Can't Get Over UP

Yeah, had a great walk around the Sunken Garden this morning with my husband and our friend Bernard. On Sundays, the road around the garden is closed to vehicles, so there was a mass of runners, joggers, walkers, bikers, kids, granpa's, grandma's ... it was such a sight to see. I remembered way back in the early '90s that this was not the scene to see on a Sunday (being a dormer and all). But I guess, the fitness craze has hit everyone and even people like me who lives in Mandaluyong would drive all the way up here to walk, jog, talk and just plain relax.

My recent visit to my doctor showed I gained weight, a weight I used to have only when I was a freshman at UP Diliman. With the mixture of being homesick, trying to fit in, having to study (kuno!), concocting schemes so I could get my crush to group study with me, etc .... I could finish a pint of Selecta coffee crumble and a loaf of raisin bread from the Shopping center in one sitting! It was only in freshman year that I hit the 110lbs scale, I'm always within my 100lbs weight zone.

Walking around UP this morning, brought up so many memories and feelings. I guess my friend Bernard put it so aptly, "you just can't get over UP". Yeah, when you're 16, all alone with all the freedom in the world, away from parental control and rules ... who can ever get over UP? The freedom is sometimes overwhelming that I've seen people who couldn't handle it and just spiral down ... sad yet, being in UP has taught me more than just the experential smoking, drinking, sneaking out of the dorm, helping a friend out while she double-booked herself for a date and make-out sessions. And its not some, ISKOLAR ng bayan thing and maki-baka thing, it's being responsible for your decisions and actions. Yup, and when it's not going as planned, there's no one to be blamed but YOU.

At a very young age, I knew that if I spent my allowance on a shopping spree or some gimik, I won't have money for laundry, ikot (walk yourself to death), group meetings and photocopy. I had to learn to budget! I lived in a dorm, with only my friends, my roommate and my BF knowing where I am. Physical safety and security was something I couldn't just assign to somebody else. Mind you, no mobile phones at that time. And getting sick was the worse part because you don't have a mom to take care of you. You have to walk to the pharmacy and buy your own meds. So, by the time you graduate, you can live practically anywhere!

On a lighter note, it was in UP that I gained long-time friends. Friends who know how terrible you look way back in the 90's (my gosh, with very short shorts and frizzy hair). Friends who have seen your high's and low's, friends who have become your second family. UP Dil was my home away from home ... so, how can you ever get over that?

So, I've decided to visit UP every weekend and jog, walk, run, relax ... eat breakfast at Rodic's and possibly visit the other restos there now. Maybe I'd bump into some of you. See you there ...

Mrs Jane B.