From Screen To Life

Sex and The City

"Have you ever been inlove?"

Carrie asked.

"Abso-f*cking-lutely". says Mr. Big.

Sex and the City, S01E01

I already spent hours and hours browsing through Netflix and HBO app looking for something to take my mind off from thinking about my newly found crush - Chuck Bass.

Yep, it's the year 2021, I just turned 30 years old few days ago and has just binge-watched all six seasons of Gossip Girl in 7 freaking days. That fast, and call it an accomplishment. It's not like I didn't know the series when it aired. Ofcourse, I did. I was in college and watching it wasn't my priority. Not that I'm focused in my studies but I'm just a sucker for American series as compared to Kdramas with only less episodes and no future seasons guaranteed when it ends.

2 years in the pandemic, bored out of anything and being stuck at home, the only thing I can think of as an accomplishment is finishing a number of TV series, not to mention a huge number of Kdramas, as well as all kinds of movies. Trilogy, sequels, classic, and even up to 70s, you name it.

I took a week off from work (for my birthday, a tradition to take off a week or more for an unforgettable trip) - sitting on the desk by the bedside 9 hours a day typing and with four eyes in front of the screen. Back then, being off work means vacation, traveling to new places, meeting new people and not speaking their language, drawing an itinerary, being lost in a new world and planning the next holiday.

But now, it just means sitting and lying in bed, watching Gossip Girl, then rewatching it for only Chuck and Blair moments - because CHAIR couple is the only thing that made sense in the whole show with the best character developments.

It's already the weekend and I can't believe in 2 days it's Monday again.

"Ugh. Before my leave, I created this list and there's only one I was able to cross out." I told my sister. My sister, Hailey is married, with a 2 year old baby girl - the first of my siblings and I, being the second eldest amongst 4 of them: 2 girls, 2 boys.

My niece was busy watching Youtube on TV playing her favorite child role model - Diana. Seems like an Irish? Polish? cute girl, I'm guessing about 6 years old. It's funny how my niece always learns her phrases watching Diana and would just surprise the family when she even mimics the reactions. "What?!" she would say, with both her palms on her cheeks. Oh, the kids learn these days from watching online.

It's definitely something we don't see back in our days - the 90s.

"You know, my 30th birthday was supposed to be in Paris. I was gonna save for it. But damn this pandemic, I just lost 2 years of my life and I got older. I wasn't able to save any money". Aside from my online shopping escapades, I also share some expenses at home to help my parents.

"Better plan your best trip for your 31st then." she said while folding clothes. It was a lazy Friday, but being a mother, she does chores everyday.

"I know! Like, I should just get back there. The company is already giving heads up that we're about to go back next year by February or March, so maybe by then I could save for it."

I consider myself lucky (atleast) given the privilege of working from my hometown (8 hour drive from the city) for almost 2 years now. I thought when the government announced lockdown back in March 2020, I was just going back after a month. I actually only brought a backpack with me - which only has like 3 pairs of tops and bottoms.

Leaving the city was such a whirlwind. I never thought 2020 would become a disaster.

First, a volcano erupted. Then there was a forest fire in another part of the world, the world lost Kobe and her daughter, then suddenly covid, back then it was called NcoV. I booked a flight last minute to come home since that day at the office (where only 2 of us remained working on site, the rest being sent to work from home) we received chat blasts that the government would lockdown the city. That means no one would be able to get out or in through any means of commute, for a month.