The Missing Piece

Recently, we were fortunate enough (or unfortunate for some like me) to see one of the greatest light shows in the sky.  (And no, it's not the world pyro olympics every weekend at the Fort - but it is great!).  It was the Leonids a week ago (Nov 19-20). 

Previous meteor showers which were visible from the Philippines were unfortunately covered in cloudy skies.  However, for this meteor shower we were supposed to be blessed with clear skies.  And so I noted of that day and of what time it would come.  11 pm came and I looked at the night sky.  It was clear!  I waited and waited (for an hour to be exact) and I could see no falling stars.  I decided to end the search.

If we were to base success on the number of stars one would see that night, then I would be classified under FAIL. (Not EPIC FAIL - since for me that would be missing the falling stars because you had to take a bathroom break - hahahaha!).  However, I did not end the night with failure.  Why? Simply because I made time to look up. 

This reminds me of one of my favorite books - The Missing Piece by Shel Silverstein - (check it out here) a simple story about the quest for fulfillment. I find myself in certain phases in life where I would think that I am not missing a piece.  Like the thing with its supposed missing piece, I would breeze through everything quickly and without being able to stop and look.  Sometimes, some of us fall into the same kind of hole where days just keep coming and going.  When was the last time you saw a rainbow? or a falling star? Or like the main character in the book - when was the last time you passed a beetle or you let a beetle pass you, or noticed a worm? More often than not, I find myself asking myself - when was the last time I even tried to just look up?  At the end of the story, the main character realized that it missed out more with its missing piece in place than without it.

As Christmas is just a few weeks away, it's usually the time I take all my leaves (this year I'll be off by Dec 17 - woo hoo!).  As it is the season for gifts, it will be busy as hell (and the traffic, and the wrapping...you know what I mean)  However, for this Christmas, I'll certainly take time to look up, to notice a worm, and to let a beetle pass me.

Just to note: I still don't have my own copy of The Missing Piece - hint, hint! But for those interested, it's available in the local bookstores.  Get The Giving Tree as well