Coming Up For Air

Resurfacing from my Hiatus

At the park in Les Halles several weeks ago, I spotted some giant bubbles floating in the distance. Tina instinctively knew I wanted to photograph the scene, so she pointed at one of the benches nearby. “I’ll be right there,” she said. As I got closer, I stood momentarily mesmerized as a couple of them drifted through the air. Mr. Bubble Man then swapped his apparatus to create multiple smaller ones. The kids arrived, running, jumping, and squealing as they raced to reach for the airy globes, their faces lit with laughter.

Taking in the art and architecture, walking and photographing around Paris felt like that for me— coming up for air. Now that I’m home, I feel renewed and ready to return to Sundays with Stella.

In a nutshell, here’s what unfolded during my hiatus:

Dad passed away in August. My siblings, niece and I were back in Manila for his wake and funeral. Shortly after, Ate Marica was admitted to the hospital for her scheduled surgery. GT and I were by her side, providing strength and making sure she didn’t feel alone. I stayed until she was safely discharged from the hospital and comfortable at home. We rehired Jellen, my dad’s caregiver, to support her post-op before I flew back to the Bay Area. We are so thankful that Ate Marica is gradually on the mend and doing well.

Ten days later, Tina and I arrived in Paris—a trip we had planned nearly a year before, and we are so grateful it came together as hoped. GT’s beloved dog, Pina, finally had her surgery, which had been postponed since May. Along with my cousin Anna, we took turns caring for her while she recovered. Her movements may be slower now, but she’s strong enough to play fetch, and her appetite remains as hearty as ever.

All I can tell you is that moment in Les Halles was the perfect antidote to a very challenging period for our family. I missed feeling that kind of joy— the lightness of mind and spirit. I needed it, and those five weeks in Paris provided exactly that.

Reflecting on these images, I’m also reminded of this: like bubbles, life is precious and fleeting. We have to enjoy it while we can. Things can change in an instant, and life as we know it may never be the same. Impermanence and transitions are inevitable; the only thing we can control is how we respond. It’s up to us to navigate forward and remember to adjust our sails as we move through life.

I remember a phrase Dad used to say, “Adjust-adjust lang,” referring to his mindset when it came to life’s transitions.

(Playing with Bubbles. Les Halles-Châtelet, 1st Arrondissement, Paris, FR, 2024. Photographs by Stella Kalaw)

In the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing more photographs, thoughts, and reflections as I find more time for myself and have the bandwidth to write. In the meantime, three pieces of luggage are still parked by the bottom of our stairwell waiting to be fully unpacked and stored in the garage. I’m still jet lagged but settling in and working on getting back into a rhythm. I have a short to-do list to tackle and a potential paid project on the horizon.

It’s wonderful to be back and reconnect with you, dear readers! Thank you for your patience. I also want to extend a warm welcome to those who have just subscribed even while the newsletter was on pause. I’m so glad you’re here to share this creative journey with me.

As always, let’s meet in the comments section below. I’d love to hear from you and what’s been happening in the Substack world. I’ve missed so much, and I look forward to catching up.

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