Blooper

I saw my son to his classroom's door this morning. I helped him carry one 2.5L Coke bottle filled with .25 centavos for a classroom project. the coins are supposed to be donated to needy families. and it was sooooooooo heavy that when i was about to give it to him [and i was taking care not to be seen by his classmates because he wanted to present it himself to the class; in fact, he even said that his classmates would love him for it, hehe], the bottle slipped from my hands and made such a loud noise when it hit the floor! my golly, i stole my son's thunder! i made a quick apology while making a hasty exit. clumsy mama, i could sense he wanted to tell me, good thing he didn't. i could count my blessings! but anyway, he was immediately swarmed by classmates who helped him with his load. i smiled to myself, he is going to have one good day!

Happy 3rd Birthday Jilly!

My niece and godchild, Jillian Macy, celebrated her 3rd birthday last Monday. She spent it with classmates at the preschool she goes to. On Sunday, her whole family will celebrate it again with her. Here's a supposed-to-be-birthday-greeting of Irish origin for your day:


May those who love us, love us;
And for those who don't love us,
May God turn their hearts;
And if He can't turn their hearts,
May He turn their ankles,
So we will know them by their limping!

Opps, that didn't sound quite right, did it? Hehe. What i meant was:

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rain fall soft upon your fields,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

I searched for the meaning of her name, and got this:
Jillian=youthful; Macy=enduring.

Not a Quitter

Four out of the five school days last week, my son had been extra, uhm, playful and talkative in school, so much so that his name was always in the "Noisy Boys" list. This week, he vowed to change that. Well, he didn't exactly succeed last Monday. But yesterday, he finally did. His name was finally off the list and, as if to reward him for his valiant efforts, his team also won the math contest, which in turn earned for him another star for their Star Quest contest. Haha! When he got home, he called me up in the office and said, "Mama, what did i tell you? Di ba i told you i would not stop trying? Well, today, i wasn't noisy! Told you i am not a quitter!"

The Future of World Cup

Period.

Brave tots!

Yesterday, my son and my niece went on a doubledate to the dentist for tooth extraction. actually, it would have happened sooner if my niece weren't terrified [she actually cried!] the first time she saw the dentist's chair. she said she'd only go back to the dentist if my son had a tooth removed too [guess she's making sure she's not alone in the process and that if it had to hurt, then they would ouch together, hehe]. So my son, haha!, obliged. he agreed to have a tooth extracted, and we set another appointment with the dentist.

Minutes before the "operation", my niece's hands were definitely very, very cold. she was trying to smile but i knew how terrified she was. my son--and i think that was gallant of him--volunteered to go first, to assure his cousin that there was nothing to be scared of. when it was my niece's turn, she bravely stood up and sat on the dreaded chair. the dentist, bless her, handled her well, so much so that when it was done, my niece was actually smiling, this time for real, because, she said, the dentist let her in on her and my son's "secret". whatever it was, am only too happy her first dental experience turned out ok.

Onward comrades!

Errr...maybe you go and I stay and man the fort?

New Driving Skill

Aside from wide peripheral vision and alertness, Manila drivers now need another important skill to negotiate city roads: dodging potholes without bumping into the next guy’s car! The rains and the floods effectively washed out the asphalt from the concrete roads [that’s right, asphalt on top of concrete! at least, that’s how bumpy roads get repaired in this part of the world] leaving huge potholes the size of the moon’s craters. now, it would have been fun looking at vehicles bobbing in and out of holes as though they were in a rough road dirt rally. but the sad truth for motorists like me is that this translates to expensive repairs on the shocks and suspension bushings. hence, the need for the dodging skill. I was actually laughing while driving as I was zigzagging my way along straight EDSA. when I got to my son’s school, I just know a pat in the back is in order for my newfound skill!

Moms Can't Get Sick

Over the weekend, i got tonsillitis. Funny, because i thought that's just one of those illnesses that adults should be old enough to know how to avoid. Well, this adult didn't. And the discomfort of having twin marbles stuck at the back of my mouth was compounded by terrible pains in my joints as well as high fever. I simply wasn't able to get up from my bed. And since it was the weekend, my babysitter went home to her baby daughter, which left me and my son alone in the house. That was when i realized that truly, mothers couldn’t get sick. I couldn’t cook, couldn’t bathe my son, I couldn’t even prepare his dede! That was also the time when I realized that sometimes, it is good to ask for, and receive, help.

L'encre de tes yeux

Puisqu'on ne vivra jamais tous les deux
Puisqu'on est fou, puisqu'on est seuls
Puisqu'ils sont si nombreux
Même la morale parle pour eux
J'aimerais quand même te dire
Tout ce que j'ai pu écrire
Je l'ai puisé à l'encre de tes yeux.

Je n'avais pas vu que tu portais des chaînes
À trop vouloir te regarder,
J'en oubliais les miennes
On rêvait de Venise et de liberté
J'aimerais quand même te dire
Tout ce que j'ai pu écrire
C'est ton sourire qui me l'a dicté.

Tu viendras longtemps marcher dans mes rêves
Tu viendras toujours du côté
Où le soleil se lève
Et si malgré ça j'arrive à t'oublier
J'aimerais quand même te dire
Tout ce que j'ai pu écrire
Aura longtemps le parfum des regrets.

Mais puisqu'on ne vivra jamais tous les deux
Puisqu'on est fou, puisqu'on est seuls
Puisqu'ils sont si nombreux
Même la morale parle pour eux
J'aimerais quand même te dire
Tout ce que j'ai pu écrire
Je l'ai puisé à l'encre de tes yeux.

Paroles et Musique: Francis Cabrel 1980 "Fragile"

Falling Leaves

Was just looking out the window when a gust of wind suddenly blew, causing leaves of different colors and sizes to fall and scatter on the zen garden that is painstakingly kept immaculate by the campus' blue guys. i can just imagine the look on their faces when they see the new collection of leaves that now adorns the green grass.

His Time to Shine

Since the time he started school, my son has been getting good grades. Each schoolyear end, however, he gets disappointed at not getting at least one medal. Last March, he was even one of the section honors, though not enough to land him a medal. I have of course explained to him that the medal isn't all that important [and all the other things every mom say to help a child get over a disappointment].

But last night, he was telling me, "mama, did you know that there were only three of us who got the Best English Speaker Award?" No, i didn't, so i asked him how he knew. He said that after the flag ceremony attended by students of the morning session from grades 1 to 3, the principal asked those who got the award to raise their hands. he raised his. and that moment right there, even when i didn't see it, i am sure that my son's smile shone the brightest.

Butterfly Kisses

There's two things I know for sure
She was sent here from heaven
and she's Daddy's little girl
As I drop to my knees by her bed at night
She talks to Jesus and I close my eyes
And I thank God for all of the joy
in my life
Oh, but most of all, for...

Butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer
Stickin' little white flowers all up in her hair

"Walk beside the pony Daddy, it's my first ride
I know the cake looks funny Daddy
but I sure tried"

Oh, with all that I've done wrong,
I must have done something right
To deserve a hug every morning and
butterfly kisses at night

Sweet sixteen today
And she's lookin' like her mamma
a little more every day
One part woman, the other part girl
To perfume and make-up,
from ribbons and curls
Trying her wings out in a great big world
But I remember...

Butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer
Stickin' little white flowers all up in her hair

You know how much I love you Daddy
But if you don't mind
I'm only gonna kiss you on the cheek this time

Oh, with all that I've done wrong,
I must have done something right
To deserve her love every morning
and butterfly kisses at night

Oh the precious times
Oh, like the wind the years go by
Precious butterfly
Spread your wings and fly

She'll change her name today
and she'll make a promise and I'll give her away
Standing in the bride room just staring at her
She asked me what I'm thinking and I said
"I'm not sure, I just feel like I'm losing my baby girl"
And she leaned over...and gave me...

Butterfly kisses with her mamma there
Stickin' little white flowers all up in her hair

"Walk me down the aisle Daddy,
it's just about time
Does my wedding gown look pretty Daddy?
Daddy don't cry"

Oh, with all that I've done wrong,
I must have done something right
To deserve her love every morning and
butterfly kisses

I couldn't ask God for more
Man, this is what love is
I know I've gotta let her go,
but I'll always remember
Every hug in the morning and butterfly kisses

I heard this song while I was driving on my way to my son’s play therapy session. If anybody wants to listen to it, here’s a link that allows you to do just that.

Good morning Blues!

Saturday night, my son’s dad’s family invited us to dinner. The restaurant where we dined gave away stuffed dogs for every order of its fruit shakes. My son ordered three glasses so he could get three toys: one for him, the other two for his cousins Kaka and Geof. He [my son] named his dog Blues Clues.
When we got home, my son toured Blues Clues around the house, saying “This is the dining room, this is the kitchen, and this is the bedroom where you will be sleeping with me and daga.” The following day, as I was kissing him good morning, I thought I heard him mumble good morning to me too! But boy was I ever wrong! What he was really saying, and to whom, was: Good Morning Blues! Serves me right for being presumptuous!

An Awardee…again!

My little boy got an award for being the best English speaker of his class this grading period! Well, what do you know? It’s actually the third time he got awarded that. Maybe I should write Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, and Cartoon Network a thank you note? Nah, my son earned it, fair and square. And he surely deserved it.

Rain and fog…my heart soars!

I should hate the rain; after all, it only creates untold damage to my car as it goes through flood waters. And, long time ago, twas under the rain when I was jilted [haha!]. But looking out my office window now, with the rain pouring since early this morning, I know I couldn’t hate it. It’s just so beautiful! It makes everything look so fresh and clean and full of life. And the fog just makes my spirit soar to the heavens! Thank God I am alive!

You’re not Boring Mama!

This my little boy told me one night while we were watching tv. Why thank you, I said, but what made you say that? He replied, “Because you play with me, that’s why.” And then he asked me when I’m ever going to marry his dad so that he’ll [my son] have a new surname like his cousin Kaka. I told him never, if that’s ok with him. I really couldn’t, I explained to him, because I wouldn’t want him to get hurt again. And then my son said, “That’s ok Mama, you really should get a good man.”
He would never know how big a burden he has lifted from me. Now I know that I’ve done the right thing, and that from here on, my son and I are going to be ok.

In Memoriam

And O, ye Fountains, Meadows, Hills, and Groves,
Forebode not any severing of our loves!
Yet in my heart of hearts I feel your might;
I only have relinquished one delight
To live beneath your more habitual sway.
I love the Brooks which down their channels fret,
Even more than when I tripped lightly as they;
The innocent brightness of a new-born Day
Is lovely yet;
The Clouds that gather round the setting sun
Do take a sober colouring from an eye
That hath kept watch o'er man's mortality;
Another race hath been, and other palms are won.
Thanks to the human heart by which we live,
Thanks to its tenderness, its joys, and fears,
To me the meanest flower that blows can give
Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears.

--Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood

Happy birthday, dear Eric. We sure miss you.
[Orig posting was Aug. 23]

My Bramasole

Well, why not? My very own place under the sun. It’d have to have a huge garden, trellises, a picnic table, and pebbled walk… someday soon...

Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.