music to my ears

mama: alam mo naman, pa, pano ang bunganga ko. malakas lang ako magsalita, at dire-diretso na parang armalite. tagal na tayong mag-asawa, di ka pa nasanay? (you know how my mouth works. i'm really loud and when i talk, it's like an armalite. after how many years of being married to me, shouldn't you have been used to it already?)

papa: alam ko naman yun, mama. kaya nga parang music na sya pag naririnig ko, eh. (i know that, mama. that is why it's already like music to my ears when i hear you like that.)


--yeah, my parents.

birthday present

my mom celebrated her 58th birthday the other day and unfortunately, i forgot the date and only remembered it when she told me in a phone call. that was pretty lame but she understood it and of course, forgave me. why not, when she had a fun day! she had her friends celebrating her birthday way before wednesday, she got a morning serenade, and a gift from my dad.

actually, she was giggly over papa's gift for her! she didn't expect it really, she said, because the thing that delivered it was a truck. anyway, she got three red roses and a card. later i found out from my dad what's written on the card:

i love you more than ever...

how sweet. yes, mama was right. as they grow older, papa becomes more romantic each day!

love - my parents' way

there are a lot of things i want to write about. actually, i had been thinking about it the last couple of days, but tonight, there is only one thing in my mind. a conversation i heard last christmas from the people i love most -- my parents.

as usual, i can't help but think that the older my parents get, the more they actually become like children, especially my papa. they always bicker, ending with my mama telling me all about it (nagsusumbong) and later with my papa complaining that mama fought with him again. but everytime, it all ends up in laughter when they talk about it. this one night was no different. after they bickered during the day, they were telling us how papa ended the conversation after mama asked this question:

"pano na lang kung wala na ako dito? (how will it be then when i am gone?)"

papa answered her, "ewan ko, mama, dahil susunod na ako sa iyo. di ko kaya wala ka... (i don't know, mama, because i will follow you right away. i can't do it without you.)"

aren't my parents sweet? i wish, when my time comes, i'll find somebody like my dad. someone who'll love me very much that he can't do living when i am gone...

mama's plates

remember what i told you about mama's shopping for the ultimate plates? see what she bought...


nice, aren't they?

MY mom

she didn't recognize me.

i stood just outside the door with my back to them and she said to my sister that it was not me. when i turned around after putting my umbrella down, she was astonished. she didn't expect me to be that "chubby" and she has not seen me with my curly hair yet.

but still, i love my mama.

she ran me ragged after two days of shopping from afternoon till evening looking for her always elusive blouse (which we didn't find) and ended up buying lots and lots of plates for her to use in the coming fiesta. i know, she would again be envied by her friends who always come to the house to help out and have fun whenever there is a big celebration. i can just here them asking my mama: "na, flor! donde tu ya compra este? bale man!" or "kay guapo jud! asa man ni sya napalit?" and my would just say, "na! gipalit na sa sm sa akuang mga anak!" *laugh out loud*

last night, we took her to the bus station so she could go home and visit her parents, brothers and sisters and my father's family. i was a little bit worried about her traveling alone even if i know there's nothing to worry about since she's used to it. i was like a mother, texting her and calling her just to make sure that all her stuff was with her, if she left anything behind, asking her to text me when the bus is on its way already.

anyway, the house is now pretty quiet again for the next couple of days. early in the morning, while i was still in bed, she texted me that she's on her way to her home now. but i had to text her later in the morning to know if she arrived well at home and she told me that one of my uncles met her and brought her home and she's enjoying some time with inang, our grandmother. later, i know that my uncles, aunts and cousins will drop by the family house to visit with her. for sure, everybody is excited because they don't always get to see mama. some of my younger cousins might not even know her as they were still babies when she last visited. i hope my cousins will like the clothes we sent them.

i miss her already. how much more when she goes home on saturday? oh well... i still have friday to be with her because i will the one to pick her up at the bus station. later in the day, i know we would do some last minute shopping.

*laugh out loud* i used up all my current salary in this visit but i won't have it any other way. i'm glad i can buy stuff for my mom. money is nothing compared to her smile, her delight at seeing her new plates with the pretty designs...

i miss her already.