MEComposing

Around five years ago, it dawned on my Dad and his siblings that half of them are already in the US, and most of the apos here are already grown, some already having families of their own.

They decided to celebrate Noche Buena together, alternating from the 3 major houses in Lipa (my Lola's, where Tita Ester lives with her family, my parents' and my Tito Dolfo's) and having everyone else just bring food.

The first was held at Tito Dolfo's, it was a really cold and stormy Noche Buena then... where the ricefield bordering my uncle's house invited more wind to assault us wide awake into the wee hours of the morning. My lawyer cousin tried feeding everyone helpings upon helpings of the blueberry cheesecake she just learned to make. It was Christmas 2000.

The next was held at my Lola's... the highlight of which was, my Mom hosting a Bring Me/Answer Me game... my cousins and I frenzily counted window panes, and thought of birthdays just to get the cash money my Mom was doling out for every right answer. My cousin's wife even bundled the then infant Bryant and brought him out into the cold December night so she'd win the BRING ME THE BABY OF THE FAMILY... My cousin from the US loved my Mom's hot cocoa... and his brother thought he died and went to heaven because we had chix-mac salad, fruit salad and buko pandan aside from pancit and spaghetti... and sotanghon soup... all of which were his favorites. It was Christmas 2001.

The next was held at our house in Lipa, where KC made sure nobody else would use the mic which was already filled with his saliva as he sang along the videoke. The highlight of the night? JRA arrived with bubbles for the kids which they loved... Mom hosted the usual games and gave away money and presents. She really loves hosting, and I know she really saves all her Christmas money to give away to kids. It was Christmas 2002.

The next was held again at my Lola's house, because other cousins from the US came (they haven't visited since 1994). They arrived in the Philippines at midnight... and arrived in Lipa around past 2 am. We all waited for their return, as my Dad and some cousins went to fetch them from the airport, and the family was just not complete without everyone there. The highlight of that feast? Of course, the opening of the balikbayan boxes. And JRA arriving with goodie bags (containing bubbles, of course) and GLOW STICKS. That was Christmas 2003.

And then, because my parents are leaving with my sister this year for the US, together with another uncle and cousin, our eldest cousins agreed to hold our Noche Buena at my parents' home again. This time, nobody else brought food... but we had a feast anyway. The kids enjoyed the DUYAN while the men drank beer and gin and brandy while getting scolded by KC, who was also lording it over everyone that he got a 100 score from the videoke machine... there were goodie bags and exchange gifts and the kids, of course, quarreled and cried and fought and got scolded over many things.

*~*

Year 2005 is Year of the Rooster. My boss says that experts say the year does not bode well for everyone... as it's main element is also WOOD. I think they even say that there is no beginning foreseen for this year... as nothing in the known zodiacs suggest water (wealth) and fire (fame). yada-yada-yada.

And yet, my cousin is graduating this March... and moving out of our household.

And my parents and my sister are migrating to the US, also this March.

My hipag will also be coming back, and chances are, my bro just might impregnate her again (she got pregnant with Pyro after she came back from i forgot which country... and they weren't living together yet then).

And i'd be leaving home to make an honest man out of JRA and live happily ever after with him.

Beginnings... transition year... thresholds waiting to be crossed. And i'm reeling from the emotional highs and lows of it all... anticipating and excited with the promises... and resisting and attempting to deny the changes.

*~*

Speaking of not so baby steps...

My recently widowed friend Laura has also joined the blogging world... check her out as she deals with losing a much-loved spouse here. She also thanks everyone of you (my blog friends) who extended prayers for her beloved.

And my friend Jong would also be taking the BAR EXAM this year...

And my friend Jet would be attempting to realize a DREAM this year... so may she find success in the US too...

And my fave boss, Len, has given birth to Gabrielle Jeanne last Dec. 24... and is currently spending her maternity leave fussing and nursing a nocturnal angel, her 4th child... (i was just really sick the whole Holidays but there's something about being texted at 7 am last dec. 24, informing you of the birth, that was both humbling and inspiring and heartwarming)

*~*

Like what I've been blogging about... December was horrible to my throat and sinuses... I mostly stayed home and slept... there were even days when i'd only be awake for a total 6 hours...

I skipped on a lot of gimmicks and parties, fearful that ciggy smoke would further aggravate what was already a really bad condition... nights were especially bad because i'd be sneezing my head off... My cousin even said, though I wasn't snoring in my sleep (as i'm wont to do when i have a stuffy nose), she could tell I was troubled because i kept moaning and talking and thrashing about all those nights...

Dec. 30, I was well and courageous enough to attend the Pinoybloggers' EB... since a lot of bloggers have touched my life and I wanted to meet them in person... some even visiting from abroad... good thing it was at Cabalen in Mega Mall... I didn't really have to handle 2ndhand smoking the whole night...

Am still sick... coming back from Lipa last night resulted into another allergy attack...

And my own sorrows rendered my already puffy eyes... more puffy...

Migraine alert is on HIGH... but I couldn't skip work... wonder if am fit to teach later though...

*~*

Last Christmas, I gathered enough energy to go to my uncle's house... because he'd been sending word that we should go there. He is my mother's brother who lives just one jeepney ride away from us. Traditionally, he and Mom would just be exchanging relatives for guests on Christmas Day... where people would eat food there and have dessert in our house, or vice versa.

But due to the 5-year tradition we've started in Lipa... people would often just eat and feast at Tito Darmo's and just call on us in the afternoon, already bursting with food and money... for more gifts and money. This is because, we'd usually get back to Manila around lunch time, and Mom has to cook food pa.

He was his usual masungit-sounding self, treating us like kids who wouldn't resist the food on their table, and the chocolates and cakes and ice cream on their fridge... growing up, i've always loved going to their place because they always had sooo many food... and sooo many chocolates... and he's always been generous with them. (I think the conservative slice of the Black Forest cake is what triggered another tonsillitis attack for me... because it was the only sweet I had there... and 2 hours later, my throat was hurting like hell again)

My aunt (his wife) and I got to discussing family affairs... she told us that my uncle is expecting some Php6k from work and plans to give it to their youngest brother, who is undergoing treatment for prostate cancer. This brother isn't exactly poor yet, not having kids of his own, and his wife also earns really well at BSP. But my uncle, like my Mom, is like that... through the years, they've always been the ones to shoulder almost everything...

My Tito Darmo has also been trying to get rid of his kidney stones. Providentially enough, he's been responding to herbal treatments and SEEMS to not need the surgery advised for him by doctors. My aunt says, my uncle doesn't want to get operated on because he fears it would weaken him (If really necessary, they'd also opt for laser surgery... ther're totally against opening him up in whatever way)... and he's scared of "getting old and weak" because he still wants to support and raise his grandkids...

One of which is 4 years old, born with a hole in her heart, a hole which has been steadily growing bigger...

And I realized then, i'm still luckier because my parents are still healthier... and because, despite these obvious grievances, my uncle and his family continue to thrive and love each other...

They also offered to be the ones to give me away if my wedding day comes, and my parents aren't around to do it for me...

Christmas is about things you can depend on and keep faith with... like my family...

*~*

I wouldn't end this post without sharing some pics... these ones taken last January 01, eve of the barrio fiesta in my Dad's hometown...

As you can see, Bitoy taught Pyro that they're far cuter than the displays on my Lola's shelf...

And of course, Pyro liked licking the isaw...



*~*

Saw my ex, Neil, and his preggy wife at the Church... howell...