The new Cheese: American Cheese

Last week, I finished reading up on Dr. Spencer Johnson's "Who Moved My Cheese?". For those who haven't read it, it was about 2 mice called Sniff and Scurry and 2 little people named Hem and Haw. Sniff and Scurry both lived simple lives looking for Cheese. Hem and Haw, on the other hand, were more complex beings, being able to use their minds in search for Cheese.

It so happened that one day, Hem and Haw found a large pile of Cheese, which they thought would last them a lifetime. Everyday, they set out to that Cheese and got their happiness from there. Later on, Sniff and Scurry both found that same Cheese and shared it with Hem and Haw.

As time passed, the Cheese grew little and little. Eventually, the Cheese was exhausted, leaving all four with no more Cheese to fill themselves up with. Sniff and Scurry, being the adventurous mice, went out in search for new Cheese. Hem and Haw, meanwhile, grumbled, whined, and complained about losing all the Cheese. For days, they remained in that state until Haw, who was hungry and tired, decided to go out in search for new Cheese. He tried to convince the stubborn Hem to join him but the latter declined.

Meanwhile, Sniff and Scurry found a new stockpile of Cheese, thrice the size of the earlier Cheese. They spent their days there happily ever after.

Haw, through a tedious trial-by-error route around the Maze (maze of life), eventually found the same Cheese Sniff and Scurry found - three times the size of the previous Cheese. Happy was Haw, for he had found new Cheese. Along the way, he tried to help his friend, Hem, by leaving Writings on the Wall and a few bits of Cheese trail for Hem to follow. But Hem never found the new Cheese. Haw, on the other hand, spent the days merrily with Sniff and Scurry.

Relating this to my life (which is the reason why I read it), I can see myself in both Hem and Haw. Hem, stubborn and unrelenting as he is, is who I am right now but Haw is who I should really be.

In April 2004, I left my "old Pinoy Cheese" for the "new American Cheese". At that time, I had decided that I've had enough of that Pinoy Cheese because it was old, rotten, and moldy (thanks to some mofos there). And so I left the Pinoy Cheese in disgust in search for the new American Cheese.

Time passed. The old Pinoy Cheese suddenly looked good from afar. With a combination of new ingredients, that same Cheese was made better and tasty. Halfway into my stay here, I thought about going back to that old Pinoy Cheese. After all, I had dreamt of conquering that Pinoy Cheese for so long, now was the time to take another bite at it.

But it didn't happen. I stayed (thanks again to some mofos) because it seemed as if there was no more Cheese for me. I don't think I can spend enough dough to take a bite of the old Pinoy Cheese. And so I stayed.

Fast forward to January-February 2005. Yours truly found the new American Cheese, from which he will take a big bite off this summer 2005. Though I am thrilled to have the new American Cheese, somehow, I still find myself missing that old Pinoy Cheese, that same Pinoy Cheese I've enjoyed for 4 glorious years. The Cheese is still different back there. In my opinion, the Cheese back there is much better, much more tastier. The American Cheese is good (it supposedly is the best in the world) too, but, in my opinion, it's not as good as the Pinoy Cheese. Could this be Hem in me speaking? I have my reasons to believe such thoughts about the Pinoy Cheese. Heck, I've enjoyed it for 4 years. I know how good it tastes.

But then again, it seems as if I have no choice but to enjoy the new American Cheese. This is the Cheese of Opportunity, so to speak. However, though I know this different kind of Cheese will probably last, what about my dreams of moving up to the Bigger American Cheese? I have doubts that I will ever make it there; I have a feeling I will forever stay in this little American Cheese. Will I be happy? Will I be fulfilled? Will I have regrets of not going back to that old Pinoy Cheese?

Hell, I don't know.

If there's any funny coincidence, my car's license plates have the letters "HAW". Maybe it's a sign that I should be like Haw and go find happiness in the new American Cheese? Oh, well.

Or maybe I should just go and find the new Chinese Cheese?