Busy bird
I have been quite busy these days. I had a number of phone interviews from Portland, Las Vegas, New Orleans and Boston. This Monday, I was out on the road as early as 3:00am, catching a very early flight to Atlanta, Georgia, for a scheduled interview in the morning. From there, I had an afternoon appointment in New Orleans for yet another interview. Atlanta is a two-hour flight and on the same time zone as Philadelphia. New Orleans is another two-hour flight from Atlanta and, Philadelphia is one hour ahead of New Orleans. That’s how far my travel was in one day. I got back home to Philadelphia at about 2:00am.
Famine interview
After my Atlanta interview, I got stucked (STUCK: Past tense and past participle of stick I have to make this note to satisfy Stephanie, a grammar nazi). at the airport for 2 hours. There was a reported computer glitch in Orlando, Florida that shutdown Air-Tran’s computer system. I was late for my New Orleans interview – no lunch – straight to the city, lost in the Katrina-ravaged neighborhood. It was a panel of four (4) interviewers that lasted a little over two (2) hours. I was interviewed in complete famine and hunger! My knees were trembling! No! I was not on a hunger strike. I just did not have time anymore! I’m currently waiting for the results.
Early flight
I flew back to Atlanta, Georgia to catch a connecting flight to Philadelphia. I was glad, I changed my ticket at the Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans to an earlier flight back to Atlanta, and otherwise, I would have missed my connection because of bad weather conditions in Atlanta. Surprise no more! All other flights were delayed when I arrived in Atlanta. People were cussing Air Tran!
Southern boy
While waiting for my delayed flight back to Philadelphia, I decided to smoke a few sticks cartoon of cigarette. I was surprised to find out that Atlanta has a smoking room inside the airport. I thought, all US airports got rid of their smoking rooms. There, a handsome young man chatted with me. His name was Billy, 21 years old. He was from Alabama with that very noticeable southern accent. You know me, I love accents! They’re music to my ears. He asked me if he could buy me a drink. I said, “Sure!” So, we head over to a bar inside the airport.
Here’s Billy
Aspiring nurse or doctor
He works at an oil rig near New Orleans. He said, he’d stay there for 4 months straight, and then he’d be given two (2) weeks paid vacation. He started working as a seaman right after high school although he is planning to go into nursing or medicine so he could give a decent life for his kid. Kid? He was flying to Washington DC. That’s where he and his girlfriend live now.
Friends
Billy and I had a very interesting conversation. He said, he had so many friends in high school back in Alabama. But he said, he’s got no one to call friend there given that he had no more clue where they are and no one even stayed connected with him. Essentially, that was the whole topic of our beer conversation.
Stupid check-in counter
Unfortunately, much as I wanted my beer conversation with Billy to last a little longer, they suddenly announced my flight. They were already boarding when I reached the gate. Meanwhile, Billy missed his flight. They wrote C15 as his gate at the checked-in counter when his flight was on C7. He was lining up at the Customer Service when I left. Pissed.
What I told Billy
During that two-hour flight from Atlanta to Philadelphia, I can’t help but think of our conversation at the bar. I’m not being emotional here. But I remember, I told Billy this:
“Billy, you have to nurture friendship for friendship to grow. However, that’s not a perfect formula either. When things go for the better for you, you will have a lot of friends. You’ll get drunk with accolades. You’ll need 5 phones to accommodate the calls. You might even need a Friday girl to handle dinner, birthday, social and other party invite appointments. But if you ran into some strange difficulties in life, which we all normally go through, typically, that will test the friendship. If you watched the Survivor series, it’s called “Elimination Time”. Which means, they’ve eliminated you. Then, who amongst these people were left standing? Do you see anyone? When that happens, don’t despair. They’re not worth your time. We all make mistakes. Sometimes we believe in fakes. But life has to go on and as you move on, you learn from your experience.”
He was very silent. Then, he said, “I’ll call you in two weeks.”
P.S.
I don’t have any pictures of my travel. It was snowing, it was raining. The weather was bad. I only have this sign on New Orleans as proof:
I gave Billy a reyna elena business card. I told him that I’d be writing about this. “Thank you for the beer, Billy!“
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{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Southern boys are really really good… Iba sila magmahal wow! at ang pinay na katulad ko ay isa ng southern belle lola someday sana mala Laura Bush na ang accent kooooo… Di ko pa carry ngayon!
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reynz Reply:
February 5th, 2009 at 12:56 am
hahaha! kapo=post ko pa lang, ine-edit pa nga hahaha!
yes, most southerners are very very polite. Billy was a very polite kid. i told him that i was assigned in Memphis, Tennessee and there people surprised me because they would actually say “Good Morning” to you on the sidewalk! Guess what – NOT IN PHILADELPHIA OR NEW YORK! hahahaha! You’ll get weird look if you say good morning hahaha
and i’ve been to Chatanooga TN and Birmingham Alabama and it’s the same! people are just very very friendly and polite! hahaha
reynz´s last blog post..Conversation with Billy
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amen, reynz on nurturing friendships.
Dinah´s last blog post..Cool Atheist Bus Slogan Generator
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reynz Reply:
February 5th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
true right? but not all nurtured friendships moves to a level of frienship. that takes time
reynz´s last blog post..Conversation with Billy
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i’m a lurker reynz 2nd time to comment. that’s very true, nurturing the friendship but sometimes you make a mistake of nurturing it with wrong people. maybe for women and not sure for gays too but jealousy sometimes play a big part. when you get popular (school, work, love, boys, social, whatever) your friends could get jealous without you knowing it. or you get too successful and they get jealous too. if you experience this from your people in your circle those people are not your friends.
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reynz Reply:
February 5th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
i experienced jealousy among gay friends and i was told that this is prevalent sa mga gays just like women – i don’t know. but i’m not sure if it’s exclusive ot gay and women, it guess it’s true to everybody.
anyway… typically naman when you are either “successful” either financially or at work, you tend to “magnet” people and then you call them friends but as I have said, all these people will tend to disappear when the going gets rough. that’s what i meant.
reynz´s last blog post..Conversation with Billy
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ganda ng sinabi mo ke billy. nakakataba ng puso. u are a good person reynz kahit di pa kita nakilala.
p.s. SAna nagbaon ka ng skyflakes para di ka nagutom sa daan. U know, pilipino style. hehehe.
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reynz Reply:
February 5th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
gaya nga nung sinabi ko ki fatherly, this was based on experience. ilang beses na akong na-eliminate when i ran into some shit things in life
reynz´s last blog post..Conversation with Billy
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PANALO!
as in huwaw…
*touch aketch*
*sniff* *sniff* T_T
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reynz Reply:
February 5th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
hehehe
reynz´s last blog post..Conversation with Billy
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Friends? No worries, they’re still friends – most of us just happen to live in the real world. Hey Reynz good luck dude!
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reynz Reply:
February 5th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
NO, they’re not. That’s that difference that I told Billy. If those type of people disassociate with you during time when you need them – then they don’t fit the definition.
reynz´s last blog post..Conversation with Billy
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Cheers to nurturing friendship!
Snow´s last blog post..The Curious Case of Mang Meliton Zamora
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reynz Reply:
February 5th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
yeah but thing is, not all friendships that are nurtured gets to be successful alam mo na yon di ba? hehehe
reynz´s last blog post..Conversation with Billy
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Reynz,
Right you are. There are only a handful of friends; others are merely acquaintances.
A true friend is someone you can call anytimen even in the middle of the night without hanging up the phone.
The Ca t´s last blog post..Sunrise, sunset and ice
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reynz Reply:
February 5th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
that’s what i was trying to tell Billy. i think he was a little sorry that there seemed to be none or a couple left. but i told him, nothing to be sorry about. i told him, i hang around a lot with a lot of fake people who i thought were the real ones – but i always do stupid things.
reynz´s last blog post..Conversation with Billy
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lcm Reply:
February 5th, 2009 at 11:31 pm
real friends, the test of friendship, they are Angels in disguise, I might have a couple or three, my bff in the Phils who can print out money whenever needed by my other friends and family, my neighborhood deli, and my house pets the cucarachas who will never leave me alone
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reynz Reply:
February 5th, 2009 at 11:41 pm
yeah, i have a lot of those, experiences charged to nightmares. but you know, the show must go on. ganun lang talaga ang what is life.
reynz´s last blog post..Nina’s very very “mysterical” voice
lcm Reply:
February 6th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
we must be doing something good, our Angels are still with us
My, my, this is so sweet! Everybody can use that reminder. Thanks, Reynz! And I hope a good “company” finds you real soon.
Lalaine´s last blog post..About a boy
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reynz Reply:
February 5th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
you get drunk with fake “accolades” from people whom you thought were real. that’s how it was hahaha
reynz´s last blog post..Conversation with Billy
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Hi! reynz, i know you are a person with a good heart, what you said to billy are nurturing words, it happened to me, i am a very friendly person but soon i have to eliminate some, my blog turns nega to them, what i’m writing is the real things that happenings to me here in pinas, theres no yabang factor in it, but they say different, i cannot please everybody, its because they dont have any blog and blog friends coz they dont know how to do it, anyway, good luck to you and ingat. an2nette
an2nette´s last blog post..Dirk as Resource Speaker
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reynz Reply:
February 5th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
well you know how it works, our actions always create a negative and a positive reaction di ba? it’s how THEY perceive those actions that we did. so i guess the gauge sometimes is in the number. but its really upon you and your message and you’re right. only those real ones will stick with you.
reynz´s last blog post..Conversation with Billy
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Ganda ng sinabi mo Renz, nag tipong Helen Vela ka dun ah! Ma copya nga.
Fatherlyours´s last blog post..Pinoy Toilet Habit Cause Job
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reynz Reply:
February 5th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
when you’ve experienced shit things from fake people hahaha then you can say those things hahaha
reynz´s last blog post..Conversation with Billy
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well, that’s very true…but i can call YOU one of the VERY BEST FRIEND…ang kaibigan ay kahit hindi mo madalas makita o maka-usap…pero kung kailangan mo ang tulong at hingahan ng loob, naandiyan sya at matiyagang makikinig, nagagalit, at nag bibigay ng payo sa iyo…sometimes iyung laging nagagalit sa maling ginagawa mo iyun ang maituturing mong tunay na kaibigan..hindi nag hahanap ng ano pamang kapalit ang tunay na kaibigan….and i’m glad you learn and you knew who your real friends are…..and good luck sa iyung job searching!!!
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reynz Reply:
February 5th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
job searching? naku yari ka bebot! andaming nagkalat na grammar nazi dito hahaha
but am sure me kanya kanya tayong istori about people na ginamet tayo or napeke tayo hahaha but such is our “what is life” hahaha ganun talaga ang life, pero ako wag mong hihingan nang tulong hehehe
reynz´s last blog post..Conversation with Billy
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lahat tayo tumikim at nakatikim nang mga mapagsamantalang kaibigan. andyan yong kaibigan ka dahil sikat ka. andyan yong kaibigan ka dahil me pera ka. andyan yong kaibigan ka dahil magagamit ka. andyan yong kaibigan ka dahil me kailangan sa iyo. ang sarili kong dinaanan mas grabe pa po. ilang taon din akong naniwala na mga kaibigan ko talaga ang mga nakapaligid sa akin. tama ang sinabi at alam naman nating lahat yan. masusubukan mong tapat ang mga kaibigan mo oras na nagkaproblema ka. makikilala mo sila nang husto kung sino talaga sa kanila ang tunay. ang masakit dun, marami ka pang maririnig na hindi maganda.
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reynz Reply:
February 5th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
amen.
i’ve been used many times. i got disappointed many times. actually, i still get so many disappointments. i get depressed in one day, pero deretso pa rin. ganun lang yon.
reynz´s last blog post..Nina’s very very “mysterical” voice
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LOL pang ilan na bang grammar nazi na ba syang napadpad sa site mo reyna? LOL
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reynz Reply:
February 5th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
oh she’s not the only grammar nazi who came here. there were a lot more. their only job is to scour your entry for wrong spilling and wrung grammar and then report it or blog it in their blogs to tell people how good they are.
i don’t think she even read my entry nor understood what i was writing. instead she saw the grammar hahaha i hope she reads all of my entries because i expect her to get a heart attack on my english hahahah
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aba, ibang klaseng social climbing pala yan, lagare ang tawag dyan, hehe. good luck reyns!
alam mo tunay ka dyan, masarap alagain ang kaibigan, pero sa takbo ng buhay may mga pagkakataong yang mga kaibigan na rin yan ang magiging hindi mo kasundo pero may mga pagkakataon din naman na babalik at babalik ang pagkakaibigan sapagkat minsan may mga konting kiliting nangyayari between friends. may kaibigan ako na ilang beses na kaming nag aaway, actually inaaway nya ako parati, pero eto at kami pa rin parati sa huli. basta ang alam ko, kahit na magkahiwalay pa ako ng ilang boyprends dyan, yung mga kaibigan ko parating andyan sa tabi ko
at eto pa, may contact pa rin ako dun sa mga kaibigan ko nung kindergarten at nung elementary, high school, kabataang barangay, college, opis meyts, patpong, hahaha — ang importante kahit na hindi na nagkikita, kapag nagkita muli apter a hundred years, parang kahapon lang di nagkita
ay ang haba ng comment ko, hahaha
kengkay´s last blog post..sprakenhayt
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reynz Reply:
February 5th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
this week is hectic talaga ateng. nung thursday last week pa tom
reynz´s last blog post..Nina’s very very “mysterical” voice
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bagay ka sa ganyang image, yung tipong man of wisdom, hahaha!
tutuong tutuo yung tinuran mo, your hightness, sabi ko na nga ba, marami akong matututunan sa yo!
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reynz Reply:
February 5th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
hay naku, iisa lang ang ibig sabihin nyan, an dami nang nanloko saken hmpt!
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na touch naman ako sa advice mo kay billy ate helen. i’m sure maraming nakaka-relate.
it’s easy to find “fairweather friends” nagkalat sa tabi tabi. parang endangered species na yata ang true friend.
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reynz Reply:
February 7th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
i’m sure, we all encountered those types in our lives hahaha
reynz´s last blog post..Umutang para pambayad sa utang
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lola ko, wag ka manila that he’ll call you. ganyan ang mga lalaki, we’ll call you but they never call back. pero if he calls – good!
nina´s last blog post..More Cravings…
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reynz Reply:
February 7th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
tumawag na hehehe, eto ka-text mate ko na hehehe ~*kilig*~
reynz´s last blog post..Umutang para pambayad sa utang
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mtoni Reply:
February 14th, 2009 at 12:27 am
inang talaga oh, kaya ko binalikan post na to pra silipin mabuti kung kelan ttawag sau ang billy, sabi don after 2 weeks tas ka text mo na pala.
hmmm hapi ang heart ng inang.
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Susmeeeee ang pogi naman ni Billy! <3 <3 <3
Lols inuna pa ang kerengkeng hahaha. Churi naman. XD
Grabeh nakakatouch yung sinabi mo. Napaisip tuloy ako. Honestly I can say that I have only few friends. We seldom see each other, not even texts, call, emails, IMs, etc. But I guess I’m lucky enough to have friends like them. Kasi by the time naman na magkitakita kami, super happy naman. Friends are blessing – very true in deed.
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redheads have more fun! :-p
roni´s last blog post..prends na kami-updated
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