A Saturday Drive

Last Saturday, I drove to Lipa, Batangas and back all by myself. I didn’t want to, at first. In fact, when I first learned that I will go to Lipa, I hounded my officemates to take the drive with me. I know long drives would be so much more fun in company. And I sometimes think I spend too much time alone.

But as it turned out, none could make the trip with me for one reason or another. And admittedly, I had reservations. Yes, it’s the way the cookie crumbled.

I had to be at Lipa by 10:30am. I left Makati at 8am just to make sure I won’t be late. I brought a big bottle of water, 3 packs of oatmeal cookies for breakfast, a large bag of potato chips for salty, a pack of gums for when I’m sleepy and a pack of cookies , just in case. I also brought a book, should I need to wait. (You can take the girl out of the Girl Scouts but you can’t take the Girl Scout out of the girl.)

The drive was pleasant. It was rainy so it’s cool. And there weren’t a lot of cars, so the road wasn’t congested, not to mention not too many assholes to share the road with. It was so pleasant, I reached my destination with an hour to spare.

So what did I do? I parked the car and caught a short snooze. 30 mins worth. Ooowee!!! Sleep!

Soon enough, I woke up to a discreet knock on my window. Show time!

I went to Lipa to be part of a thesis defense panel. The team who put the paper together are the four girls who underwent OJT with me over the summer.

After the defense, we went out to a belated lunch. The girls treated me because, they said, I was always picking the tab for them. So I let them. Because it makes them feel good. (And I could use the extra cash.) After spending some time going around SM Lipa (as part of my side assignment from Prof. Xavier), I dropped them off and was on my way home.

I thought I’d have as an easy time going home as I had going there. Boy, was I wrong! After a breezy drive along the Star Tollway and a large part of SLEX, the traffic went to an almost stand still starting at Susana Heights. And for the next almost 2 hours, I punished my legs to get home.

When I finally parked my car on the garage, I only had enough strength left to greet the people in the house, strip my clothes and plop my tired body to bed. And I slept until the following day. (Almost. I made sure I woke up for the third episode of True Blood.)

But wait! Why the story? Well, because after the guys bailed out on me the day before, I really had to ask myself why I needed them with me. I mean, yes, it’s a given that I enjoy the company. But I had been on solo trips before and it wasn’t a big deal for me. Why is this one different?

Frankly, I didn’t know. But when I was forced to have at it on my own, I think I reclaimed a piece of myself I thought I lost but didn’t know it: the ability to enjoy my own company.

So guys, I’d like to thank you for not being available to go with me. I remembered that I love my own company.