Let’s Have a Good, Good Time

(Originally to be posted last night but I crashed instead)

Not all of life has to be heavy, not even in the wake of complete and total destruction. It can’t always be serious. We wouldn’t survive it. And although I tend to gravitate towards the heavy parts, even I know you have to appreciate the lighter side of things and allow yourself to experience it in its full richness. The light times will nourish the soul in ways nothing else can and ensure we have the strength of heart needed for the journey ahead, which I sincerely hope includes the following of Dreams to the end of the road, and then some.

Enough philosophical rhetoric.

I could tell you about the events of the day; about how one of the evac centers didn’t have drinking water and my KUSOG Tacloban contacts found them a supply of 200 bottles to be delivered tomorrow for 95 people in need; or how one of the young mothers of a 3 1/2 week old asked me to be her daughter’s godfather which I accepted (expecting a knock on my door in the future); or even the amazing kids that flocked to see us, following us around in droves, with one group performing a cheer+song choreographed competition to which I graciously accepted the honor of judging. I posted it on Facebook and will do picture updates for my blog once I return to the States. In the meantime, I’ll spoil the ending. It was a tie. 🙂 Or how Casanova Ron (we’ll get to his name in a moment) and I stopped by a market to buy lighters and diapers to deliver to Valeria’s Evac Center, which we did this morning. It’s fun to play the part of the hero.

The devastation here is apparent. There is no denying that, but there is light-heartedness and, dare I say, fun as well. So let’s talk about the good stuff, of the celebration of new friends bound in purpose and forged through good-hearted teasing over (hopefully) some much needed adult beverages.

Tonight we head to Calle Zaragosa, a friend of German Ron’s who is reopening the first restaurant in Tacloban since the typhoon. We have three Rons in our group so we had to figure out names for each to differentiate them. This Ron is from…wait for it…Germany. Bet you didn’t see that one coming. So at the restaurant I am told we will have cold beer and soup. They had me at beer…shared in the presence of good friends of course. It should be a fine time (which it was). I’m from Kentucky after all. Give us a drink and conversation with good people and we’re good to go. That’s how we roll in the South.

So to recap, the day began with a trip to see dead pigs in the water. Exciting I know. I left my phone at the house as the battery was low, so no pictures. I’m sure you’re disappointed. One of the pigs was enormous, severely bloated to the point it didn’t look real. Hungry for pork now?

I was running a little low on emotional energy — yesterday’s events and corresponding blog post took a lot out of me — so I’m recharging a bit today. Refilling the internal tank just as I sit now in line for our Trike (motorcycle + cab) to refill its gas tank so we can partake in the day’s adventures. More UNFPA Evacuation Center data gathering and a few personal errands to run along the way.

It’s raining today but my mood is even keel. At home the rain makes my mood dreary and I long to stay inside. I’m a summer boy at heart which means sand, water and sun are my preferred vacation criteria, but here it’s not the same. Maybe it’s the place. Maybe it’s the people. Maybe it’s the one writing this blog. Don’t know and frankly don’t care to dissect it. My overly analytical mind took a hiatus when I booked this trip. I’m not much missing it these days.

Gas refilled. Our Trike driver Manuel just cranked us up and performed the Catholic cross over his heart (98% of Filipinos are Catholic according to my contacts here). I’m all for a little divine support but hope he always does this and it’s not because he’s expecting we’re going to need it on this particular drive. He just did it again so I think we’re good.

Back on point. As we walked to the dead pig site, I took it as my personal mission to find Simple Ron a date to bring to the restaurant tonight. After yesterday’s car moving experience I tried to dub him Super Ron but he instead chose this variation. After going over his preference in the female department, I pointed out one girl who came up to him to chat. Apparently she was 13 and the daughter of a family friend. Ron’s 21. Strike one. A bit later I saw one that might turn Ron’s head. Pointing her out, Ron looked at me and said tactfully, “Um…that’s not a girl.” Strike two and three. In my defense he was dressed like a girl and who knows, maybe Ron bats that way. No judgment here!

Ron did get a number later that day on his own without my help (well, maybe I helped a tiny bit by asking if we could call her for the missing data we needed). Ron was smooth. I took notes. He also got four texts (that I know of) later that night. You go, big dog. He has rightly been renamed Casanova Ron.

The time we spent that night at Calle Zaragosa was great. Everyone from our group was there: Chris, Crystal (my fellow US volunteers), Firie, Jet, Michael (local volunteer), the three Ron’s and me. Marie, who started KUSOG Tacloban with Magina (we missed you!), had just arrived in town with her husband and two other volunteers. The perfect group comprised of people strong in purpose and filled with the desire to do good for their country and their world. There are people who change you and make you a better version of yourself just by being in their presence. This group has those people in spades. I am honored to be among them. I am blessed to call them friends.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work beside you and to share this time in my life with you. I will never forget it…or you.

David