A Voice from the Past

Anita is a classmate from high school. She found me in Facebook and started to communicate with me through email and today - by phone. We will get together soon and she promised to prepare sushi for me as we catch up with each other's lives.

We last saw each other in 1972 - a lifetime ago. Although we were in the same class, we were not close. She was friends with a cousin who was in also in our class. However, we knew each other pretty well then - and have spent casual time with each other.

As we talked on the phone, memories started to flood back and I remember - her voice - her quick pragmatic - straight to the point way of speaking - except now she is speaking in English more than in Tagalog. Years of working with non-Filipinos does that to you.

In our not-so-short conversation, she had told me of how difficult life was, of a cheating husband with whom she separated twice - ah yes, she did give him a second chance, and from whom she in now "happily divorced". How she never finished college because of poverty both in the Philippines and when they arrived here in the US - with a philandering husband and three children - and how she did all kinds of jobs - at one point having four jobs at the same time - just to survive and support her kids.

She went to culinary school and became a chef (that's why I look forward to her sushi) among other things, and her life is now much better financially and emotionally. All her children are done with college and are all financially stable as well, thanks to her example. She still works, probably less than before - and spends time with her grandkid. She went through a lot and I probably heard only half of her story and I look forward to hearing more.

Something she said made me think. She mentioned how my voice and the way I speak seem to be mellow - there is a change, she said but she could not put her finger on what it is exactly. I told her it may have been that I have had a lot of practice in public speaking. She said no, that I have always done that in school and I was good even then. There was something else, she said.

I want to think that I have learned to listen more and talk less. That the words I use are not sharp and tart, but are soothing and yes, mellow. I want to hope that how I speak reflects my struggles to be a better person and a better Christian. It could also be that I am just reading a lot more into this that there is to it. I don't know.

But then there is that possibility that I may have really changed - and if I did, I just hope for the better.
St. Francis of Assisi told his followers: "Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words. " Could it be that I am learning how to do this by listening?