I am New to Badminton

I receive invitations from different colleagues to play badminton.
My sister, An-an, also encourages me since she plays badminton even in UK.
Even if I love new challenges, especially new sports, I say NO every time there’s an invitation.
Yes, a NO from me is unusual.
I would love to discover this sport, only that, I couldn’t afford being into this sport.
For me, it is costly.
Firstly, rental fee per day at Top Smash is 75 pesos- the cost for 2-3 meals.
Secondly, shuttlecock will be bought every play day as the feathers are brutally battered.
Thirdly, I don’t have a racket and it would cost me a fortune to buy it.

One fine day, Sharie, along with other IMDS colleagues who are also beginners invited me to flock with them as they are planning to join Mabel’s Badminton Cup.
This tournament is organized by for Lear employees by Amabel, HR country manager,  which is held every year.
I almost said YES because of my tendency to do so, but due to my hectic weekly schedule –volleyball, football, assignment in MS studies, child rearing- I said NO because I couldn’t find a time to practice.
I barely know the rules and how to play the sport – aside from the knowledge that a shuttlecock is to be hit towards the opponent and that it should go over the net.

Another fine day, Jordan called me and asked me be Grace’s partner for Women’s doubles since, Junneffer cannot come to play as she will go “island hopping” together with other IMDS colleagues and Gerry from the US.
I will not be spending for the rent and shuttlecock and Jordan will lend me his racket.
I told Jordan that I have never played badminton in my entire life.
He said it is okay and will just teach me the basics and said that I am a fast-learner so it wouldn't be a problem.
It was a day before the tournament.
Yet, I was convinced to say YES.

And so September 9 came - the day of the tournament.
I went to Top Smash two hours earlier than the tournament to have a one-hour crash course with Jordan.
I was basically an ignorant to the sport so he started teaching me with the basics - how to hold the racket, how to do a serve, how to receive, how to smash, and some rules of the game.
And because I only had one-hour training, I was forced to learn fast.
The next challenge was to play with a partner.
However, Grace arrived just a few minutes before the start of the tournament.
Good thing, there were courts not used for the tournament so we were able to grab a few minutes to practice with each other.
Guts and positive thinking were our only ace!

We only played thrice since Beginners were divided into two brackets.
Well, we lost in all our matches – what do you expect?
We may have lost in our games, yet, I am still a winner because I have finally played BADMINTON and had so much fun doing it.

I would love to pursue this sport, yet, I would need someone to sponsor the cost. =)

The Number 31

31.
The last number you could find in the calendar.

The last number that you could find your age in it.

If not all, then, most of the people who reach 31 would associate it with the last number in the calendar.

The age you could still be considered “young”.

And when your 31st year is over, you will be looking forward to age 40.

Why? It is because of the saying “Life begins at 40”.

It’s when you would feel young again.

When my 30th year was almost over, I was thinking what I must do to remind me of my 31st birthday.

It made me think of giving myself a pixie cut since short hair makes you look young.

But was I ready for it?

Honestly, I wasn’t.

I haven’t tried it since I was 5 years old – the time my hair was cut by my childhood friend because the bubble gum I ate was stuck in my hair.

However, I was determined to do it.

Anyways, it won’t take long to grow it back.

I then searched the net for a model showing off her pixie cut.

I chose Carey Mulligan’s picture and saved it in my phone.

I also asked Mais what salon gives a good haircut.

She suggested Salon de Rose and David’s Salon.

And so, after my MS class, Tacs and I went to David’s Salon at E-mall.

I prefer gay hairdressers for their known talent, unfortunately, there was none in that salon at that time.

And it scared me. More so when I knew that their hairdresser was a male.

When it was my turn, the hairdresser asked what hairstyle I liked.

I showed him the picture from my phone.

He said “mu-bua gud” seeing my almost-two-feet-long hair.

When he grabbed his pair of scissors, my heart was pounding very fast.

I drew my attention to the magazine I was holding until it was over.

And when it was over, I looked at the mirror, looked at Tacs, and asked him if it was okay.

He had a big smile and nodded.
In just minutes, my years-long hair was gone and the “new me” appeared!

I am 31 years old and I am young!