'HOME' AND COMFY
I guess it's a normal thing, that whenever I come back from a trip, it would take it's toll on my blogsite. It takes a while for me to be able to update my site... well, for several reasons. If it's a trip from the Phils., I wouldn't be updating at once because it makes me sad to remember things too soon. If it's a trip from somewhere else, there would be other reasons, but always, always, one of them would be because I'd have to make the house habitable again after leaving it for a couple of weeks or so. Well this time, you can throw in jetlag and some other thing.
Right now though, it's a holiday Monday afternoon, a rainy one at that, and I've done most of the blog-restricting things I have to do, fafa Jay's sleeping in the room and I have the computer all to myself... it's what I would call a 'perfect time to blog.'
Okay. So how do you guys like my new lay-out, huh? Pretty nifty, don't you think? And I told you it's sooo me... huh? Huh?... what with the color, which, on account of my being a capricorn, an earth sign, fits me to a T... the coffee cup which I simply can't do without, the donut which I love. It's like everything in this design has been put to make me really comfy. Of course, an ashtray with a burning cigarette might have been added. But you know what? Since I'm trying to quit now (operative word: trying), it's absence is so apt even.
I'd like to thank Ate Sienna, my sister-friend, owner of Manilena and Pansitan.net, for designing my new skin, and also, for hosting my site. I don't know. I think, as far as the web is concerned, there is absolutely nothing that she's incapable of doing. In my book, she's a genius. I'd also like to thank my hubby, fafa Jay, for all the things he's added to the new look of my site. He has spent a lot of time on it and... what can I say except 'what in heaven's name will I do without you?'
Well, with all that having been said, I guess it's time to talk about our trip. It's an 8-day trip and my first time in California, so don't ever make the mistake of thinking this is going to be a short blog. So sit back and be prepared to lose the haste.
We arrived via Los Angeles on 17 Jan (no pictures at the airport, ok?). The immigration officer decided he had to take my fingerprints but my fingers were so dry they wouldn't leave a print on his machine. So guess what he asked me to do. First, he asked me to rub my pointing fingers on my forehead, nope... on the side of my nose?, won't work either. So then he asked me to rub them on fafa Jay's forehead and voila! Finger prints! I was shivering and fafa Jay was all sweaty... and let me just tell you that that is so typical... heh.
On to our first stop... to my cousin Leslie's house in Flagstaff Lane, Huntington Beach.
I haven't seen her for the last 17 years or so... she left just a bit after she graduated from highschool. Now she's a wife to a Japanese-American race car driver, a mother of two, a career-woman and a HOMEMAKER. Why the stress on 'homemaker'? Because when she was young and still living in the Phils., she was donya numero uno. You know what her dad said to her then-fiancee Richie when he asked for her hand in marriage? 'I don't even know why you'd want her for a wife. Don't you know that the only time her hands would get wet is when she washes them?' But now she's doing it all and I was simply floored.
Typically Filipino, when my cousin came out the door to meet us, we screamed each other's name, hugged for a long, long while and ended up in tears. We kept at it for so long and before we knew it, bot her kids were crying along with us. We had to explain to them that we haven't seen each other for so many years and were just so happy. It's only when they understood why that they stopped crying themselves.
We had lunch, she made adobo and tuna casserole, and she introduced us to this japanese voodoo spice mix that you sprinkle on your rice and it tastes like heaven... heh. And we talked, and talked and talked and kept each other up to date. After lunch, we freshened up and went straightaway to...
DISNEYLAND!!!
Toni, moi, Leslie and baby Nikki at the entrance while cousin-in-law Richie queues up for tickets.
It's an expensive way to keep the child in you but I think once in a lifetime, everyone should be given the chance to see this.
Toni, moi and fafa Jay down on Main Street... heh
The best I ever had of this was in a jewelry box... until now.
We saw the parade of the stars too but for some reason we failed to take some pictures. That's ok... it's not as if I will ever forget seeing something like that. It was all too fabulous and all the time I felt like walking into a dream.
I saw Mickey!
We went home to a dinner of Jack in the Box and had my first taste of sourdough bread.
The following morning, I woke up to my cousin wrestling with her kids. We talked a bit, showered, had breakfast, talked some more and headed off to Huntington Beach.
Richie, Leslie, Toni, moi and Nikki
Moi, Leslie and Nikki waiting for the car in front of the Duke Restaurant.
That afternoon, we were headed off to West Covina, where the much-anticipated first meeting with my dear, dear friend was waiting to happen... but not until after some more pictures were taken.
In front of my cousin's house.
... and their neighborhood
For all the 17 years... till we meet again...
On the road again. We arrived at Barranca Street, West Covina, a little before 7 pm. I couldn't help it... when I saw Ate Sienna, my tears just fell. We hugged each other, me in my jacket, over a sweater, over a shirt and with my gloves on, and she freshly bathed and in her shirt and a pair of shorts... I guess there was no mistaking who was visiting who... hehe.
Counterclockwise: Papa Andy, Ate Sienna, Maricel, moi and fafa Jay in Ate Sienna's Japanese-inspired apartment.
A little while later, Roger (not in picture), one of Ate Sienna's pinoy friends, co-worker and a blogger hosted by pansitan.net as well, came and they prepared a fantastic Japanese meal for dinner... tonkatsu (is that what it's called? courtesy of Papa Roger), some noodle in soup dish with Japanese flavors that was reeeaally good, and Ate Sienna made a whole array of sushi. Still later, Maricel, another of Ate Sienna's pinoy friends, co-worker and blogger hosted by pansitan.net too, arrived. With that, we had dinner and a lot of laughs! These guys are sooo funny, sooo cool, sooo warm and accepting, sooo great... I can write down all the adjectives I could come up with but nothing would be enough to describe these guys accurately. They had me laughing all night, I didn't want it to end. Suffice it to say that I think these two guys are great friends and Ate Sienna sure is in great company and I'm glad that fafa Jay and I met them.
They even bothered enough to get me cakes for my birthday. Really, you guys are sooo sweet.
The following morning, guess where we went...
ooohh la la...
Fafa Jay and I at the entrance of the Chinese Mann Theatre... did we get to watch anything? Hmmm... what do you think?... heh
Toouurrriiissssttttsssss..... heh
moi, Ate Sienna and Maricel... Charlie Chaplin was somewhere to the left and Captain America to the right... fafa Jay didn't think they'd look nice in the picture with the beauties... heh
The beauties on the Walk of Fame
On our way up the Kodak Theatre.
fafa Jay and I fronting the sculptures of 'The Wizard of Oz' at the Wax Museum.
Getting all giggly cause Keanu was hitting on us... heh
I wouldn't if I were you...
For some reason, you guys look familiar.
One of these things is not like the other...
Not quite Vegas... well hey, not quite the chorus girls either... heh. Thank you Maricel for caring enough to know how to bring us to the nearest we can ever get to the 'Hollywood' sign.
I love you, my dear friend...
We had a late lunch, which was supposed to be a late breakfast, at I-HOPS and I had a sumptuous Tutti Frutti something. I really loved it.
Rodeo Drive... the pretty women have come to conquer... heh
Which way?
I'll let you in on a secret... if Ate Sienna gets lost in these streets, nothing would make her happier. This is one lady who loooves shopping.
We missed all the fun at Venice Beach, being that it was late. So we went instead to...
the Santa Monica Beach
Notice I was wearing gloves? I was sooo cold. Lucky I had fafa Jay's arms around me... and Ate Sienna's bday gift... the fleece-lined denim jacket. I love it!
Now her space is a part of my life. And I find that it's a beautiful place.
Papa Andy, bless his heart, had a nice pot roast ready for us when we got back. We feel so blessed to have so many good people in our lives.
I knew in my heart that this trip would not have been complete without this visit to Ate Sienna. Everything I've known about her from our correspondences have been confirmed... her kindness and generosity, her warm and happy heart, how much she cares for her friends, how good she and Andy are together and how much I needed to see her and be with her, if only for a while. Ate Sienna, thank you very, very much for letting me be there.
The following morning, we had to leave early for our long drive to Sacramento, where my family hub is. We took it in 6 hours and my cousins said that was pretty fast. Oh by the way, we had brunch with fafa Jay's colleagues (Ceci and Tom... Ceci even had a birthday gift for me... so many nice people really) first. We ate at Denny's and I had the biggest breakfast ever... I had the Lumberjack Slam and I finished it all by myself... heh. I think I like I-HOPS better, though.
We arrived at Sacramento close to 7pm and proceeded to our host, my cousin Alma's (Leslie's sister) house in Eden View Drive. After a while, she took us to her mom's (Auntie Nemie) house and together with her brother Jon-jon's family, we went for dinner at Macaroni Grill. I guess the brunch I had was really big cause this time, I didn't finish my food. It was good though.
The next morning, we met our cousin Emy at I-HOPS and I had the Tutti Frutti breakfast again. Then they took us to my uncles' graves (their Dads both) and I was finally able to pay my last respects, after so many years.
moi, Emy and Alma... the grave with 2 hearts is Uncle Simo (Alma's Dad) and the other one is Uncle Tito (Emy's Dad).
An impromptu reunion happened after that. We called up Layden (Emy's sister) and she asked us to proceed to their house. She was supposed to be at work that afternoon, but because we were there, she decided to call in sick... heh.
Alma, Emy, Layden, moi and fafa Jay at Layden't house. The two kids are Layden's. Dang... but I really have a hard time remembering all their names.
Same motley crew... this time with Layden't hubby Chums.
Then we went to Emy's house and there I saw their mom, dear Auntie Mila again. It's really been a long time. We stayed a while and then proceeded to the house of their elder brother, Kuya Ken.
Meeting more family for the first time. Clockwise, that's Tito, John, moi, Emy, Angelina (all Emy's kids), Jasmine (Kuya Ken's daughter) and Layden's girl. Grrr... why can't I remember her name?
Still at Kuya Ken's house... Emy, moi, Layden, Alma (Kuya Ken's wife... not the other Alma) and Auntie Mila.
Alma prepared us a snack of pansit palabok... all in 15 minutes. Gosh, everything's really quick here... heh. Everything is made instant. But you know what? It tasted pretty good.
For dinner, we all went back to the grand dame Auntie Nemie's house and had barbecue. As soon as we arrived, fafa Jay took his post at the grill. Well, barbecue is his thing anyway. We got so engrossed at grilling all the meat that alas, we forgot to take some pictures... heh.
The following day, we were scheduled to drive to Modesto, were the hub of fafa Jay's family was. But not before this...
Cesar (Alma's hubby), Alma, moi and their daughter, Aubrey. This was an early morning picture and I haven't showered yet... heh. We had to take this before Aubrey went to school cause we thought we wouldn't be there anymore when she came back. Boy, were we wrong.
A little trivia for you... Alma met her husband, Cesar, at our neighborhood in Jordan Heights back in the Philippines. I met fafa Jay at Alma's neighborhood in GSIS Village. And let me remind you that my sister Darlene's husband is fafa Jay's friend from the grades at Notre Dame. Makes me think... we seem to keep a pretty tight circle of friends that eventually become family.
So we showered, packed our bags and after that, Alma and Cesar gave me a treat to...
3 boxes... they got me 3 boxes of donuts!
Gosh, I am such a tourist... heh.
Then we proceeded back to Emy's house where I was reunited with the only cousin I have yet to see again... Kuya Cesar... err, not Alma's hubby but Emy's 2nd brother... heh.
moi and Kuya Cesar...
After Emy's house, we went to downown Sacramento where my cousins took me shopping at Macy's. We had lunch at Cesar's and Alma's favorite Japanese restaurant (forgot the name). I was so touched cause Layden, who had to go to work that afternoon again and couldn't join us, dropped by the restaurant on her way just to see me one last time. Why do these guys love to make me cry?
After lunch, we picked up Emy's kids from school (so I got a glimpse of an all-American schoolyard too... heh) and dropped them off at their house, hugged our last and then went to pick up Aubrey from her school, went back to their house to get our bags and was treated to this for a parting memory...
You better watch it, dude... the kid's a green belter.
I am so grateful for this chance to see my cousins again. I guess in the nitty gritty of our everyday lives, we've had to do without each other's company. We've grown old... taunted by life's twists and turns, had our own share of hurts, thrown off-balanced at times, and have gone crazy in fits of frustration. But we're still standing... everyone of us. Maybe that's the tie that binds us as a family... inspite of the distance, inspite of the years... we're made of sturdy stock.
It was great seeing you again guys, and I miss you all already.
Inadvertently, we arrived at Modesto by dusk. We got a little lost cause we missed a turn and fafa Jay and I found ourselves driving along stretch after stretch of farmland. It was a bit eerie, for me at least, cause we were on unfamiliar ground and it was getting darker the farther we got. But of course, what's to be scared of huh? My knight was driving the chariot. Thanks Renee for getting us back on track.
That night, I met this side of fafa Jay's family for the first time. But it didn't feel like I was amongst strangers at all. Everybody was so warm and welcoming, the conversations went on like we just picked them up from where we left them the last time, I was never left by myself, and they really made us feel special. I mean... in a nutshell, these guys do know how to love family.
Fafa Jay and perskasin Simon... you gotta love this guy. He really took good care of us.
From the left, Sel, moi, Renee and Ana... cousins and wives all...
Simon's wife, Baby, treated us to a dinner of really delicious barbecue and pansit palabok, complete with shredded tinapa. Really yummy! And then there was the gift from Simon of matching wrist watches for Papa and me. That night, it was all I could do not to blush. These guys are simply the best!
We slept that night at Jojo and Renee's house. Renee, in her very pregnant state, stayed up until 7am, I believe, to spruce up a pot roast dish for brunch the following day. Can you believe the lengths these people would go just to make you feel as welcome as possible? I'm still awed.
moi, Renee and baby Troy... they even made the tree wait for us... awww
Jojo and Renee's eldest, Lance... still enjoying the Christmas feel of their home in late January
Husband and wife, Simon and Baby... really nice couple.
That afternoon, Simon and Baby fetched us and took us shopping, first at Macy's and then at Ross. I gotta tell ya, I LOVE Ross! I love the prices in that store and got myself some really nice goodies. I'd also like to mention how good Baby took care of me. Every little thing that caught my fancy, she'd search for the right size or the good match. And again, it leaves me in wonder, and makes me happy at the same time, how well we hit it off. Everything just seemed to fall in place.
We had dinner that night at Sel's (the only girl in a brood of 6) house. We were supposed to sleep at Simon's house but to my dismay, I fell asleep right on the couch, amidst people singing, talking, eating and what have you. I must have been really poofed out.
Sel... just like Baby, was so much like a godmother to fafa Jay and me. She really did her part in taking care of us. She went non-stop at offering me something to drink or eat... she made really good margarita, and she even made sago, pecan tarts, fried some nuts to go with the margarita, cooked binagoongan and guess what... she even surprised me with a birthday cake! Wow... I mean really, I couldn't thank you enough Sel. You just made me feel so special. And not the least of all the food prepared that night was Simon's famous grilled sea bass.
Sel and moi... she's great in every way... great wife, great mother, great sister, great cousin, great friend and great cook. One thing she's really good at? Giving from the heart.
And this is the second surprise birthday cake I had this year. Gosh, I feel so loved.
I guess I was pretty tired, or maybe it was all the food that left me helplessly sleepy that night.
The following morning, we set off early for San Fransisco.
Baby, Sel and moi... we're headed to the city by the bay. Like the beret? It's a gift from Baby.
San Fransisco... should I leave my heart to you?
First stop, the Golden Gate Bridge.
Happy... that, I am.
Sel, with hubby Gino and youngest kid Crista... these guys are really cool.
Meet my new friend... err... what's your name again?
And I got to drive a cable car... heh
Then we headed to Fisherman's Wharf...
... for lunch
But we didn't quite get to Alcatraz...
They would have taken us for a drive along Lombard Street too, known as the most crooked street, but we just didn't have enough time. We all had to drive to Milpitas, where Tiyong Anas and Tiyang Ging's house (parents of this wonderful brood) was.
Food, glorious food...
I can't believe it. Jay's Tiyang Ging cooked a feast all by herself... there was roasted turkey, crabs the size of my head, lobsters, paksiw na pata, kare-kare, steamed fish, oysters and ginataan. I must have put on 10 pounds that night.
Cousins Sever, Sammy and fafa Jay... unmistakably family...
Renee's hubby Jojo's very sexy rendition of 'Sweet Caroline'... he really took the floor that night
fafa Jay, Troy and Lance... kids... yup, all 3 of them... hehe
We slept that night at their parents' house... the last house we slept in for this trip.
We left the following morning to fly back to Singapore via San Fransisco.
When we first arrived, driving to my cousin Leslie's house, I turned down the car window and sniffed at the air. I smelled oranges. And now, I wonder, if it is of any significance that the last picture we took was this.
Fafa Jay, Tiyang Ging, Tiyong Anas... and their little orange tree right in their own backyard.
I guess it's a normal thing, that whenever I come back from a trip, it would take it's toll on my blogsite. It takes a while for me to be able to update my site... well, for several reasons. If it's a trip from the Phils., I wouldn't be updating at once because it makes me sad to remember things too soon. If it's a trip from somewhere else, there would be other reasons, but always, always, one of them would be because I'd have to make the house habitable again after leaving it for a couple of weeks or so. Well this time, you can throw in jetlag and some other thing.
Right now though, it's a holiday Monday afternoon, a rainy one at that, and I've done most of the blog-restricting things I have to do, fafa Jay's sleeping in the room and I have the computer all to myself... it's what I would call a 'perfect time to blog.'
Okay. So how do you guys like my new lay-out, huh? Pretty nifty, don't you think? And I told you it's sooo me... huh? Huh?... what with the color, which, on account of my being a capricorn, an earth sign, fits me to a T... the coffee cup which I simply can't do without, the donut which I love. It's like everything in this design has been put to make me really comfy. Of course, an ashtray with a burning cigarette might have been added. But you know what? Since I'm trying to quit now (operative word: trying), it's absence is so apt even.
I'd like to thank Ate Sienna, my sister-friend, owner of Manilena and Pansitan.net, for designing my new skin, and also, for hosting my site. I don't know. I think, as far as the web is concerned, there is absolutely nothing that she's incapable of doing. In my book, she's a genius. I'd also like to thank my hubby, fafa Jay, for all the things he's added to the new look of my site. He has spent a lot of time on it and... what can I say except 'what in heaven's name will I do without you?'
Well, with all that having been said, I guess it's time to talk about our trip. It's an 8-day trip and my first time in California, so don't ever make the mistake of thinking this is going to be a short blog. So sit back and be prepared to lose the haste.
We arrived via Los Angeles on 17 Jan (no pictures at the airport, ok?). The immigration officer decided he had to take my fingerprints but my fingers were so dry they wouldn't leave a print on his machine. So guess what he asked me to do. First, he asked me to rub my pointing fingers on my forehead, nope... on the side of my nose?, won't work either. So then he asked me to rub them on fafa Jay's forehead and voila! Finger prints! I was shivering and fafa Jay was all sweaty... and let me just tell you that that is so typical... heh.
On to our first stop... to my cousin Leslie's house in Flagstaff Lane, Huntington Beach.
I haven't seen her for the last 17 years or so... she left just a bit after she graduated from highschool. Now she's a wife to a Japanese-American race car driver, a mother of two, a career-woman and a HOMEMAKER. Why the stress on 'homemaker'? Because when she was young and still living in the Phils., she was donya numero uno. You know what her dad said to her then-fiancee Richie when he asked for her hand in marriage? 'I don't even know why you'd want her for a wife. Don't you know that the only time her hands would get wet is when she washes them?' But now she's doing it all and I was simply floored.
Typically Filipino, when my cousin came out the door to meet us, we screamed each other's name, hugged for a long, long while and ended up in tears. We kept at it for so long and before we knew it, bot her kids were crying along with us. We had to explain to them that we haven't seen each other for so many years and were just so happy. It's only when they understood why that they stopped crying themselves.
We had lunch, she made adobo and tuna casserole, and she introduced us to this japanese voodoo spice mix that you sprinkle on your rice and it tastes like heaven... heh. And we talked, and talked and talked and kept each other up to date. After lunch, we freshened up and went straightaway to...
We saw the parade of the stars too but for some reason we failed to take some pictures. That's ok... it's not as if I will ever forget seeing something like that. It was all too fabulous and all the time I felt like walking into a dream.
I saw Mickey!
We went home to a dinner of Jack in the Box and had my first taste of sourdough bread.
The following morning, I woke up to my cousin wrestling with her kids. We talked a bit, showered, had breakfast, talked some more and headed off to Huntington Beach.
That afternoon, we were headed off to West Covina, where the much-anticipated first meeting with my dear, dear friend was waiting to happen... but not until after some more pictures were taken.
On the road again. We arrived at Barranca Street, West Covina, a little before 7 pm. I couldn't help it... when I saw Ate Sienna, my tears just fell. We hugged each other, me in my jacket, over a sweater, over a shirt and with my gloves on, and she freshly bathed and in her shirt and a pair of shorts... I guess there was no mistaking who was visiting who... hehe.
A little while later, Roger (not in picture), one of Ate Sienna's pinoy friends, co-worker and a blogger hosted by pansitan.net as well, came and they prepared a fantastic Japanese meal for dinner... tonkatsu (is that what it's called? courtesy of Papa Roger), some noodle in soup dish with Japanese flavors that was reeeaally good, and Ate Sienna made a whole array of sushi. Still later, Maricel, another of Ate Sienna's pinoy friends, co-worker and blogger hosted by pansitan.net too, arrived. With that, we had dinner and a lot of laughs! These guys are sooo funny, sooo cool, sooo warm and accepting, sooo great... I can write down all the adjectives I could come up with but nothing would be enough to describe these guys accurately. They had me laughing all night, I didn't want it to end. Suffice it to say that I think these two guys are great friends and Ate Sienna sure is in great company and I'm glad that fafa Jay and I met them.
They even bothered enough to get me cakes for my birthday. Really, you guys are sooo sweet.
The following morning, guess where we went...
We had a late lunch, which was supposed to be a late breakfast, at I-HOPS and I had a sumptuous Tutti Frutti something. I really loved it.
We missed all the fun at Venice Beach, being that it was late. So we went instead to...
Papa Andy, bless his heart, had a nice pot roast ready for us when we got back. We feel so blessed to have so many good people in our lives.
I knew in my heart that this trip would not have been complete without this visit to Ate Sienna. Everything I've known about her from our correspondences have been confirmed... her kindness and generosity, her warm and happy heart, how much she cares for her friends, how good she and Andy are together and how much I needed to see her and be with her, if only for a while. Ate Sienna, thank you very, very much for letting me be there.
The following morning, we had to leave early for our long drive to Sacramento, where my family hub is. We took it in 6 hours and my cousins said that was pretty fast. Oh by the way, we had brunch with fafa Jay's colleagues (Ceci and Tom... Ceci even had a birthday gift for me... so many nice people really) first. We ate at Denny's and I had the biggest breakfast ever... I had the Lumberjack Slam and I finished it all by myself... heh. I think I like I-HOPS better, though.
We arrived at Sacramento close to 7pm and proceeded to our host, my cousin Alma's (Leslie's sister) house in Eden View Drive. After a while, she took us to her mom's (Auntie Nemie) house and together with her brother Jon-jon's family, we went for dinner at Macaroni Grill. I guess the brunch I had was really big cause this time, I didn't finish my food. It was good though.
The next morning, we met our cousin Emy at I-HOPS and I had the Tutti Frutti breakfast again. Then they took us to my uncles' graves (their Dads both) and I was finally able to pay my last respects, after so many years.
An impromptu reunion happened after that. We called up Layden (Emy's sister) and she asked us to proceed to their house. She was supposed to be at work that afternoon, but because we were there, she decided to call in sick... heh.
Then we went to Emy's house and there I saw their mom, dear Auntie Mila again. It's really been a long time. We stayed a while and then proceeded to the house of their elder brother, Kuya Ken.
Alma prepared us a snack of pansit palabok... all in 15 minutes. Gosh, everything's really quick here... heh. Everything is made instant. But you know what? It tasted pretty good.
For dinner, we all went back to the grand dame Auntie Nemie's house and had barbecue. As soon as we arrived, fafa Jay took his post at the grill. Well, barbecue is his thing anyway. We got so engrossed at grilling all the meat that alas, we forgot to take some pictures... heh.
The following day, we were scheduled to drive to Modesto, were the hub of fafa Jay's family was. But not before this...
A little trivia for you... Alma met her husband, Cesar, at our neighborhood in Jordan Heights back in the Philippines. I met fafa Jay at Alma's neighborhood in GSIS Village. And let me remind you that my sister Darlene's husband is fafa Jay's friend from the grades at Notre Dame. Makes me think... we seem to keep a pretty tight circle of friends that eventually become family.
So we showered, packed our bags and after that, Alma and Cesar gave me a treat to...
Then we proceeded back to Emy's house where I was reunited with the only cousin I have yet to see again... Kuya Cesar... err, not Alma's hubby but Emy's 2nd brother... heh.
After Emy's house, we went to downown Sacramento where my cousins took me shopping at Macy's. We had lunch at Cesar's and Alma's favorite Japanese restaurant (forgot the name). I was so touched cause Layden, who had to go to work that afternoon again and couldn't join us, dropped by the restaurant on her way just to see me one last time. Why do these guys love to make me cry?
After lunch, we picked up Emy's kids from school (so I got a glimpse of an all-American schoolyard too... heh) and dropped them off at their house, hugged our last and then went to pick up Aubrey from her school, went back to their house to get our bags and was treated to this for a parting memory...
I am so grateful for this chance to see my cousins again. I guess in the nitty gritty of our everyday lives, we've had to do without each other's company. We've grown old... taunted by life's twists and turns, had our own share of hurts, thrown off-balanced at times, and have gone crazy in fits of frustration. But we're still standing... everyone of us. Maybe that's the tie that binds us as a family... inspite of the distance, inspite of the years... we're made of sturdy stock.
It was great seeing you again guys, and I miss you all already.
Inadvertently, we arrived at Modesto by dusk. We got a little lost cause we missed a turn and fafa Jay and I found ourselves driving along stretch after stretch of farmland. It was a bit eerie, for me at least, cause we were on unfamiliar ground and it was getting darker the farther we got. But of course, what's to be scared of huh? My knight was driving the chariot. Thanks Renee for getting us back on track.
That night, I met this side of fafa Jay's family for the first time. But it didn't feel like I was amongst strangers at all. Everybody was so warm and welcoming, the conversations went on like we just picked them up from where we left them the last time, I was never left by myself, and they really made us feel special. I mean... in a nutshell, these guys do know how to love family.
Simon's wife, Baby, treated us to a dinner of really delicious barbecue and pansit palabok, complete with shredded tinapa. Really yummy! And then there was the gift from Simon of matching wrist watches for Papa and me. That night, it was all I could do not to blush. These guys are simply the best!
We slept that night at Jojo and Renee's house. Renee, in her very pregnant state, stayed up until 7am, I believe, to spruce up a pot roast dish for brunch the following day. Can you believe the lengths these people would go just to make you feel as welcome as possible? I'm still awed.
That afternoon, Simon and Baby fetched us and took us shopping, first at Macy's and then at Ross. I gotta tell ya, I LOVE Ross! I love the prices in that store and got myself some really nice goodies. I'd also like to mention how good Baby took care of me. Every little thing that caught my fancy, she'd search for the right size or the good match. And again, it leaves me in wonder, and makes me happy at the same time, how well we hit it off. Everything just seemed to fall in place.
We had dinner that night at Sel's (the only girl in a brood of 6) house. We were supposed to sleep at Simon's house but to my dismay, I fell asleep right on the couch, amidst people singing, talking, eating and what have you. I must have been really poofed out.
Sel... just like Baby, was so much like a godmother to fafa Jay and me. She really did her part in taking care of us. She went non-stop at offering me something to drink or eat... she made really good margarita, and she even made sago, pecan tarts, fried some nuts to go with the margarita, cooked binagoongan and guess what... she even surprised me with a birthday cake! Wow... I mean really, I couldn't thank you enough Sel. You just made me feel so special. And not the least of all the food prepared that night was Simon's famous grilled sea bass.
I guess I was pretty tired, or maybe it was all the food that left me helplessly sleepy that night.
The following morning, we set off early for San Fransisco.
Then we headed to Fisherman's Wharf...
... for lunch
They would have taken us for a drive along Lombard Street too, known as the most crooked street, but we just didn't have enough time. We all had to drive to Milpitas, where Tiyong Anas and Tiyang Ging's house (parents of this wonderful brood) was.
I can't believe it. Jay's Tiyang Ging cooked a feast all by herself... there was roasted turkey, crabs the size of my head, lobsters, paksiw na pata, kare-kare, steamed fish, oysters and ginataan. I must have put on 10 pounds that night.
We slept that night at their parents' house... the last house we slept in for this trip.
We left the following morning to fly back to Singapore via San Fransisco.
When we first arrived, driving to my cousin Leslie's house, I turned down the car window and sniffed at the air. I smelled oranges. And now, I wonder, if it is of any significance that the last picture we took was this.
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