Hollywood Epiphany

Yesterday, I went to the library and saw this huge book on Humphrey Bogart. *sigh* This book has amazing photos - all black and white of a classic actor. As I was flipping through the pages, I came across this dialogue:

RICK: I'm saying it because it's true. It's inside of us, we both know you belong with Victor. You're part of his work, the thing that keeps him going. If that plane leaves the ground and you're not with him, you'll regret it. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life.

ILSA: But what about us?

RICK: We'll always have Paris. We didnt' have, we lost it until you came to Casablanca. We got it back last night.

ILSA: When I said I would never leave you.

RICK: And you never will. But I've got a job to do, too. Where I'm going, you can't follow. What I've got to do, you can't be any part of. Ilsa, I'm no good at being noble, but it doesn't take much to see that the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. Someday you'll understand that. Now, now... Here's looking at you kid.


Gotta love Casablanca. Upon reading this scene, there was something that struck a chord inside of me. Saying goodbye and leaving is probably one of my greatest fears, what I hate the most. Sometimes, you have to suck it up. And sometimes, you're stuck wallowing in your misery. I think most days, I'm in the latter.

But reading this scene from Casablanca somehow made me feel okay with it - with everything - rather than being so melancholy. Rick said it best when he said, "We'll always have Paris."

I'll always have...

bike rides in Berendo with Ate and playing with Snowball.
driving to preschool, elementary, and high school with Rach and co.
talent shows and mini-Carnivals and 8th grade plays at SBS.
the H.O.P.E. and liturgy clubs from NDA.
the high school dances and going through phases of raving, platform shoes, fun skirts.
the filming of our dramatic "The Last Piece" with my HS girls.
commuting between LA and Palmdale.
trips back home to the Philippines.
summers in Yuma and Everett with Mia and Joy.
the birth of Jeric.
Hanson concerts through middle school and high school.
the infectuous, giddy school-girl crushes.
hittin up Cherry Street with Fammafia.
crying and laughing and smiling and loving all because of Search.
partyin and chillin OA-ohana style.
the mischief and merriment of the RA world.
Vantage Park 312 (and the 5th Floor suite of homeboys).
fat nights and study nights with the girls.
dancing dancing dancing the night away with gross old-man Elvis wannabe in the background or getting make-up done by Ollie.
hearing "Hero" performed by my own Enrique Iglesias-es: Viet and Ashley.
crying with the girls over stupid boy drama.
going to the Mexican border and feeling so guilt-ridden.
bringing a picnic blanket to Championship Field and watching soccer games.
veggin and chillin, watching movies and sex and the city while sharing beverages with the girls+paul.
palanca. palanca. palanca. :)
planning meetings for our excursion to Ecuador.
week-end warm-ups and limo rides.
s'mores with tea lights and bbq sticks @ Madison Park.
summer days @ the Kirkland waterfront.
potlucks galore with fammafia.
walks to Pike Place and dates @ B&O.
flag football and rock climbing events.

...all of it.

We'll always have all of it. Here's looking at you kid.