Accidental Family Planning

"Be fruitful and multiply"
Genesis 1:28

When you live in a hustle bustle city like Los Angeles there is ALWAYS something to do. You are constantly around people who have something on the side whether its art or their own sidebusiness. Sure 90% of the people in this town are actual hacks (including myself directing my next documentary film: "Sam's Debut") , but in a city like this, no one is about to start a family on accident, which goes back to my hometown of San Bernardino, which my older brother describes that "There is nothing to do but procreate."

Now when I look at my friends from San Bernardino, I'd say a good 90% of them have children, and a smaller percentage not married. This is the consequence of living in a town that does not really have anything to do. Last night me and the homie Pat were discussing how every Filipino family has that one uncle that bore a couple illegitimate children in the Philippines over a bowl of ramen. (In a mock Filipino accent: yoo know, dere eeesh no T-Vs dere, and nawting to do!) When you are raised in a limited environment (ie, an environment that provides little entertainment and other activities that stimulate the mind), what is there left to do? Yes, everybody has a fuck or two but if you don't have any ambitions or other passions in life you are currently chasing, your mind goes "Fuck the condom, raw dog is where its at!" Love (not family love, but love for your mate) is one of the greatest activities ever. Yes I'm marginalizing it as an activity because love is not known to last (hello?! 50% divorce rate?). When you're dating someone in these type of towns and all you do is go to a 9 to 5 (which is more likely you wont be satisfied with), you have no choice but to look forward to that special person who's been dating you for half a year. From a dude's perspective, you watch the Lakers beat the shit out of the Heat while your chick patiently waits after serving you a beer and after that, bow chicka wow wow. Keep in mind, you're content with your career because you make enough money. The only next step is marriage.

Of course, the marriage thing is never planned. What is also never planned is the baby coming in 9th months. (There are exceptions to the rule, ie to the people who actually plan to have a child before marriage). Should you accept the child (not give it up for abortion or adoption), your life changes. That dream of becoming a rockstar is put on the shelf for the sake of that child as you put in them overtime hours to get your kid the proper care. This is what I see amongst my classmates in the old San Berdoo High. They seem happy through their myspace pictures but I myself cannot see myself putting my aspirations on the side for a kid. Thank goodness for my family for talking some sense to me when I brought home my first real girlfriend (and to add, shes actually the only person that I put my devotion to in my dating history). If I still lived in San Bernardino, there would be nothing else to look forward to. I still hope to direct my first film or music video (oh wait, I already did direct my first music video). I'm also enjoying life because I'm in control of it, well 90% of the time at least. I still hope to plant my seed and harvest it, but for now, I'd much rather enjoy everything else of what life has to offer.

And suffice to say, I think it is rather strange that my friends who have children are still partying their asses off, if not harder than I do myself. I surely hope to not end up doing that when I bring Cristiano Junior into the world. By that time, I should be established and becoming an example for my son (or my daughter who I may name Cristiana.. haha). Surely I'm saying that now knowing that I might still continue the habits after the kid comes. But till then, big ups to all the parents out there, because that is probably the hardest job in the world that you'll ever have.