“Bye.” My cousin-in-law said to his son. And with that I was brought back to our breakfast table and reminded of my adobo and Jasmine Tea. I was overwhelmed with emotion as I realized that for a moment, for about a chapter… I got lost in what I was reading and forgot where I was. And I remembered why I enjoyed reading so much when I was younger. I loved getting lost.
I am no longer the adventurous type. Going out, meeting up with friends and strangers, chatting, eating out, watching movies. That is what I love and enjoy doing now. But I do not love the outdoors. Nor big and exciting adventures. There used to be a time when I enjoyed it. I no longer do.
Now, I like cafes. Tea time. People watching. Chatting. Sitting alone. Catching up with friends. Forgetting time. Unaware of where I am and what is going on around me. That is how I get lost nowadays.
But there used to be a time when I was not allowed to go out. Indoors. At “home.” Limited to a location. So I got lost by joining The Baby-Sitters Club. Got to know Archie and his friends. Spent time with Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield. Went on a unique adventure with The Little Prince.
I read books, watched movies and tv shows, because I was limited to my room. And my own thoughts and feelings were always too much to bear if I sat with them too long.
Just now, I got lost again. This time at a the Morisaki Bookshop. I spent days there. And when I left, I felt excited. I had a great sense of accomplishment. I have not gotten lost in fiction for years. Maybe even decades.
After struggling for many years now to finish a new fiction book, I finally did it. I enjoyed getting lost in Jimbocho, Tokyo. I got to know new people. Discovered new places. Best of all, I learned a few things about myself too. I like getting lost. I enjoy getting lost.
Even when I can freely go out and do as I please, I still enjoy getting lost in pages. Wandering to the Morisaki Bookshop. Hiding at the Capitol’s Arena. Maybe having a tikim of flavors around the Philippines as I sip my salabat tea.
Getting is lost is good for me.
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Written: April 14, 2025 8:01 pm – April 22, 2025 5:40 pm