BLOG BASKET 3
FULL HOUSE
My in-laws are now complete, the first batch arriving Monday night and the second, arriving last night, and now, there's a total of eight people in the house. When the order of your life is such that you only have one other person to think of besides your own, it takes some adjustment to accommodate six others... think: having to do with a dining table built for four, having to do with 2 bathrooms and everybody having to use them in quick succession cause they have to leave in the morning all at the same time, having to do with 2 bedrooms, both with just a queen-sized bed each and 3 single mattresses... it's a riot!... hehe
But then, I always have someone to talk to for the duration of their stay.
I have this chance to get to know this side of fafa Jay's family better.
We have this opportunity to share with them whatever good thing Singapore has to offer... things which we've been enjoying for the past 3 years... an efficient transportation system, kind and friendly cab drivers, safe roads even in the middle of the night, convenient facilities and ammenities, the food and the wide array of choices, first class quality produce that can be bought both at the wet and dry markets at very reasonable prices, the chance to observe and learn from the curiousity of three different cultures all preserving their distinct characteristics while being in an impasse where they have to live harmoniously together...among other things.
Yesterday I went to the supermarket with my sister-in-law Emy and her hubby Rene. I go to the supermarket alone all the time and it surprised me how enjoyable it could be going with somebody else. I was so amused to see how they wanted to try each and every product not ordinarily seen in the supermarkets back home. Why, they even took such pleasure at seeing those big, plump salad tomatoes that looked more like small apples. They marveled at how good the quality of the meat is. They were so happy to find the Mee Goreng that Kim simply loves. It tugged at my heart how fafa Jay and I have had these things for so long that it almost teetered on the brink of us taking these things for granted... and here I see how it could still hold such wonder... I look at these things again and try to see them through my in-laws' eyes and I feel a sense of gratitude creeping up in my heart again.
I bought Gardenia bread for my mom-in-law, the Fruit and Nut and California Raisins variety, cause I know she loves bread and they don't have these in the Phils. I also bought her some of those big, dark-colored, red globe grapes and some oranges. It made my heart soar to see her just munching in delight all day. When Rene, Emy and Paula left to visit Suntec City and my mom-in-law opted out, I set up the dvd for her and positioned the couch just so and played one movie after another cause I know she finds such pleasure in that.
On their first night, we took them to our favorite Thai Restaurant, the Lemmon Grass, and it was such a hit with them they want to go back so Kim and Sarah could also taste their fare. It made me smile.
Now they're off to Sentosa. Fafa Jay applied for leave for the rest of the week so he could take them out. I'm staying home to prep up the house so they'd come home and retire in comfortably clean rooms. I also have a lot of catching up to do in KR. It's a lot of work altogether, yes. But when the guests are so appreciative, you find a lot of joy in putting yourself out too. So far, my mom-in-law is having a great time... and that's what matters most.
*Pics to follow soon!*
THANK GOD, NINA
When I wrote a tribute to my eldest brother, Kuya El, on his birthday, I mentioned that he has 4 daughters, and one of them, the second one, has Down's Syndrome. She's Nina and last week, she got so sick they had to bring her to the hospital where she had to be admitted to the ICU.
She bled a lot from her monthly period to the point where her BP fell to 70/50mmHg, her hemoglobin neared zilch and she needed 4 blood transfusions.
You know how it feels, when you've got somebody you care so much about getting that sick, and you can't come to her side and do your share, not even to hold her hand as she whimpers in pain as the doctors prick her skin and stick needles to her?... I felt so dead... numb, cold and frustrated. And you get half-crazy when some people who are where they should be so they can help choose to go on vacation. God, I went really crazy there. I try hard not to speak when I'm fuming mad, as fafa Jay taught me to, cause it's hard to take words back without putting your foot in your mouth afterwards. But I simply lost it that time. I had to rock the boat cause I was shaking bad... emotional, torn between keeping the harmony and giving the person a piece of my mind, shocked and revolted at her sense of priorities. She told me she didn't have a choice. Unfortunately, I found that unacceptable. We always have a choice... sometimes we might not have the heart to feel it just when we're needed most, but we ALWAYS have a choice.
I just spoke to my sister, Darlene. My Dad, Mom, Darlene and her family and my nephew Ryan are all there with my brother, the whole bunch serving as his support group and right here, where I am, I thank the high heavens for that, and for the fact that Nina is now well enough to come home.
Maybe it's alright. Maybe most of the time you have to strive hard and keep the harmony. But maybe sometimes it's right to rock the boat. Luckily, when I did, it shook everything and everyone in place, not out of.
Nina's coming home... and that's what matters most.
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIGI!
My precious, precious friend, my sister, my confidante, my shoulder to cry on, is having her birthday today.
I wish I was there to help make her birthday as wonderful as she did mine. Well, maybe next year, huh?
Anyway, I know you're having a great day, Gigi. I know you will be blessed with all the little wishes your heart makes. I know God is hearing your every little prayer. I know you're surrounded by people who love you which is just right cause you spread out a lot of love yourself. I know that right at this moment, you've got a smile on your lovely face... and that's what matters most.
I love you.
FULL HOUSE
My in-laws are now complete, the first batch arriving Monday night and the second, arriving last night, and now, there's a total of eight people in the house. When the order of your life is such that you only have one other person to think of besides your own, it takes some adjustment to accommodate six others... think: having to do with a dining table built for four, having to do with 2 bathrooms and everybody having to use them in quick succession cause they have to leave in the morning all at the same time, having to do with 2 bedrooms, both with just a queen-sized bed each and 3 single mattresses... it's a riot!... hehe
But then, I always have someone to talk to for the duration of their stay.
I have this chance to get to know this side of fafa Jay's family better.
We have this opportunity to share with them whatever good thing Singapore has to offer... things which we've been enjoying for the past 3 years... an efficient transportation system, kind and friendly cab drivers, safe roads even in the middle of the night, convenient facilities and ammenities, the food and the wide array of choices, first class quality produce that can be bought both at the wet and dry markets at very reasonable prices, the chance to observe and learn from the curiousity of three different cultures all preserving their distinct characteristics while being in an impasse where they have to live harmoniously together...among other things.
Yesterday I went to the supermarket with my sister-in-law Emy and her hubby Rene. I go to the supermarket alone all the time and it surprised me how enjoyable it could be going with somebody else. I was so amused to see how they wanted to try each and every product not ordinarily seen in the supermarkets back home. Why, they even took such pleasure at seeing those big, plump salad tomatoes that looked more like small apples. They marveled at how good the quality of the meat is. They were so happy to find the Mee Goreng that Kim simply loves. It tugged at my heart how fafa Jay and I have had these things for so long that it almost teetered on the brink of us taking these things for granted... and here I see how it could still hold such wonder... I look at these things again and try to see them through my in-laws' eyes and I feel a sense of gratitude creeping up in my heart again.
I bought Gardenia bread for my mom-in-law, the Fruit and Nut and California Raisins variety, cause I know she loves bread and they don't have these in the Phils. I also bought her some of those big, dark-colored, red globe grapes and some oranges. It made my heart soar to see her just munching in delight all day. When Rene, Emy and Paula left to visit Suntec City and my mom-in-law opted out, I set up the dvd for her and positioned the couch just so and played one movie after another cause I know she finds such pleasure in that.
On their first night, we took them to our favorite Thai Restaurant, the Lemmon Grass, and it was such a hit with them they want to go back so Kim and Sarah could also taste their fare. It made me smile.
Now they're off to Sentosa. Fafa Jay applied for leave for the rest of the week so he could take them out. I'm staying home to prep up the house so they'd come home and retire in comfortably clean rooms. I also have a lot of catching up to do in KR. It's a lot of work altogether, yes. But when the guests are so appreciative, you find a lot of joy in putting yourself out too. So far, my mom-in-law is having a great time... and that's what matters most.
*Pics to follow soon!*
THANK GOD, NINA
When I wrote a tribute to my eldest brother, Kuya El, on his birthday, I mentioned that he has 4 daughters, and one of them, the second one, has Down's Syndrome. She's Nina and last week, she got so sick they had to bring her to the hospital where she had to be admitted to the ICU.
She bled a lot from her monthly period to the point where her BP fell to 70/50mmHg, her hemoglobin neared zilch and she needed 4 blood transfusions.
You know how it feels, when you've got somebody you care so much about getting that sick, and you can't come to her side and do your share, not even to hold her hand as she whimpers in pain as the doctors prick her skin and stick needles to her?... I felt so dead... numb, cold and frustrated. And you get half-crazy when some people who are where they should be so they can help choose to go on vacation. God, I went really crazy there. I try hard not to speak when I'm fuming mad, as fafa Jay taught me to, cause it's hard to take words back without putting your foot in your mouth afterwards. But I simply lost it that time. I had to rock the boat cause I was shaking bad... emotional, torn between keeping the harmony and giving the person a piece of my mind, shocked and revolted at her sense of priorities. She told me she didn't have a choice. Unfortunately, I found that unacceptable. We always have a choice... sometimes we might not have the heart to feel it just when we're needed most, but we ALWAYS have a choice.
I just spoke to my sister, Darlene. My Dad, Mom, Darlene and her family and my nephew Ryan are all there with my brother, the whole bunch serving as his support group and right here, where I am, I thank the high heavens for that, and for the fact that Nina is now well enough to come home.
Maybe it's alright. Maybe most of the time you have to strive hard and keep the harmony. But maybe sometimes it's right to rock the boat. Luckily, when I did, it shook everything and everyone in place, not out of.
Nina's coming home... and that's what matters most.
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIGI!
My precious, precious friend, my sister, my confidante, my shoulder to cry on, is having her birthday today.
I wish I was there to help make her birthday as wonderful as she did mine. Well, maybe next year, huh?
Anyway, I know you're having a great day, Gigi. I know you will be blessed with all the little wishes your heart makes. I know God is hearing your every little prayer. I know you're surrounded by people who love you which is just right cause you spread out a lot of love yourself. I know that right at this moment, you've got a smile on your lovely face... and that's what matters most.
I love you.
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