Once Upon A Christmas Eve

The year was 1982. I was 15. He was 17. [Wait, doesn't that remind you of "Endless Love", the movie?] I had known him for over a year already but he started pursuing me as soon as I turned 15 in June of that same year.

Those were the days when people still listened to the radio. I remember DXGE and DXUM on the AM Band where the hopeless romantics dedicated songs for their loved ones and love wannabe's. It was some sort of a status symbol then to hear your name mentioned on air because someone wanted you to hear his or her song for you.

And then one day, I heard the DJ mention my name. I didn't move and waited with abated breath. The song was "I'd Rather Leave While I'm In Love" by Rita Coolidge. It was from James. He was saying goodbye at that time because I told him I was too young to entertain suitors. My Mom was my co-conspirator in evading his telephone calls.

Came Christmas Eve 1982. He had a proposition- give it a try for a week. He said, if it didn't work out then I was free to walk away on the first day of January. I thought that was fair enough. After all, his persistent telephone calls had already caught the ire of my very strict Dad. If I agreed to his offer, I would be able to control the time of his calls.

At exactly midnight, I said YES. And the rest was history. No, it didn't end on New Year 1983. The original agreement was extended indefinitely such that my Dad had to banish me to Manila for college after finding out about James.

The much coveted UP (Los Banos) admission was junked for another state university where I had an aunt who could monitor my class schedules. I was placed in a dormitory that had a 9 p.m. curfew with very strict restrictions on visitors. My Dad was so paranoid that he was in Manila to check on me almost twice a month for 5 long years.

1982 was also the year that Lionel Richie (formerly of The Commodores) released his debut solo single "Truly" which became our signature song that continues to haunt me to this day.

Even after we got married 11 years later (March 1994), Christmas was the special anniversary we never forgot to celebrate. My Dad was wrong. I did not only finish college but law school as well. James cheered me on as I went on to achieve what I wanted in life. That was 9 years of schooling and the 10th year was my Bar review class. The result of the Bar exams was released and I took my oath on the same month that I became his wife. He patiently waited until I was ready. He became the "Wind Beneath My Wings." My number one fan.

Please don't get me wrong here. I no longer dwell on the past. I don't feel pain anymore when I remember him. It is true that the pain lessens in time. It was not a perfect relationship. We had our own ups and downs. But I realize now that it was the imperfection of our relationship that made it all too perfect. 22 years and we practically grew up together. There were a lot of good memories there to last me a lifetime. And too many lessons that I have painfully learned.

PS. Guess what suddenly played on the radio as I am editing this post... our song TRULY! See Janet, love indeed transcends death.