The Artist

Like powerful cameras,

Your eyes capture

Vivid images of the beauty

This world has to offer.

But it is your heart

That you use

To find your muse

As she comes along

Clad in striking simplicity

That you set her apart

From the rest, make her

Your own masterpiece.

You paint her dreams

With yours, with

Splashes of vibrant colors

On a huge blank canvas.

You sculpt her face

With your firm hands,

Cup her chin as you

Lovingly look in her eyes.

You sketch her smile

To lend permanence

To the joy in every

Fleeting moment.

You hold your masterpiece

Close to your heart,

Never wanting to be apart

From your one and only muse.

-Katherine Lopez

02 May 2011

*For my dearest

Late

I was so late in almost all my commitments for today. The first one took so long to finish. Hence, everything else got delayed. They were shoots in different locations, and I was late in all of them. I was so ashamed and frustrated with myself.

Traffic was bad. The heat drained my energy. When we were done with all the photo shoots, I thought I was also done with these unfortunate events. But no! On our way back to the office, our vehicle malfunctioned. At the middle of a busy road. And to top it all off, when the vehicle was moved to the sidewalk, it began to rain! Oh goodness! Was today an extension of Friday the 13th? Was it mercury retrograde?

And to add to this frustration, I wasn't able to meet my deadlines this month, except I think for two articles. But the rest, I wasn't satisfied because it took me so long to finish them. I still have pending assignments, and I'm so tired, I feel weak, and can I just faint and lose consciousness?

I know all these will be over. They have to be. This Friday. Or else, there won't be any copy of our magazine in newsstands next month. That's the thing with working in the publishing industry. Days just go on and on and on and on. Deadlines are always there, whether you're feeling perfectly well or not. And as in every industry, things don't get done on their own. Because if they do, I'd probably do a dozen cartwheels out of joy, even if I don't know how to do one.

Story in a Snapshot

Click.

The camera snaps
A photo of us
Smiling, cheeks together,
Closer than ever.

Who would've thought
That a year ago,
You've set your eyes
On me

But doesn't know how
To get close? How it is
To walk up to me
And say hi.

Who would've thought
That mustering the courage
To do so could be
Laborious for you?

And who would've thought
That a few words
Over bites of doughnuts
Could be the beginning

Of this no fuss, no frills
Romance? That one night,
At the bus stop, two souls
Would say yes to love.

Click.

The camera snaps
A photo of us,
Smiling, full of love,
Together.

-Katherine Lopez
15 May 2011

----000----

For the 11 months that we're together.

I'm so hungry

Finally, the reason why I'm always nauseated, as I've written in this post, has been diagnosed. My stomach is coated with small, multiple ulcers, and I show signs of acid reflux or GERD. And I learned all these last Monday when I went to the hospital at 7 a.m to undergo gastroscopy. What a way to start the week.

I know I shouldn't panic (and I'm not panicking), because this is treatable and it's not a life-threatening condition. But of course, I was sad when I learned about this. I know I have hyperacidity. I've been dealing with an acidic stomach since I was 8, that's why I don't drink softdrinks. What caused my ulcers was stress - apparently, my (or I think that applies to everyone) stomach gets filled with acid every time I'm stressed. I don't skip meals, but, I admit, I also don't eat on time, or I go for long hours without eating.

I was a bit shaken by this news. I didn't know it would come to this. Maybe this is my body's way of telling me to slow down. That I don't have to be at my best all the time if it would compromise my health. That I've pushed myself harder than I should, and this is one of the consequences.

Fortunately, as I've said earlier, this is treatable. The doctor prescribed medicines, and one of them is soooooo COSTLY! Good thing the doctor gave me a discount card, so the price was slashed by 50 percent. Whew! But still, the medicines cost me quite a lot. Well, they're for my treatment so I'm not complaining.

Also, I couldn't eat certain foods for a month, as long as I'm being treated. Included in the list are dairy products (i.e. ice cream, chocolates huhuhu), my favorites spaghetti and pizza, and mint candies. It's just for a month. I'm advised to go for small but frequent meals. To just eat. And I'm doing that. The medicines are really helping. I'm now able to eat a decent serving size without me feeling like throwing up. Sometimes, I go for second helpings. And how I missed this. I missed eating. And I'm positive that when I go back to the doctor for follow up after a month, my ulcers are gone and I'll be allowed to eat them again.

Lesson learned: Never ever let your stomach go empty for long hours. It wouldn't hurt to stand up from your office cubicle, head to the pantry, and grab a bite. Your tummy will thank you for it.