Rather, Obiter is back.
There are umpteenth reasons why Obiter ‘slept’. Foremost is the pandemic. I was more preoccupied about not catching the virus and the people around me not catching the virus too. At home, we had the foot baths, the disinfecting rituals when coming home even from quick errands. A lot of times, my brothers and I recalled a everything that Mamang taught us about sanitation (hospital OR level) as she had asthmatic kids.
When the vaccines were made available, there was some defense but the” veerus” just kept on mutating. So, we all had vaccinations and boosters, continued to mask up, frequently sanitized hands (and now they’re prunes) and maintained physical distance.
But what takes on a longer healing is getting the groove back. Losing people, losing jobs, and going through city streets lined with shops that shut indefinitely flung minds to the edge. It became rote to check on family and friends and at some point, opened decades-old cans of worms. Often, I was at the listening end probably giving the impression that I was ‘strong’. Wrong.
So, it was a two-year hiatus, Charito. Then you chanced upon a photo I took while I was at Surigao and showed me the beautiful sketch you made from that. I listened to you talk about the various topics I wrote for Obiter and Boom! I knew I had to get back. And if you were my only reader but read with such passion, I am humbled. You said you see things differently when you read Obiter. I hope they don’t scare you. Over dinner years ago, you asked what inspires me--- I do not remember my answer because it was off the cuff. But in those two years, dread was not a good subject to write about nor was news of death of Eric, Pidot, cousins, an uncle, idols, and parents of good friends. I would gladly write about the food ayuda from the barangay but in those two years of lockdowns, I recall receiving that only twice or thrice. So, there’s not much to rave but a lot to rant about.
Charito, you say that you are shy to show me your sketches of the other photos I sent you. But of what I have seen, my sunsets looked like cheerful sunrises on your sketchpad. The docked bancas at San Benito crippled by Typhoon Odette hint at being seaworthy again. You remind me of Matisse---a soothing explosion of vivid colors that calms the mind.