March 20, 2008

That's What Friends Are For

This is the title of a beautiful Dionne Warwick song. A truly beautiful one, for its music and its message.

Today is Yam's 18th day in the hospital. A special day. As special as Dionne Warwick' song. Karla Johnston Almazan (Yam's Mommy K) called long distance from Davao. For the past few days Yam's mood was nothing more than plain valley. No hills, not small undulations. But Mommy K's voice on the other end lightened up Yam's dormant mood, revved up her latent energy and charged up her sagging countenance. They talked for almost an hour, the way they always do, and in the process, transforming each other into better persons.

Warwick's song reverberates in the air:
"Keep smilin’, keep shinin’
Knowin’ you can always count on me, for sure
That’s what friends are for
For good times and bad times
I’ll be on your side forever more
That’s what friends are for"