Wonderful day to all of us!
I drank warm water after getting up and did some stretching. I opened the windows so the sunshine could get in and so I could have some sunshine too. I spent some moments appreciating the bright sky while looking outside by the windows. At that moment I could also feel the sweat slowly trickling down my back and forehead. That’s what I also love after drinking warm water and letting the sunshine in because I could perspire easily and I feel much better after that…
I needed to prepare some snacks as part of our small sideline business. At this time, I prepared everything for the sticky rice with ube (purple yam) flavor wrapped in spring roll wrapper. Then I prepared the sauce separately which consisted of ube-flavored condensed milk, evap milk, and sugar. The cooked sticky rice is then mixed with the sauce.
A spring roll wrapper was then used to wrap each portion. This can be chilled after wrapping or deep-fried and drizzled with sweetened milk before serving. If my partner is around, we make big batches. If someone wants to order, that’s the time we fry them and deliver which they also like because it’s still warm when delivered at their units.
Later that day, I had to go out to meet my friends. One of our close friends came to our city for a short visit. She is working abroad and it has been 5 years since her last visit. We’ve been friends for more than 15 years and our group has managed to keep in touch and communicate regularly. We felt so excited to see her again and finally, when we were together, it felt like nothing has changed. Our way of communicating or expressing humor still stayed the same; it was just like the old times when we first met as coworkers in an academy.
We had our dinner at Casa Verde restaurant which is located inside a mall in Cebu City to celebrate our mini reunion. We used to eat in this restaurant and so coming here together again was only fitting. Unfortunately, some of our friends couldn’t come due to conflict of schedule.
One of our friends led the prayer before eating especially thanking our Creator God for the time we were given to see each other and for the blessings we’ve received through the years. We enjoyed the food platter that we shared together that consisted of shrimp tempura, roasted chicken, baby back ribs, fries, veges, rice, and a bottle of coke.
While eating and after eating, the whole time was spent with personal sharing, some parts filled with laughter and some moments filled with tears as we also tried to open up our personal challenges over these years. We hugged and comforted each other; somehow our presence reassured each other’s feelings. We were the last ones to leave the restaurant and we were unaware that it was already about 10 in the evening.
We didn’t want to part ways yet and we still have some time so we moved to the garden area of the mall where we could continue our personal sharing. Our conversation revolved around career challenges, some financial woes, and health issues. In-between this sharing, we cracked up some jokes and also had some funny moments.
Before parting ways, our friend wanted to say some prayers for us asking for guidance and determination to overcome our challenges. It was meaningful and sincere, and we felt that our friendship has stayed strong. We expressed our well wishes for the future and embraced each other dearly before saying goodbye.
I thank God for the gift of friends who also have shared to me their lives and dreams. They are like my family to me and I pray that we can have more precious moments to share and cherish someday.
Thank you for your interest in my post. My heartfelt gratitude to 
Your Friend,
All photos are mine
Footer credit to Canva
Photo collage edited in Canva
