A Night of Reflection and Nostalgia

Tonight, as I looked at myself in the mirror, it dawned on me that 2004 was a lifetime ago. There, staring back at me, was a girl twice the size of my old self, getting ready for a weekend coffee date with my husband. No matter how busy our work week gets, we make sure to carve out quality time together, as if we don’t already spend 24/7 together, both working remotely from home. Still, quality time *IS* quality time together.

As I reminisced about how bustling the streets of downtown Ormoc City were 20 years ago, my mind wandered to twentysomething us, painting the town red with booze and beyond, bar hopping like there was no tomorrow, chugging beer like we were putting out fires in our bellies. 

Now, it’s eerily quiet where the parties used to rage. The people at the table near us were engrossed in conversations about their work lives, clocking in, keeping timers, and billing clients by the hour. At another table, a big family gathered, from toddlers to teens, obviously enjoying a bonding moment.

My mind flashed back to our usual watering hole, which was always full of tables with people we exchanged stories with—mostly peers, schoolmates, and even rivals. We were united by one common thing: we were party animals, and we knew how to have a good time without getting killed, arrested, or committing a crime. We drank with everyone within arm's reach.

Social distancing was unheard of back then, and we literally rubbed elbows with everyone who’s anyone. I suddenly missed the servers and bartenders who we knew personally and who gave us free shots, while I now slurped my extra caffeinated Java Chip frappe. How far I’ve come from shots of tequila chased down with ice-cold Red Horse beer. 

The aesthetically designed coffee shop we were at now in 2024 played lo-fi music instead of the all-too-familiar electronic dance or house music that was on constant replay on my old iPod. It had a really lovely ambiance, and I savored every moment because I’m still with the love of my life, my best friend, soulmate, and leading man… my cariño mio.

We spent the rest of our night walking around the dining district, where most shops were already closed, simply enjoying the cool night breeze. We talked about how the caste system was a real thing before, where people had to be matched according to their social classes, being shunned by their families when they fought for love, or in some cases, having to elope. We shuddered at the thought of it, had we been subjected to something like that. 

Our evening was briefly interrupted when our son, NoodleLito, called to ask for the Apple ID password, jolting me back to reality and reminding me of how much technology has advanced. Now, I can see someone's face to talk to them, and can’t express my annoyance, unlike before, when I could flip my phone hard when I wanted to “slam” it.

Everyone younger than us probably flocked to a new spot in the city where all the cool kids hung out, especially since there was a tattoo event happening tonight. But the crowd just isn’t for us anymore. Loud music gives me a mother-lovin' migraine, and I really don’t want to be screaming my lungs out and then losing my voice when I have back-to-back Zoom meetings on Mondays. 

So, we drove around the city proper for a bit, enjoying the traffic-less streets of Ormoc, a place that still feels like a sleepy town even as it progresses economically. My heart belongs here, though I sometimes dream of what it'd be like to live in a rural town in Okinawa with colder weather and better sushi.

We decided to conclude the night and head home when we realized we were low on gas. Lo and behold, we still don’t have a 24-hour gasoline station. When we arrived home, we didn’t immediately go in because, naturally, you’d have people/neighbors/friends to greet you. It’s more fun talking outside on the street, standing up for another hour, than actually going in and sitting down.

Looking up, it seemed the skies were going to be a killjoy again and rain cats and dogs soon, so we called it a night. Here's a fact: I’m the person who’s cleaning their house at 2 AM, doing the laundry, and watering their plants—not because I’m on drugs, but simply because my body clock is different and I’ve thrived working graveyard shifts for two decades now. 

Once the torrential downpour started, the lights went out, signaling I ought to take advantage of this “bed” weather. Unfortunately, the caffeine was too strong for me to hit the sack, so here I am writing this post at 3 AM. Thank goodness for cellular data and Fallout Radio.

But I guess now that the lights are back, the water is probably back (yes, unfortunately, the water in Ormoc gets cut off every time it rains). I’m ready for a warm shower so I can change into my favorite pajamas and cuddle with my family. A perfect end to a Saturday night… or maybe I’ll stay up a little bit more and do a K-drama marathon.