about Oracle consultancy projects at Philippine Airlines, finding work in the US, and telecommuting. I did not tell her then, but the similarities were just too bizaare: I had been doing my fair share of consulting work with ADB, I was considering some interesting overseas opportunities, and I was doing some telecommuting work for some clients.

But the similarities ended there. She and her howe had chosen to get married, and she was eagerly awaiting returning to the US to rejoin her husband who works as a SPED teacher. I had chosen a different path since losing a relationship of seven years. With my howe, I had lost touch and let go.

At the end of about an hour, my OJT left and I was at an emotional high.

It was empowering for me to be reminded about my power of choice. And I was glad that many years ago, I made the right choice to reach out to this person.

To Teena, thanks for making my day.