Historian’s Nook

A week ago, I purchased another set of books from Booksale Harrison Plaza.  (Personally, I consider all Booksale shops to be my favorite tambayan whenever I can and wherever there is one.)  And if my personal tally (or catalogue?) is right, I finally have bought my 1000^th book.  It’s about China and its ideology and economic reforms during the time of Deng Xiaoping.  Lethal subject indeed.  And perhaps a lot of people wouldn’t be able to appreciate this book that much..  Hey, but this is me…

Purchasing my Book #1000 was truly was a momentous event!  Ha ha ha!  OA na raw masyado ito.  He he he…

A close friend in high school once told me that ‘to age is to divine’.  I really wasn’t able to grasp this idea during those time (no, not yet), not until I started teaching and slowly discover that my students are now becoming a lot, lot, lot younger than I am.  Most of them weren’t even born during the tumultuous EDSA Revolution of 1986!  And more surprisingly, some of them are now even teachers in their own right.  Man!  Indeed people age as time goes by and most of them do not notice this fact of life (or doesn’t want to?).  But then again, the important thing is that all of us must age gracefully with the passing of time.  Siyempre naman…

Another birthday, another year added to my biological age.  The hell with old age.  Is there a way out?  What the heck.  I’m sure all of you (readers) will also pass this way.  No ifs and buts.  Then again, the more important question for me is this: What significant things have I done in the past?  Am I happy?  Am I contented?  Am I satisfied?  Surely, the Benevolent Buddha would remind me, ‘Life is full of suffering iho, and you always suffer because you are constantly wanting’.  A fact of life, just like natural selection, law of supply and demand, and many others.  Indeed, human wants are unceasing.  Unending.  And that’s why the science (or art?) of economics is integral for all of us – we must produce, distribute, and allocate goods and services in our society.  Hail to Smith, Marx, Keynes, and other economists!  And we must also keep in mind that scarcity is another fact of life.  Lahat na lang…

But going back, am I really contented?  Am I satisfied with where my life’s taking me to?  Have I lived my life the way a life should be lived by a living person like me?  I dunno exactly.  Perhaps.  I may have done several grave mistakes in the past but as the old reliable excuse goes, ‘I’m only human’.   Truly, I’m thankful for another year that has been added, for another birthday that has to be remembered (not necessarily celebrated), for all the love and blessings I have received during the past twelve months, especially those showered by my family and loved ones (and also those showered by a very generous publishing house in the form of issued paychecks and honorariums), for all the friendships I made with all kinds of people all year round, for all my students who continue to inspire me to do simple things and yet be of significance to the life of others.  And all these I will bring as I embark on this journey called life.  Yeah right…

Indeed, to age is to divine.  Live your life to the fullest.  ‘Live with care, life has no spare’ as one tagline goes.  Another year, another birthday.  No frowns, no regrets.  Why?  Because this is my life…