Quarantine

My blog turns 13 though I feel like I should take a year off of it due to its inactivity last year. I have broken the one-post per month (at least) streak that I held for 11 years. If not for the mandatory work from home set-up, and a reminder to renew the domain, I have totally forgotten about this blog.

Unwanted Crown

 

I sit by the window

and watch the world stops

 it did not 

just uninhabited 

for a while

 

paving way 

unwillingly 

to a visiting royal

 

between two buildings 

the bluest sky
appears 

I am not talking about the color

 

a couple

unholding vinyl- 

covered hands

 

smiling 

or pouting 

behind white mask

 

somewhere

 

someone is on the phone 

video-calling non-stop 

until the battery drains out

 

or until a loved one 

on the other side 

becomes unresponsive 

 

will the signal 

able to reach the two kingdom

 

heaven and hell?

 

/totomai 

2020/05/01

It’s almost a month since I started working from home. Without anyone to talk to, random thoughts are everywhere, and this segues to the randomness of this post. I went back to the Philippines last February 27 to surprise our Mom on her 83rd birthday. Only my brother knew that I was coming home. It was fun keeping it a secret, and thought that we successfully pulled off the surprise.

After seven days, I went back immediately to United Arab Emirates as countries have started to close their borders to stop the spread of corona virus. Just recently, Japan also announces a state of emergency to certain prefectures. My first overseas trip was to Japan, April 10, 2003 to be exact. I have lived there for more than a decade.

It is very difficult to predict when will this pandemic going to end. But we can do our part to help flatten the curve. Stay at home as much as possible for the time being. Though I have been living alone most of my life working overseas, this one is a bit different especially you are requested to practice social and physical distancing. A little sacrifice on our part could play a big part in helping combat the virus.

When this is all over, we may be seeing our world differently. Be ready and when the time comes,  grab your camera, hold the hands of your loved ones, and enjoy the new earth unfolding before our very eyes.

/totomai
2020/04/07

Photos and videos taken with
     Nikon Z50
     iPhone 8s
     iPhone 11 Pro