played pickupsticks with jas

"ice cream!", everybody suddenly cried out.
hot summer is here and birthday feasts in the philippines almost always end with a gallon (or 2 half gallons of different flavors) of ice cream.

it was gracey's birthday and we gathered around to check what flavor we would be having but knowing full well we'd definitely had to have a taste of both.

there was no ice cream scooper. i took it upon myself to serve the ice cream using a soup laddle. "this is servanthood." i announced after kuya jaime initiated (or was it a email) a discussion on the subject. "we tried washing each other's feet once..", i remembered jean sharing. "but it definitely was an awkward time!", charm recalled.

so, i started scooping. since i frequent ice cream parlors/booths/stations, i have observed how ice cream is made to be served roundish. using a soup laddle is not an excuse not to make the ice cream fat and round before letting it sit on a cone.

there had been no problem until ate nestine wanted hers to be a mixture of two flavors and of little quantity each. she took my scooper, and made herself a serving of ice cream of her preference. then i objected, saying, "but ate, that is not round enough! it won't sit well on the cone.. let me.."

"joy has servanthood issues!" faith shouted. and we all broke into laughing fits. "how controlling! she won't allow anyone near the ice cream containers.." "and she's holding on to the box of cones so no one else can scoop ice cream on their own!"

thus "ice cream test" was born. where the scooper's desire to serve is tested -- to serve in her own terms or to serve to other people's delight.

that night,
1. i was reminded to live the moment and that i still can (thank you gracey for pointing this out to me)
2. it was affirmed that death is inevitable so say your eulogies to each other now (we brought flowers too!)
3. aliks was wishing us to choose to dance no matter what (yes, he sang for gracey..)
4. i learned that there is actually a bird of paradise flower and ram (and charm) are ever to be lauded for their ingenuity
5. i spoke of dying and choosing to live (this is not philosophical at all, believe me)
6. gracey showed us courage (in living, being transparent, reaching out, silent thoughfulness, prayerful lovingkindness) and living out her name, Grace.
7. we were told by kuya jaime not to mention arnel salgado's name again in his house, hahahaha!

and we met again, the following week (just this wednesday), to celebrate ram's birthday. there was ice cream of course.

to jeanix, aliks, gracey, ttarts and ram: God has been faithful and i believe He will continue to be. Cheers for another year and the many years to come!