If you haven’t heard of Mark Hildreth’s music yet, you will! Check out his music! His CD is ready for purchase too! I can’t stop playing it and the lyrics are full of honestly and love.
Monday of this week, Yumi had me over for waffles and tea. She put out all the accessories for dressing our warm fluffy waffles that she made with her handy electric waffle-maker. “I think everyone should have one of these,” she said with a deep appreciation for her kitchen gadget. I was very excited about sharing this afternoon snack with Yumi. It is not often that we are able to take a couple of hours in the middle of a weekday to share in a sweet treat and chatter.
I enjoyed my waffles and tea with Yumi so much that the very next day, I phoned her up and asked to borrow her waffle-maker. I had the idea that I could make a batch of waffles at home and freeze them for a later date. This way, I could enjoy homemade Belgian waffles at home too. So I did just that. I spent part of tuesday afternoon making waffles, packaging them for the freezer and eating a few too. This morning, I delighted in taking a waffle out of the fridge, warming it up in the oven and having it with strawberries and bananas for breakfast. Late last night, I also invited Christina over for a waffles and tea session, since I still have the waffle-maker and enjoy making them so much. So at 3:00pm today, we took joy in making more waffles, with strawberries and bananas and whipping cream and maple syrup.
While we sat at the table enjoying our waffles, Christina mentions a place in the US that serves chicken and waffles. I thought that sounded odd. But I guess I can appreciate savoury and sweet combos. And then we talked up a vision of an eatery that served only waffles and teas. I like pancakes and I really enjoy crepes too. And thanks to Yumi and her waffle-maker, I’ve discovered that I also love waffles and tea!
The other evening, I met a woman who served me my meal at a Japanese restaurant who helped me put my current challenges into perspective. Let’s call her Ate (ah -teh). She immigrated to Canada from the Philippines alone and took work as a nanny, as many immigrant Filipinas do. And for the past ten years, her part-time job has been with the restaurant where we met. I was struck with admiration for this woman who is now 50 (but looks 40) for how graciously she does work that is well below her capabilities and potential.
Still at 50, she works two jobs! And there I am 31, the one being served, with no job. Her face lit up when I told her that my work is in the arts. I told her about the Aswang movie and her excited response was just enough encouragement to help me escape my pessimism. The look in her eyes as she eagerly asked to hear news of my next project reminded me how this time of unemployment is valuable. I have a lot of work of my own I want to develop and now I have the time to bring forth those ideas into action! And it just feels different and new because for the first time in a very long time, the impetus to work and create is for me and the pure joy of creating and learning. Previously, I would take on work to fulfill a requirement for school, to gain approval from my family, my mentors, and very practically, I’ve taken work purely to make money. That just won’t do anymore. I am committing myself to creating a life in which my work is playful and valuable to for me, and then, and only then will my work have the highest value I have to offer for the world. Meeting Ate reminded me of why it is important that I build my skills as a storyteller through the arts; something I have struggled to get permission to do, to get acceptance to do, and to get paid to do. And now I’m coming into a recognition that all the struggle was within myself; between what I wanted and what I believed to be possible. I am reminded that uplifting one’s Self is uplifting the whole of humanity. Do what you love. Be where you love to be. And the how of your life will Be Love. It begins with believing. That’s my theory, anyway.
My parents immigrated almost 30 years ago with valiant hearts and bright dreams of bringing their children into a world of possibities in Canada. They did this because they believed in possibilities despite many things unknown. When I begin to feel doubtful, I’ll think of my parents and the hopeful eyes of Ate, who saw great possibilities where I was failing to look.
