It's hard to believe that I am already an old guy. Well, I am 44 years old as of this writing. As I viewed my face, I already saw lines and wrinkles on my face. I have gained weight, and noticed my stamina not as good as it was during my prime years. Not to mention having a beautiful two year old daughter and a loving and beautiful 34 year old wife of nine years now. I also haven't changed jobs, being an Online English Teacher for same years as my marriage.
I look back, and I didn't regret being an old guy. See, the current millenial society treats old people differently. They see them as weak and useless already in society. They always want to look forever young. But I degrest.
I was born in the 1970's, at the time that my country is under Martial Law. I have a very excellent childhood, having to play with toys and watch TV (anime mecha was our favorite). There's also the trip to the store to buy candy, going to church on Sundays (I was raised Catholic), and even going to Luneta Park and even Quiapo. Never mind Martial Law, since as a kid back then I don't care about it. Life was simple back then.
We moved to Marikina City in the late 1980's and studied high school here. The EDSA Revolution happened, as well as a series of coup-de-etats. Growing up, cartoons became more of a background. Girls, crushes, New Wave music, American Pop music became my interests. There's also the NCEE test. I met a lot of wonderful people. High school specially my senior year became one of the happiest moments in my life. I sometimes shed a tear just recalling those days.
The 1990's saw a slightly older version of me studying AB Political Science at Far Eastern University in the city of Manila. There, I met more people,but unlike my high school days they were very different from me. I never got along with most of them. I also experienced my first setback in life:not being able to finish my Law studies, only managing a first year. A year of unemployment became a career as a teacher. I was still quite young being a teacher. That was the time I realized that the children of the 1990s are very different from us. Still, four school years toughned me. Also, I started my comic book collection as well as became an avid reader of almost anything. There was also a boom in television programs and music. This was also the golden years of anime.
As the millenium entered, I got into the Business Process Outsourcing market. Very far locations and schedules really took it's toll on my mind and body. Despite that, it was here where I met my wife. We got married in 2008 and we started living by ourselves in 2009, eventually leaving Marikina City. My marriage is a series of ups and downs, but it was a really happy one. Only problem is struggling with having children.
By 2014, me and my wife had our first child. My daughter was born on November 18 at 5:30 pm. It was joy for both of us. However, since my wife had to take care of our kid, I was left alone to work. Financial troubles led us to leave Pasig and go back to Marikina in June 2015. We are still living there.
Time really moved so fast for me. My daughter is now two years old,and I have been married and working for the same company for 9 years now. Lines have been in my face. I have eye bags and dark circles in my eyes. But you know, I am happy. Those 40 plus years that the Lord has given me, I never regretted. If I will choose the year that I will be born, I will still choose the 1970's. I still yearn for the simple life that I grew with. I loved the life experiences, whether they are good or bad. I loved the people I met. And I am happy with my life. Wrinkles, lines, weight gain, they are all a part of being old. But the knowledge and wisdom and life experiences that come with it is something that I will never trade.
BRIAN LUCIANO
AUGUST 11, 2017
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