i stopped by at the doorstep of a boarder at our frontage on the night of Nov 1...and i noticed 5 candles lit on the stairs...
tradition...
customs...
it is how it is...
for one who did not grow up exposed to such, i find this quite peculiar...and i had to take time to rationalize its essence.
to begin with, that boarder happens to work in a Callcenter nearby. Very nostalgic for me...since I was then in the same situation...not being able to come home on very significant events such as Christmas, New Year's day, Holy Week..and yes, All Souls' day... the callcenter molded my character in many different ways...that to eke out a living and to be able to survive the world, trivial and important sacrifices need to happen everyday of my life...and by such, reap rewards.
...customs....
...traditions...
while most families gather at the cemetery in loving memory of their relatives who passed away, i took time to clear my thoughts....sweat out by taking time to fix the pen of the hogs in our small farm...hoping that i will be renewed...for every sweep of the broom equates to a chunk of my body's toxins cast away...and by such, my attention refocused..my energy regained...for gazillion brand new challenges await me soon...
so different way than what's the norm.
but life for me has always been non-conforming.
else, things would not be special for me...if I do not take the road less traveled...in most of my journeys.