Boobtube Blunder

One recent Sunday ago, my usual quiet morning almost turned upside down when a text message from a friend alerted me about Mr. Frog's appearance on a local TV show. The episode he was casted in was to be aired that Sunday night. And, naturally, I did not watch it. I repeat. I did NOT watch it. In fact, to evade the temptation of watching him get "upstaged by the other guest," as some of my friends would later report, I hid away at a French Baker branch and downed 4 cups of peppermint tea, to my heart's delight. What a pleasant discovery. A pot of peppermint tea for only P37.00.

As I look back, I can't help but be amused at how humans can sometimes be so unpredictable--and shifting--in their perception. The friends who, at one point, would do anything to swear off Mr. Frog from my life, were the very same ones who rang me up on my cellphone to share the news about his TV appearance. This, just when I was starting to become rock solid in my resolve to forget him. Haha!

The second caller did not even get a chance to greet me "Hello," as I abruptly intercepted her with "Alam ko na ang sasabihin mo! At hindi ako interesadong mapanood siya!" ("I already know what you're going to tell me; and I'm not interested to see him on TV!"). My friend could only laugh, in reply, and wonder how I ever guessed the intention of her call.

...I did not watch him, because doing so would mean to inflict emotional torture on myself. Call me crazy, but I still do get hurt with any reminder of him. While my mind may have resolved to sever all ties with him, my heart remains connected to him--a sad reality I continue to wake up to and struggle to accept, on a day-to-day basis. God knows how much I'd want to subject this episode to an "eternal sunshine of the spotless mind," and be done with him, once and for all! But I can't and will not, for as long as I live.

All persons we encounter in our lives leave something of themselves behind. In my case, Mr. Frog left a big dent in my life and hopped away with no less than my heart, in hand.

It was partly a relief to have learned that he blew his shot at instant stardom. I don't want him to become famous. Something in me tells me he may not be prepared to handle it. I truly and sincerely want him to be happy.