A DRIVE, A BIRTHDAY & A PAINTING

"One starts to get young at the age of sixty and then it is too late."

-Pablo Picasso

WONDERFUL WEEK-END Last Saturday was one of those special time worth blogging about. This time, my husband and I had a leisurely drive on the 405 freeway. Usually we dreaded it due to the long traffic jam. We made it to Newport Coast in about an hour and a half. We were invited to a birthday bash by a good friend named Lisa. We celebrated her 65th birthday in their time share villa on Newport Coast. The ocean view was gorgeous on a clear day. There were many guests. Everything was good. We came home loaded with good food, desserts and friendships.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION WITH FRIENDS -Norma, Lisa (birthday celebrant), Ebb and Cristina. On the food table (by the right side) there was a mobile hanging on the chandelier with a quote: "Life is too short not to celebrate a birthday party." It's true and NOT too late......to celebrate and do something fun. Never mind if the economy is messy, celebrating 65th birthday is not the time to cut back our pocketbook and let our dreams hibernate. FRIENDS THROUGH THICK AND THIN- Say cheese! "HAPPY BIRTHDAY LISA!" The lovely floral painting was my birthday gift for Lisa.

The ART OF STARTING OVER

"It's never too late, or in my case
too early, to be whoever you want to be.
There's no time limit.
Start whenever you want.
You can change or stay the same.
There are no rules to this thing.
We can make the best or worst of it.
I hope you make the best of it.
I hope you see things that startle you.
I hope you feel things you never felt before.
I hope you meet people
who have a different point of view.
I hope you live a life you're proud of,
and if you're not,
I hope you have the courage
to start all over again."
Lines from the screenplay by Erin Roth-"Benjamin Button"

STARTING OVER?????' Last week-end, my husband and I saw the movie "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." It is a modern movie miracle story. Of course, we were also curious WHY the movie has 13 Academy Award nomination - BEST picture, cinematography, screenplay, film editing, costume design, production design, director, actor, supporting actress, and ensemble. Brad Pitt is one of my favorite actors and I can't say NO to his movie. He did a brilliant performance in the title role. The movie reminding us all the of the preciousness of each passing moment. What struck me about the movie is....... "the courage to start all over again."
WHEN TO START OVER?
1.The New Year is always a good time to start over w/ unfinished projects, to undo bad habits and to repair frozen relationships and friendships. It's not too late, although it's now February.
2. Milestones like birthdays are good starting point to re-do whatever stranded goals we had. Reviewing our goals from month to month, year to year is good. If our goals are not working, let's start fixing the engine, so we can move forward.

3. Here's an oil painting of mine depicting "BIRTHDAY MILESTONES".
Medium: Oil on Canvas - Size: 48" x 30"
This is one of my paintings shown during my solo art show last September.
Birthday celebrations are very important event among Filipino and Filipino-American families. They always have big parties and fiestas for birthday milestones, especially the "First Birthday, Eighteenth, Fiftieth, Sixty-fifth, Ninetieth and One hundred Years." They celebrate with many delicious foods not just cake and ice cream. In the Filipino custom and tradition, the birthday celebrant treats the guests to a big "blow-out." American style is the opposite. Friends treat the celebrant.
4.The month of February is another RED month for birthday celebrants in our family.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY HUSBAND,RHOD!"- (February 4th)

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR SON, ROBIN!" -(February 9th)
5. Additional birthday greeting to a good friend.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO LISA!-(February 2nd)
6.When something life-shattering happens, it's an invitation to start a new life.
A traumatic event invites us to cultivate our relationship to God and we start
praying for his help.
7.Thought of the week- "Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic."