Routine

37. Today. 

I just finished reading the book "25 Lessons I've Learned about photography life" by Lorenzo Dominguez. It was given by a friend in 2012. In one of the last chapters, the author talked about a realization while living alone -

While living alone, waking up alone, going out to take pictures alone, eating alone, being alone, I became much more aware that I was not alone, that apart from other people, the world was full and overflowing with, with beauty in motion.

And that brings me to reflect on my life here in Japan. Yes, I am living alone and felt that I have already made the necessary adjustments in order to survive in a foreign land. After all, my seven-year stay is more than enough.

 

703 Candles 

After carols filled the air 

and before the fireworks upstaged the stars, 

I had my first cry. 

 The first candle I had was baby blue. 

Photographs told me so. ‘Twas Ma’s and Pa’s 

air that blew the candle off. 

 Same table but with different mantle,

 family and friends chanted 

as I blew the 105th candle. 

I was 14 then. 

 Oh how I missed that table during Decembers. 

Gone are the claps, the cheers, 

the balloons. Alone, I blew 

the 216th candle with a cold glass of cola. 

 Another set of candles will come my way, 

for a grand total of 703. Still missing that old table.  

A toast to the wind playing songs 

with unfamiliar lyrics. 

The snow outside my window confirms, 

I have another cold

birthday.

/totomai
for Poetry Pantry 234

Being a salaryman, or a regular office employee, your life revolves on a routine and it can be pretty boring. My day starts at 6 am and ends at midnight most of the time. Here’s my routing on weekdays; shower, chase the bus and train, breakfast in the office, work, lunch, work, dinner, take the train and bus, shower, sleep.

I still stay in the same apartment since returning back to Japan in 2008. And every day feels exactly the same, except on weekends.

There are times that boredom can be equated to homesickness but it’s up to me to counter these feelings. I have my cameras to make my life more interesting.

Unlike in the Philippines, December 29 is a non-working holiday (or if not, you can use your birthday leave benefit). However, in Japan it is a regular working day and that means I am working on my birthday. No one knows. Ssshhhh. 

Three more years, this birthday suit shoot will be over. I am already running out of concepts too. I have wishes and hopes of course, but I always keep them to myself.

37. Today. 

/totomai
2014/12/29