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     “Woot! It’s another Friday night, perfect day for a road trip!” Ha! The weather was perfect and the air was a bit nippy. We planned this road trip a week earlier, during my brother’s birthday celebration.  My uncle’s place or city was celebrating its fiesta to commemorate the feast of the Sto. Nino (or the child Jesus).  It was the perfect occasion to have an excuse for a road trip.

After my office duties, I took the metro train to meet my brother and cousin. Since most people are also having the same idea we had, the three of us decided to kill time at a mall. We did some window shopping, had a quick bite at Slammers Burger (similar to White Castle) and decided to enjoy the music in a nearby chillout lounge.  Around 10pm, we decided it was time for us to start our journey to our uncle’s place. Once inside the SUV, we opened the windows and cranked up the volume of his vehicle’s radio and started our merry way.  Well, just like any Friday night, we did encounter traffic but it didn’t bother us that much. We had a pretty good playlist via the local station. Since the program that evening was entitled “Slide”, it was more of the slow, alternative and jazz playlist the three of us missed.  So, we decided to send our requests via SMS. The lady dj received our request and read them on air. Here were the songs we enjoyed while chatting and waiting for the traffice to move (it was an hour and a half traffic scenario):

You’re a god - Vertical Horizon

Barely Breathing - Duncan Sheik

Shimmer - Fuel

Yeah, Whatever - Splender

Story of a Girl - Nine Days

Question of Faith - Lighthouse Family

Postcards From Paradise - Flesh for Lulu

Stacy’s Mom - Fountains of Wayne

Brick - Ben Folds Five

(and a lot of other songs which I can’t remember, he he he he)

We had a pit stop at a gas station to buy supplies (toiletries & other stuff). The rest of the trip was a breeze and the air was getting colder, fresher.  I’d usually look at the night sky to take a peek at the moon, which shimmered on the clear sky.  We did reach our uncle’s place at around 12mn and after unpacking our stuff, taking a shower and chatting with our uncle, we retired for the night.

The next two days were fun.  Our other cousins dropped by and since I was the assigned cook for the fiesta,  Saturday, we had to go to the grocery store to purchase ingredients for the meal planned. Sunday, I cooked what my uncle and my cousins request for the occasion.  It was fun but tiring, he he he he! We left Sunday evening since we had work the next day.  The trip home was quiet and we just listened to the play list set up by the dj.

Trips like these promoted a stronger camaraderie between me, my cousins and my brother.  It was what the doctor ordered for us to relax and forget our daily grind.  We also had the chance to discuss and reflect on a lot of things, and what we wished for this new year.  Also, it was a time to remember and pray for those who needed it.  It was good… it was relaxing… it was fulfilling…

Looking forward to the next road trip!

Thanks for visiting and please place your comments here.

(For my cousin’s husband, Van, who peacefully passed away 1/20/2009 at the age of 28. He is survived by my cousin Camille and their daughter, my god daughter, Aidree. We will miss you bro, this is my ode to you.)