Hello, December `22

And just like that, it’s already December. In a few days I’ll be blowing candles again.

Last week I had a self-photoshoot at Stills Studio in Makati. I don’t know why it was something that I wanted to do a few days before my birthday, but I went on with it even while nursing a bad headache and came out enjoying every minute of it. 

I’m well-aware that some people are secretly sneering at this thing which they think is nothing but a middle-aged woman’s unnecessary expression of vanity, but that’s one of the reasons why I did it. It’s a statement on how I stopped giving a D at what other people think. As long as I have the support of my family who all thought it was a good idea—those who have something to say about it can zip it. 

My motivation was simple — I’m not getting any younger, so while I can strike a pose then I guess there’s nothing to it, as that `90s Madonna song goes. 

One day you’ll just wake up and the younglings are no longer calling you “ate” but “tita”. You’ll see lines in your face that weren’t there before. One day you’ll wake up old. It will hit you ominously that age has crept in. There will always be that palpable ache. How you look now, won’t be the look you’ll have forever. 

So while I still can smile on the camera, please indulge me.

As always, I took good pictures and had bad ones too. Some of the shots emphasized my set of eyebags (that sort of reminded me of the Goodyear blimp), or that constant photobomber that is my double chin, or that not-so-yummy muffin top that magically appears when I’m seated. 

But it also captured my winningest smile and my deep set of big eyes—both my saving grace for not being as pretty as most girls. It’s also the two things I want people to remember me by, even after many more birthdays I hope.

So, hello, December. Let’s all pray that this will be the most wonderful month of my rather stressful year.