Taylor-Fit

"I've never thought about songwriting as a weapon. I've only thought about it as a way to help me get through love and loss and sadness and loneliness and growing up."

“Words can break someone into a million pieces, but they can also put them back together. I hope you use yours for good, because the only words you'll regret more than the ones left unsaid are the ones you use to intentionally hurt someone.”

― Taylor Swift

I am a Swiftie – and I’m proud of it.

I don’t care about her long list of failed relationships (hey, I’m a girl, too), I love her songwriting and I love her songs. Taylor Swift is a girl after my own heart. She writes songs the way I write my stories – full of emotions, at the moment, and so…real. Her way with words, at such a young age, and how she turns her experiences into hit songs, I will always be a fan. I don’t care if her age is closer to my daughter’s. This girl is simply amazing.

There is always a Taylor Swift song for almost anything – when you’re in love, when you’re sad or mad, or happy, when you've just met someone new or when you’re getting over someone, and every emotion there is on the spectrum, as they say. There's not a day in the week that I don't have her on my playlist. There's always a Taylor Day for me.

My Favorite Taylor Songs:

Red

-         A roller coaster of intense emotions, that’s why it’s red. It’s so good, and it’s so bad at the same time. The highs, the lows; the ups, the downs.

Touching him was like realizing all you ever wanted was right there in front of you

Memorizing him was as easy as knowing all the words to your old favorite song

Losing him was blue like I'd never known

Missing him was dark gray all alone

Forgetting him was like trying to know somebody you never met

But loving him was red

Begin Again

-        What can I say, but I love new beginnings, especially after picking up the pieces of a broken heart and the magic brought about by meeting someone new and looking forward to something great.

And you throw your head back laughing like a little kid

I think it's strange that you think I'm funny 'cause he never did

I've been spending the last eight months

Thinking all love ever does is break and burn and end

But on a Wednesday in a cafe I watched it begin again

Enchanted

-        The enchantment of meeting someone, it’s like floating after having that connection, of being alive after a long time, and you can’t stop thinking of that someone.

This is me praying that

This was the very first page

Not where the story line ends

My thoughts will echo your name

Until I see you again

These are the words I held back

As I was leaving too soon

I was enchanted to meet you

Back to December

-        When you look back at a romance with regret for having ended it. Sort of like an apology song.

Maybe this is wishful thinking,

Probably mindless dreaming,

But if we loved again, I swear I'd love you right.

I Almost Do

-        Of missing someone and resisting the urge to call, knowing it’s a bad idea.

And I just wanna tell you

It takes everything in me not to call you.

And I wish I could run to you.

And I hope you know that every time I don't

I almost do,

I almost do.

Treacherous

-        Of a love that seemed romantic and perfect, but dangerous.

Two headlights shine through the sleepless night

And I will get you, and get you alone

Your name has echoed through my mind

And I just think you should, think you should know

That nothing safe is worth the drive and I would

Follow you, follow you home...

I'll follow you, follow you home...

Fearless

-        The title itself propels it to the top of my list. One should remain fearless, even after a series of pains, disappointments. No matter how many times you fall and get hurt, you shouldn't be afraid to stand up and love again.

So baby drive slow

Til we run out of road in this one horse town

I wanna stay right here in this passenger's seat

You put your eyes on me

In this moment now capture it remember it

Well you stood there with me in the doorway my hands shake

I'm not usually this way but

You pull me in and I'm a little more brave

It's the first kiss, it's flawless, really something, it's fearless.

~TheGoodGirl

Sleepless in Shuttle

On our way to the office this morning, I was telling Alex about my van ride yesterday. How I disliked the girl who sat beside me. She’s chubby, and probably years older than Cae. From the back, she transferred to the front row, so I assumed she would get off before us. But no, she was still there when it was my turn. I waited for her to move, I think I said “Excuse me” twice. She wouldn’t budge. “Excuuuuuuuusssssse me,” I said again. Aba, ayaw pa rin. The other passengers were already looking at us. Then I said, “Parang ayaw mo magpababa ah!” Then I didn’t wait na, bumaba na lang ako (kasehodang matamaan sya) and slammed the door. I knew she was staring at me, I wished I stared at her back and said a few more things, but I didn’t care anymore.

My point was, kung hindi ka naman bababa agad and you chose the seat near the door, then expect that somebody else will get off ahead of you, so be prepared to move or allow them to get off. I do that – a lot. Otherwise, dun ka maupo sa likod. If you don’t want to be disturbed. For me, it doesn’t matter if the person is older or younger than me. If I’m blocking his or her way, bababa ako. It’s just the way things are. Magpapadaan ka talaga. Isa lang ang exit eh. Pare-pareho lang tayong pasahero at hindi tayo ang may-ari ng sasakyan. Where are the manners of this girl? Parang mommy na lang nya ko. I told Alex I would have understood if it were raining, syempre she’d get wet. But it wasn’t. Plain laziness and bad manners.

Alex said, “Magblog ka nga ng shuttle etiquette.” Lol.

I have a lot of van adventures – funny, infuriating, minsan mapapailing ka na lang, di mo alam kung maiinis ka or matatawa. If there is phone or email etiquette, there must be ‘shuttle etiquette’, too.

People who are talking loudly over the phone, hindi kaya sila nahihiya na marinig yung conversation nila? I hate that. Pwede namang mahina lang.

People who snore. Wow. Ako ang nahihiya whenever somebody does that.

People who talk loudly with each other. Ah excuse me po, when you’re tired after a day’s work, parang ayaw mo ng maingay. Or is it just my age?

People who kept on complaining about the heat inside the van, or how it is too crowded. Please. Normal na po ang siksikan, ganun talaga. Apatan kung apatan. Don’t blame the other passengers. Ayaw pa umusog. Eh di bayaran mo lahat para wala kang katabi. Or better yet, buy your own vehicle.

People who are sweaty. Ewwww. Ang lagkit kaya.

People who don’t smell good. Naman.  No explanation necessary.

Guys na nakabukaka. Ano ba namang ipitin mo yan, sakop mo na lahat ng upuan ah.

People who wear earphones or are stuck to their headsets na dinig na dinig ng lahat kung gaano kalakas, hindi tuloy marinig na may bababa.

Parents na may kinakandong na bata, kahit masikip na. Ibayad ninyo na yan. Especially if they’re taking too much space. I don’t mind crying babies, it’s not their fault. And I don’t mind children who talk a lot during the trip. Ok lang yun. But sometimes, natatapakan ka, or nadudumihan ka ng shoes nila. Sorry na lang.

Yung iba naman, pasakay pa lang, “Sa ano lang ako bababa.” Ano ba yan, hindi pa nga sumasakay, bababa na agad? Lahat gusto maupo sa bungad. May sasakyan bang puro bungad??? If you can picture in your mind the flyer used by the Wright brothers, ayun pwede yun.

But there is still some goodness inside the shuttle, in all fairness. People who are nice, people who initiate small talks, especially senior citizens or older ones who smile at you. Guys who smell good, na parang gusto ko nang sabihan ng, “Boss, pakiss naman, ambango eh.” People with manners, who say ‘excuse me’ and ‘thank you’. People who open the door for you, or echo your “Sa tabi lang,” when the driver didn’t hear you. People who are considerate. People who are good-natured, hindi mareklamo.

I know some will not agree with me, kanya-kanyang opinion lang naman yan. And there are some who find my adventures amusing. It's ok for me to commute, no big deal. I am used to that. I grew up taking tricycles, jeepneys, buses. Commuting or taking public transport may be a challenge, it’s a jungle out there, but we can still practice good manners and right conduct to enjoy the ride.

~TheGoodGirl