Relationships: Dealing with Inevitable Changes

It?s almost midnight, and here I am still up, in front of the PC while contemplatively watching the two most important men in my life as they soundly sleep. I?m having a hard time getting asleep. I guess nalipasan na ako ng antok (I’ve passed by my sleep) as my biological clock is programmed that I should have slept at around 9 to 9:30PM. Tempted to open the PC this late in the night, I opted to write a post for my Friendster account in a hope that this writing would soon lead me to a deep slumber.

An hour ago, my husband Jun and I just came from an advance celebration by the Rotary Club (University District Manila) of the Mooncake Festival at Emerald Hotel (yey, I brought home one of the grand prizes, an ampao inserted with a raffle stub for a brand new car and 500 pesos!) Yes, it was truly a miracle. I found myself tonight in the company of people (except for a few of them) whom I am not so much comfortable of mingling with. After the 2005 Rotary Party, it was just now again that I accompanied Jun in another Rotary function. A couple of days before tonight, Jun even kept on asking me if I was sure I will be going with him in the function. Though it was fine with him for me not to attend (as he already accepted the fact that I am always cold when it comes to supporting him on his Rotary endeavors), he says that ?it was very unusual of me saying yes right away? when he invited me to that Rotary event.

Actually, that positive note that he gathered from me was one of my concrete gestures of indicating to him that I have triumphed adjusting to the inevitable changes in our married life. Yes, with constant prayers, guidance and wisdom from God, I can very well tell myself now that I have already accepted truly in my heart that my husband is into a sincere dedication and commitment in Rotary service and not even the most influential person this world (such as me? or his Dad or his bespren) can persuade him to withdraw from such affiliation. Before this acceptance though, it took our relationship in insurmountable leaps of challenges, tests and trials for several months that? I almost gave up, almost.

His involvement in Rotary service began in year 2002. A co-member of Jun in Opus Dei sponsored his membership in the Club. Though he didn?t consulted of this, I never hesitated allowing him to attend the Club?s weekly lunch meetings as well as the its activities (you know, the typical medical missions, clean up drive, donation of wheel chairs to charities and orphanages and among other Rotary stuff?). Even at that time we were very busy as we were at the heels of managing the construction of our home, it never came into my mind not to let him go in Rotary events. The following year, he was elected as Club Secretary then Director for Youth Service the year after that. He became busier and more involved. But nevertheless, my support was with him all the way. I even managed to regularly attend functions with him that requires the company of spouses (in Rotary they call it Rotary Anns). Maybe that was my way of returning back the favors that they have courteously extended to my husband for it is mostly because of his Rotary involvement that he successfully gathered significant business development prospects from Rotary members in favor of the company where he works for. Those businesses meant more income for our family and a booming career for my husband.