Label Me This

#132: Ninang is My Favorite Label of All

I'm a godmother 13 times over. I don't know why but these moms are entrusting me with the responsibility of influencing their kids as they grow up. I think they should be warned.

One person I was having dinner with came to the conclusion a couple of weeks ago that I was weird. He just kept on saying it in-between guffaws. (Believe me, he's at least 4 times weirder. Which probably explains why we hang out with each other.) He went on to say, "I bet your kids are gonna turn out all screwy." I don't know what "screwy" means but if that means they'll be able to laugh at themselves and find delight in simple stuff, then I hope they really turn out screwy. (Screwy, not screwed-up.)

On top of being weird, another person I was chatting with early this year was suddenly hit with the realization that I was/am "cheeky." So he told me straight, "You are cheeky." Now I didn't know what that meant as well so I looked it up in the dictionary. Apparently, it aligned with what an ex-officemate of mine from Boots said about me within his first two weeks of meeting me. "You are 'saucy' (which I thought meant that I had flavor)... yeah, and 'sassy' (which I thought meant I had glam.)" Thing is, all these things meant that I had an irreverent type of humor. Which may be a good thing or a bad thing. I don't know. Ask the people who turn all red or blue or purple laughing when we're together.

Friday night, I was with a couple of ex-officemates from Globe and one of them (who had since proceeded to conquer Bangkok by being a Director of several Asia-Pacific markets at the age of 29) felt that I "over-plan" my life. "Over-plan" in terms of career, the person I can fall in love with, etcetera etcetera. She felt I needed to let loose so that I can enjoy life. An ex-boss of mine had a similar assessment after my first 6 months with her. She felt I had been living a very straight life and that I needed to let go of some of my "rules" so I could have more colorful experiences. Thing is, I don't think I'm over-planning and I don't mind living a purposeful life. It's better than making a mess and going through many unnecessary things. I would like to see it as living with direction. Yeah. That sounds so much cooler.

Two weeks back, the same person who said that I was bound to raise screwy kids came to the conclusion that I was a "control-freak." "You are a control-freak, aren't you?" I said "No!" Quite strongly too that it just reinforced to him that I was indeed one. Okay. I was. But not anymore. Not since 6 years back when I realized that no matter how well you plan things, you can't control everything. So, don't have a heart attack, man. (Something I want to tell my current boss whenever he plays Scattergories. I mean, that guy can die trying to defend why "Dancing Queen" is acceptable as a love song starting with the letter 'D'.)

Last night, I was hanging out with my good friend Elna and a friend from the office, KetchupPlease. KetchupPlease suddenly launched into a speech saying, "You will be successful, Gladys! I know because you're O.C." Hmm. No, I'm not. I don't obsess compulsively (or is it compulse obsessively?). That label, you reserve for people who would like to have it. There are already enough people claiming to be obsessive-compulsive (as if it were a badge of honor) and I don't want to be thrown in the same bucket. I would like to be successful though (but then, that's a relative term worthy of another discussion altogether.) I'd rather take on the label that my favorite Aussie co-worker gave me last year: "Smart Operator." (That means, I am able to make things work, right? Oh please tell me that's what it means.)

Today, I had lunch with this person from San Francisco. Within 20 minutes of talking to me, he interrupts me mid-sentence to say, "You're O.C., aren't you?" The straw? He saw the notes I scribbled on my left palm. Come on. An O.C. person wouldn't do that. An abnormal one would.

So I look at all these labels (all debatable, I assure you) and I look at all the kids I've been entrusted with...
1. Jeziel
2. Pia
3. Justin Allen
4. Carl Justin
5. Arvin John
6. Carlos
7. Eunice
8. Joseph Than
9. Natasha
10.Rona Dee
11. Bea
12. Brianna
13. Sofia Karol Fe

And I realize that their moms must know something these other people don't. And it's either they've made a very good call (labels and all) or they're all in big trouble. God help us all.