Charmed Life

Gretheline Genciana Ramos-Bolandrina

Wishes

"May your family bring you love and contentment always. May your circle of friends grow wider. May happiness follow you wherever you are. And may God's blessings be upon you in great abundance."

It isn't from a greeting card. It isn't on a poster somewhere. Neither is it a song, but it can probably carry a melody. A light, heartfelt one. It's a birthday wish a high school friend of ours, Aida, sent all January celebrants in our HS e-mail group. She's always had a wonderful way with words, the calming, healing kind, the wisdom to share with others and mostly, the kindness to impart the gestures with.

Morena with long black hair, soft spoken yet she's in the top ten in our class, IV-1. Out of a graduating class of over 500, that's quite a feat. She speaks her piece clearly and humbly. Very level-headed and even-tempered, she is someone your parents would love to see you hang out with. I remember her stories about her family, her siblings carrying their titles, Ate, Ditse, Sanse, Kuya, Diko. The last time I saw her was our High School graduation in 1983. Shortly after our freshman year in college, her family moved to Illinois. We corresponded but not regularly. I treasure her words of wisdom and genuine friendship. No pretense, she'd say it as it is. In all honesty. She knew how to maturely deal with suitors/admirers. Another plus considering the rest of the teenage population would either gush or meekly blush. Waxing poetic, she could have been a "Maria Clara" but having only the positive attributes. When I first arrived in Boston, she was one of the first friends to contact me. Our correspondence is still on again, off again. Though our friendship is such, as sporadically as it seems, every time we get in touch, be it phone, snail mail or e-mail, we just pick up where we left off. We have yet to see each other in person again, after so many years. I'd say, Aida's living her own charmed life with her hubby and their two boys. I know she's got the giving heart. She's helped out with my medical mission group in the past. I can truthfully say, I am blessed to have shared wonderful high school days with Aida. Learning and giving. I look back with many fond memories. Miss Bote-dyaryo days, rehearsals after rehearsals, playing the guitar, singing "Killing me softly". . . Her radiance must be shining through and brightening more people's lives in her part of the world. Sharing the light. An inspiration. To you, my dear friend, my wish. May you continue to shine brightly, may God shower you with blessings commensurate to all the love and caring you've shown others. Peace and happiness, always.

Feel free to e-mail me reactions, comments and or suggestions for ideas to ponder. Contact me at Gretheline@aol.com or through Carousel Productions.