How delicious is your soul? Can you freely express your love for others?

Yesterday, I got a call reminding me to write from Fr. Rodel G.Balagtas. I could sense he was walking as he had strained breathing while I heard the sounds of his footsteps. We talked about the St. Martha mass and the generosity of the attendees in welcoming us. I attended with my classmate Elsa B. Azote, who travelled from Oceanside. She was joined by her daughter and her fiancee. Fr. Rodel offered to say mass for me, outdoors for my birthday. Instead, I will attend mass at Incarnation Church in Glendale.

Yesterday, I got this text: “We are looking forward to August 23. Dad has been working on it, and Carl and I have already determined our numbers.🙂 It is the perfect gift for you Ninang. You’ve been so giving to our family, giving of your time, guidance, affection, gifts…”

Yesterday: My fourth sibling texted me “Thank You for taking & sharing the beautiful pictures!

I love you too!💗💗🌷“

Yesterday, my #princess2015la shared the story that she won a competition, competing as the youngest one in The Gray Man Competition. “Grandma, I got 3 medals, I want to give you one. Two I won competing against my dad and my mom gave me one. I now have 3, but will give you 1.”

I responded: Yes, let me have it and I will wear it, while I write. Thank you so much.

Yesterday, another text: “BFF do not over think the article. Just write from the heart. Let it flow and then look at it again the following day. Love you!”

Today, this text. “Good morning! Thank you, Prosy, for your friendship. I woke up today with gratitude and appreciation in my heart and mind thinking of all the kindness and lessons you’ve shared with me.”

I accept the loving texts and gestures of my dearest friends. I feel like I am a spiritual millionaire, taking in the love from the universe, through my friends.

Love is action. Love is uplifting. Love is making another person, happy. Love is not subtraction nor division – those are some other spirits, love is addition and multiplication – acts of the Holy Spirit. Love is showing up to express your love, it is not making excuses.

Photo 1 – the Medallion given by my #princess2015la, a gift from her mom, my daughter.

Photo 2 – Ryan Cayabyab’s photo of Calatagan, in West Batangas. NVM Gonzalez wrote to me in an email that he went swimming here. His words were but there were no fish to have. It felt then he was saying goodbye. Days after, he passed. “He was a delicious soul,” as my Jewish feminist friend, Norma Pratt said, after meeting him in my house, decades ago.

Thank you dear Holy Spirit, through you, I feel the deliciousness of the souls of all these, my beautiful, handsome, warmhearted friends. I am embraced by their love and friendship. I am not wanting for anything more.

I am writing even without juicing and breakfast and I am honoring the creative juices, remembering my fashionable mom, a science and math teacher for more than 4 decades in Manila, in Catholic Schools in Los Angeles and in public schools of the Los Angeles Unified School District and Artesia, Bellflower and Cerritos School Districts and my writing mentor, NVM Gonzalez. Thank you all for your flames of love, warming up my heart and soul!

I am blessed beyond measure to recognize and feel all these unmerited grace.