Of Joy, Ate Precy, John’s Books and Joy

ATE PRECY MESSENGERED me that Joy has decided to let me pick first from John’s books before she throws the rest away. I wasn’t surprised, just pleasantly touched that Joy would remember me from our rare encounters (thrice at the wakes of John, Kuya Jun and Ate Eve), because when he lived, John would lend me some of them (I remember I could not refuse his heavy tomes and only read them cursorily) and our exchanges were more than sufficient to convince me of his compassionate wisdom. That he was an adult psychologist did not daunt me, not even his towering company, when we would walk together. I’ve written about him in prose and poetry so I’ll write about the books that I inherited from him, thanks to the thoughtfulness of Joy and the quick dispatch of Ate Precy. Aes and Myrna drove and dropped me off at the Diocson’s residence. They’ll come back for me when they’re done at PLDT.

I chose the following books from the litter: 1. “That’s not what I Meant” by Deborah Tannen, Ph.D.; 2. “For Writers Only” by Sophy Burnham; 3. “The Complete Home Healer” by Angela Smyth; 4. “Buddhists and Christians” by James L. Fredericks; 5. “The Prophet,” Kahlil Gibran (I gave away mine eons ago and why wouldn’t I welcome a returning treasure!); 6. “A Second Treasury of Kahlil Gibran”; 7. “Beginning to See” by A. Sujata; 8. “My Grandfather’s Blessings” by Rachel Naomi Remen; 9. “The Gentle Smile” by Diane Berke; 10. “The Hours” by Michael Cunningham; 11. “Let’s take the Long Way Home” by Gail Caldwell; 12. “When Temptation Strikes” by Larry Dixon (the last two still cellophaned and unread); and the greatest ecumenical piece of the lot, “The Holy Quran”.

Eclectic is the immediate word that comes to mind to describe the precious loot I took home. I hoped that another soul is blessed by the rest of John’s books it’s a shame if they are inevitably just thrown away.

John had a lot of interests, topmost of which were children (the special kind which he and I shared, although separately since I am not a professional like him), pursuit of justice (like me, he denounced tyranny although I only fought it through my pen while he took it on headlong) and Zen, existentialism and every blasted subject which drew our lines of enthusiasm. And he loved to sing (he used to conduct our church choir) and dance when in private company.

I have long ceased buying books because of the accessibility of social media although I never declined a freebie whenever it presented itself. Ate Precy’s message opened the floodgates of wonder and it was all I could do not to think of all the awesome insights those books would weaponize my writing with.

Especially, only John could’ve foreseen how greatly I’d appreciate the Holy Quran. A quarter before the year of ecumenical dialogue ends, he knew the tentative efforts I’ve made to write about Islam, appreciate Buddhism and embrace denominations other than the Catholic faith. Didn’t Jesus Himself say the greatest two commandments were “Love God” and “Love your neighbor”? Of course he knows how happy he’s made me. I couldn’t wait to read the back-cover blurbs of his legacy. More significantly, I wanted to share the joy immediately. The bagful of memories was not too heavy I decided to walk home and fb’d Aes as soon I got there. And started to tag the books one after reverent another.

On hindsight, whoever said that the dead do not communicate may not have had my past and recent fortunate experiences. Our mutual friend, Ate Maricar, has always maintained that John looks after us. I believe this because of the invisible angel that was with Mary when I ran into two accidents. Miraculously, I survived both simply by praying while I was still sober and, despite my stubbornness, Mary and her angel cradled me home, blood, bruises and all. John hated British weather but couldn’t stand it when Ate Car and I were alone, in danger and far away from succor. That is why he walked with us (obliviously) and acted appropriately when serious situations strike. Ate Car has stories from Romblon and elsewhere I’ll let her share. He helped me twice already. With Mary. Amen.