It was tougher than usual to give thanks today. I had to keep reminding myself that the work that I have to do — the work that I’ve been doing until now, 1:30 in the morning, and the work that I’ll resume when I get back to my place tomorrow — is actually a blessing. […]

One of the best gifts I got for my birthday was the one I gave myself. Last night, I tore open an envelope addressed to me. My name was written in wild cursive. I recognized it immediately; it was Sabrina’s. I excitedly unfolded the slip of paper that was nestled inside and started to read […]

1. Get in your car and drive. If possible, get on a highway. If there’s traffic, it’s okay. Keep driving. 2. Roll up all your windows. 3. Pop in your favorite CD, preferably one with lyrics you know by heart. 4. Turn up the volume. 5. Turn it up more. 6. Turn it up so […]

I’ve been braving the malls, parking lots and cashier lines this week. I know, I know, Christmas is over a month away. I know. but I’ve been putting together a monster care package for some of my favorites back home in the Philippines, just in time for my dad’s business trip this weekend. It’s a […]

All this time, I thought Natalie Merchant was singing to someone named Anna in her song “Tell Yourself,” but really, she was just singing to me. Or my 13-year-old self, who used to bury her nose in Sassy magazine. I know what you tell yourself, you tell yourself. Look in the mirror, look in the […]

I lost my wallet, once. I left it in the stall of the girls’ bathroom on the 3rd floor of the Humanities building, and I didn’t realize it until two classes later. By the time I ran back to the bathroom, it was gone. I was petrified. Not only did the wallet contain all my […]

I must be getting old. When asked what I want for my birthday, I keep saying, “Nothing.” “Are you sure?” they ask. “Yeah,” I say, without even thinking. Young Christine would have jumped at the chance to make a long and detailed list of everything her pretty, little, selfish heart desires, but now I keep […]

I’m writing every day just to see if I can. Some people are writing entire novels this month. Me, I’m just writing. I’m writing letters to my family. I’m writing postcards and thank you’s that are long overdue. I’m writing in my journal, trying so hard to pay no mind to the crooked lines and […]

The clichés, I have to admit, were right. That, too, did pass. Things only got better. What didn’t kill me made me stronger. This time last year, I felt like I was falling apart. All at once, my grandma lay in a hospital bed in intensive care, my dad bravely faced surgery and my car […]

I had a Halloween identity crisis and changed my costume at the last minute. It was not the wisest decision nor most considerate decision, since that meant I had to pick up my costume from my parents’ house and Rama had to change his costume, too. But, you know, I was being a girl. The […]

The clouds bled across the entire sky this morning. I couldn’t stop smiling on my way to work. Angie and I stepped outside to get a bagel from the lunch truck and a gust of cold wind shook us. “It’s so cold,” she grumbled. “I know,” I said, “Isn’t it great?” I glanced at my […]