CELEBRATION

I'd like to share a story I wrote while on retreat last Holy Week. I'm not sure if it makes good food for thought for you. I was on a solo silent retreat at that time. I spoke to no one but my spiritual directress, who was a nun. Most of the day and night, I was alone in thought. Writing was a good companion and friend especially in my silence. I am a very restless and talkative person. You can imagine what a discipline silence was for me.

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Celebration
By Maida C. Pineda

I don’t think people celebrate life enough. Tomorrow is Easter. It occurred to me, I must celebrate it. The holiday means so much to me. But the last time I joyfully did was ages ago. I was a youngster in an Easter egg hunt. Two years ago, my classmates and I in grad school had a big party. Our class of foodies all cooked a specialty dish to share. We all brought wine. And, we all had too much to drink. The pictures reveal a giddy kind of happiness.

Celebrations need not be splurging lots of money or spending hours laboring in the kitchen. Financially dry right now, I wrestled with my desire to celebrate Easter and my lack of money. I also struggled with not having my own place right now. Then, it hit me, “Why not have a picnic?” I make fantastic dips. My friends love it. It can be an afternoon thing. I’ll bring my dog, look for the kite I’ve wanted to fly for years and viola an instant party. So, I did text some of my friends.

There are so many reasons to celebrate. An old wise priest with the kindest face told me last night for penance to tell myself every morning, “Maida, you are God’s Beloved daughter”- that in itself is reason to celebrate!

I generally have a jovial personality. I distinctly remember getting an award in First Grade for Cheerfulness. There’s so much to smile about. There’s a so much to celebrate.

As I cooked a quick dinner of pancit canton (stirfry noodles) for my family one night, I shredded some leftover chicken ham. Using my bare hands to get as much meat from the bone, I hit the wishbone. Excitedly, I ran to my mother to hand her the other end of the wishbone. “Make a wish,” I said. I then pulled with all my might and she got the longer end. She then said she didn’t make a wish. I was aghast how she wasted a wish and how she didn’t share my excitement.

There is much to celebrate: a picnic, a wishbone, dancing in the rain, an impromptu road trip, an email from a long lost friend… the list goes on. Go ahead, indulge, there is so much to be happy about.

1:55pm 4/7/2007.maidapineda.manila,Philippines.