BULL'S EYE!

I suddenly realized that it's been a while since I last posted here.

It's been a busy month for me, in terms of my social life . And I must say, I am having sooo much fun!

After my interest in travel waned, I had more time to mingle with friends - old and new. And found, to my delight, that there's so much out there that I can and would like to do!

Talking to people is one of them. I used to be so anti-social, having a hard time opening up conversation with strangers. But after a few hesitant tries, to which those people have responded warmly to, I find it so easy to approach people now.

I have discovered that all it takes to talk to someone is a simple "hello". It works wonders, believe me.

Anyway, last weekend, I went with a newfound friend to a shooting range which he's been telling me about. I wasn't interested in target shooting before, but after he described it to me, I got curious and wanted to give it a try. Fortunately, my new friend was willing to take me there.

So off we went. I asked for the lightest pistol they had ('cause I was afraid I wouldnt be able to handle the recoil of a heavy gun), and they gave me a .45 caliber pistol.

One of the staff assisted me and taught me the basics - how to handle the gun, the proper stance, how to take aim, and how to pull the trigger properly. So after a few tries with a blank magazine, he declared me ready.

As he inserted the loaded magazine into the pistol, I could feel my heart start beating faster. I tried to calm myself a bit, 'cause I know my erratic pulse would affect my aim.

Inhale. Exhale.

Inhale. Exhale.

Inhale. Exhale.

Okay, Im ready.

So I aimed. Took the proper stance. CLicked the safety button down.

Then I fired.

And I hit the bull's eye.

The Romeo and Juliet story of our time

While the whole world had its eyes on Prince William and Kate Middleton, their wedding made me recall the love story of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles. :X

Their story makes me wanna keep believing that true love still exists, that's it's not just some stuff fairy tales are made of. And to be perfectly honest, their story made me real envious.

Of course, we all know the tragedy involved in their story. Camilla married someone else when Charles went abroad as part of his military duties. Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer and had two sons. Prince Charles and Camilla committed adultery. Camilla got divorced, then Prince Charles followed suit a year later.

Tragedy all around, capped with Princess Diana's death in a violent and controversial car accident.

Of course I don't condone the whole adultery thing. It was in bad taste, regardless how you look at it. But that aside, this couple's love has survived time (think 3 decades), trials, intrigue, social standards, controversy, ridicule, public spite and censure, and even family outrage. Dare we still question their devotion, sincerity and the strength of their love for each other?

Like Romeo and Juliet before them, Prince Charles' family was a big factor for the mistakes that eventually happened. Camilla was deemed unfit for a prince not only because she was a commoner, but also because she was 16 months older than the prince and was not "virginal", which apparently was a big requirement for a royal bride. The young prince allowed himself to be dissuaded and probably broke his true love's heart because of it =((

Fast forward to more than 30 years later. They are both single, albeit with their own parental responsibilities, not to mention the same obstacles that challenged them 30 years ago. But now they are wiser, stronger, and more capable of defending their love for each other.

Let's admit it, even at his age, Prince Charles, with all his wealth, power and rank, could marry a much younger and attractive woman and have more children with her, if he so wished. But he didn't. He chose to marry a wrinkled 57-yr-old woman who he has loved since he was in his teens. He chose to validate his love for Camilla with a marriage that showed the whole world what true love is and how it should be.

In my book, that makes him a truly noble man. We should all be taking lessons from him.

This is not to take away from the romance of Prince William and Kate Middleton. True, their love story also qualifies as a modern-day fairy tale : ordinary girl marries the prince - literally. But theirs will never beat Prince Charles' and Camilla's story.

* Britain's Poet Laureate Andrew Motion has written "Spring Wedding," a poem commemorating the marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles:

I took your news outdoors,

and strolled a while

In silence on my square of garden-ground

Where I could dim the roar of arguments,

Ignore the scandal-flywheel whirring round,

And hear instead the green fuse in the flower

Ignite, the breeze stretch out a shadow-hand

To ruffle blossom on its sticking points,

The blackbirds sing, and singing take their stand.

I took your news outdoors, and found the Spring

Had honored all its promises to start

Disclosing how the principles of earth

Can make a common purpose with the heart.

The heart which slips and sidles like a stream

Weighed down by winter-wreckage near its source --

But given time, and come the clearing rain,

Breaks loose to revel in its proper course.