The matryoshka, the cake and Purple Rain

Christmas.  The surge of love grew high with every warm greeting and token gifts that celebrated it.  However, there was also the low ebb of sobriety and sadness for dear hearts who had long passed on.  Three gifts particularly warmed my heart that made me giddy, flapping and jumping with delight:  

1) A desk calendar featuring Russia’s matryoshka dolls dressed in their traditional floral peasant outfits popping out from each page.  If you flip to the succeeding months, the cutouts multiply accordingly, until the whole family of nesting dolls fills up the top of the final month, that is, a dozen matryoshkas in December.  The giver exclaimed, “I saw this calendar in Tokyo and I knew you’d love it.”  I didn’t wait for Christmas.  I unwrapped the gift and played with pages 1, 3, 9, 10, 11, etc.  This calendar will stay in my basket of Instant Smiles. 

2) My sister (of the heart) gave me purple stationery in graduated sizes.  One was called Purple Rain filled with quotations on anything and everything about the color purple.  Like:

• Purple symbolizes pride.  When doing something deep and profound for someone else with a heart so true and giving.

• Purple uplifts the spirit.  Like what happens to grandparents when they turn cho-cha over a child whispering and sharing his young heart’s cravings.

• There is no dignity in wickedness whether in purple or rags.  How spot on to be told that whether you are rich or penniless, you honor and give due respect to the person you are interacting with because he is God’s beloved child, like you, like me.

• The bloom of young desire and purple light of love.  Aha! To be young and foolishly in love.  Nothing stirs the heart than its yearning for this young person who feels exactly like you, turning any moment spent together utterly magical.  Walking in the rain, holding hands under the shadow of a smiling moon, starlit skies and strumming guitars, and the purple glow warmed by music, a rhapsody.

• Purple with rage. Dare not come near a purple face because you will catch a fury so intense that you’d wish you were up on a tree.  The trick is never to pick a fight.  Choose your battles too, because not everything is worth losing your cool for or be in a situation soooo bad that it would bring out the worst in you;

• I think it (annoys) God if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don’t notice it. How could anyone ignore purple?  My screen saver is filled with the splendor of lavender fields, wisteria, irises, hydrangeas, and orchids’ highlighting what I imagine the path to heaven is like.  Mind you, just a glimpse, a patikim (taste).

If you care to feed your purple madness, email me at lettyjlopez@hotmail.com.  I’d be ube delighted. 

3) The five-tiered chocolate cake wasn’t sweet at all, but the baker was obviously a nutty person for packing the cake with crunchy almonds that could make you float in rapture.  Simply said, in sweet surrender.

This baker will never be wanting in cash or largesse, having received a succession of windfalls from maiden aunts on top of what he already inherited from generous parents.  He earned a master’s degree from a prestigious university and operates his business by delegating tasks to his able assistants.  Speaking of a charmed life?  Meet Mr. Charm in the flesh.  So what does he do?  He bakes.  He enjoys it so much that he delivers the cakes personally to your front door, with his sleek limo, revving at the curve.  He pines for the simple life and pays tribute to the average working and commuting class who’d gladly trade places or circumstances with him.

And in 2015, I share some do’s and don’ts from a blogger, if you wish to lead the ideal kind of life that we ought to (but haven’t).

• DON’T: neglect yourself; focus on losing weight but be comfortable in your own skin; compare yourself with others; procrastinate.

• DO give thanks to God today, every day and always; put family first; invest in your relationship; read; cut bad people out of your life; learn a new skill (like our baker); live without regret; conquer your fear; embrace failure but move on; keep your phone buried inside your bag or pocket when with company; take the stairs; shop locally and eat local produce.     

Father Reu Galoy gave this timely reminder: “Even before you drew your New Year’s Resolution, committed and inspired to see them through, God has already blessed you.”

Humility, service, and love.  Can we become such a blessing to one another?