Hi, Hive community! Remember when I blogged about surprising my best friend? You can read about it here.
"It’s been a while since we arranged a bestie date together due to our schedules not lining up. But with my work ending at 4:00 PM and plenty of social energy, I thought I could drop by her house and spend the night there. And so, the secret mission began with a trip to the Ijo Bakery."
I’m happy to say that there’s a sequel to it! Last Aug 7, Marj, my childhood best friend, said she wanted to come over and of course I said YES!
We're the kind of besties that don't really interact on a day-to-day basis. There's an unspoken understanding that nothing has changed in our friendship, no matter the distance and frequency of our meet-ups. However, when we do meet, we're both excited to share what had happened and what have we been doing.
Her Job Hunting Season Is Finally Over
Previously, I mentioned in the blog that she had been very anxious about her job hunting. She resigned last June and it was almost a month since she remained unemployed. She sent out applications and had interviews, but it seemed like nothing was working out. Then, thankfully, a company she had been eyeing sent her a job offer, although with a less favorable position.
She considered the pros and cons, mostly the compensation, which wasn’t really far different from the senior role. Finally, she decided on two things:
- She could take her time in learning the new company and new role.
- The working conditions are favorable to the pace she wants in her career path.
With excitement gleaming in her eyes, she informed me that her first day will be on August 21, 2023! I felt incredibly proud of her for taking the brave step to start anew. My intuition had said it before and I will say it again, she will be alright. I see that her heart is in the right place and her mind is sound – so everything would work out.
Her Life Updates
Meanwhile, the topic changed to her summer outing with her co-worker and it was an important turning point because this was when she handed the first two of her surprises.
“There were shells on the shore,” she began. “and I thought you would like them.”
Sure enough, she placed a large shell with a pearl-hued and speckled cream and brown pattern on my palm. Then it was followed by a smaller one with a keychain hook.
“You picked them up?” I asked.
“No, no, they sold them there,”
“Ahh, well, thank you!”
Then I glanced at my work desk and thought it would look special near the flower and wooden frame decoration.
My New Passion Project
It was my turn to share my musings and reflections. First, I shared that I've been really blessed with my work - free from toxic colleagues and no pressure to meet a writing quota. My compensation is above average and it has the potential to get higher. However, the only downside is I have to be really proactive in the tasks I'm doing. But considering everything, I am really happy.
As a result, it has given me ample time to think about my hobbies and interests. I wanted to get in touch with my inner child roots and go back to creating art. That's why I've embarked on a passion project about children's stories, more specifically, writing, illustrating, and publishing them.
Just because I enjoy doing them. That's it. So, my dear friends, I have begun writing an easy-to-read children's story entitled Hopps Works From Home, wherein Hopps, a bunny, faces a peculiar work set-up where she has a job within the comfort of her burrow. Meanwhile, her best friend, Thomps, has recently moved in next door, away from her large bunny family. Both of the bunnies would navigate through the changes in a young adult bunny's life with a sense of humor, kindness, and maturity.
Marj easily picked up that it was about my self and my friendship with her and other friends. And I felt very happy that she was one of the first people I read the first chapter out loud.
Her Unexpected Gift
Marj recalled again the time I visited her with croissants in hand and said she appreciated how I did all of that for her. To express her gratitude, she said that the way I spend my time is precious and she hopes it continues to be meaningful to me…
Can you guess what this is?
She brought out a faux leader container and asked me to open it and here’s what I saw: The light coming from the window bounced off the shiny silver metal and a round glass plate encased two moving lines.
A WATCH???
I was lost for words. It was already enough for me to see her happy, and receive the seashells, but the watch… I thought about how I never had one nor thought of getting myself one. Apart from the Disney plastic toy watches I had with lip gloss inside when I was young, the only time I wore a watch was my grandmother's watch for a special occasions. My own watch... wow.
The next pieces of accessories I wore wear rings and earrings because they expressed my queerness; on the other hand, a watch felt formal, professional, chic, and clean. But it was something that I secretly have been wanting to tap into. And it made everything so special because my best friend gave it to me! What!
I wore it on my left wrist and it gleamed once again under the sunbeam in my room. It fits like a glove, nestling on my wrist as if it finally found a home. I hugged Marj and we continued our chat over sushi.
Little did she know, I’d been wearing the watch every day and tucking it in its box every night. Truly, it moved me to tears because although I couldn’t say it in person, I treasured how she carefully searched for the right design, style, and color for me. It’s not every day that someone considers me so much in their thoughts.
In conclusion, my surprise visit has completed a full circle with Marj coming to visit me as well. She brought lovely gifts, but she is the most precious of them all.
ᴬˡˡ ᵖʰᵒᵗᵒˢ ᵃʳᵉ ᵗᵃᵏᵉⁿ ᵇʸ ᵐᵉ ᵘⁿˡᵉˢˢ ˢᵗᵃᵗᵉᵈ ᵒᵗʰᵉʳʷⁱˢᵉ
Content writer by day, mental health advocate by night. I also speak at live and virtual events about stress management, emotional regulation, self-love, and more. I have a NEW project on YouTube named Pahina Playlist, a Filipino Deep Breathing Exercise.
Outside the busy hustle of life, I am a nature and animal lover. I make sketches, paintings, and collect oddly shaped glass jars.
My creative and old soul indulges in random art projects, jazz music, afternoon tea, and reading Booksale books.
You can follow me on my advocacy page, where I share my wounded mind and healing purpose.