how to be a Mom to my own Mom.

I've been hearing everywhere that someday, when we grow old, we'll be the ones who'll act like parents of our own parents. I never thought it will come too soon for me.

Mama recently reconnected with her friends from high school, through Facebook. And today, they agreed to meet-up with each other in Pasay City, a little less than 3 hour-drive from our home. I didn't mind at first that it was taking too long for Mama to come back home until I finished Season 6 of How I Met Your Mother (Shameless Plug) and as I saw her favorite prime time dramas finish one after the other. I began worrying when she wasn't home when the clock stroke 9:00 in the evening.

And I started to call her. But no answer.

Until I read her message that she might be getting home late because it might take long before their dinner shall be served in a "Dampa" restaurant in Pasay City. [Dampa is a haven for sea foods, where you'll be the one to choose which sea creature you shall eat, who shall cook it, and served to you fresh from the live kitchen.]

"Pasay City is too far. Please go home immediately." - I caught myself typing in the text message. Sent.

Until, I realized it's how her messages looked like when I'm still on the road at 9, 10, 11 or 12 in the evening or midnight.

I was too glad when she arrived by 9:30, and was still able to catch a show we watch together every night, "My Binondo Girl", with chocolates and souvenirs from her dear friend. She gave the earrings to me, but i didn't care about it. I was just glad that she was finally home.

Today, I felt the anxiety she feels when I'm not yet home and hours has passed after sun down. I need to get home earlier, from now on, I thought.

Anyway, She was talking that all of them had cars now. I could sense a little envy with her, and comparison to a life that she lives now from her materially successful friends. But, I guess I should save it for another story. ;) 

With Mama, Easter 2011.

"A daughter is a person who'll be your future best friend" - Anonymous.

the feel-good feeling brought by making someone happy

My today's post was supposed to be about nuts, warm milk and not having caffeine for at least 4 hours before you go to bed will make your sleeping patterns better... but save it for next time.

Walking past the apartments beside our NGO's office, I was comfortably pressing my head against my rounded hat and thinking about someone's reminder of me taking rest seriously. It might have been the most gloomy afternoon and the routine heading back to my father's nook, eating dinner and dozing off if not for my silliest idea of taking my father out for a movie. It was a sudden temptation that brought me and just a slip of the tongue that I said "I'll treat you." Unexpectedly, his face painted a light and glad smile that I thought secondly of saying "I was just joking, I'm saving money these days." So, there we went...

While we were on the way to the theaters, I was consoling myself that it was alright since it was only once in a while and that basically, it was the money I would have spent for food and bus fares if I didn't got sick and stayed at home for 3 days.

Want to know more about the movie. Click here.

"Life as we know it" was about two young adults who hated each other at the start but learned to love each other by taking care of Sophie, their god daughter, after she has been orphaned after her parents, who were the best friends of the two died in a car accident. It was a trick of fate.

After the movie, my father and I walked through the mall swiftly, pass the shops and got-off the train station, as routinely as we do each time we're heading back home at his nook. By the time, we were closing home, he walked slowly and said "it was a good movie, better than Resident Evil."

"But I thought Resident Evil was your favorite", I replied.

"Yes, but I've got copies of all episodes in my computer", he said.

I didn't get it at first but I guess he was just thankful for a little time outside with her daughter and for the free movie. Most of the time, it's he who paid and I've got to choose the movie I like. This time, I let him pick but he picked "Life as we know it", probably in consideration with what I would like. Today, I don't regret the slip of the tongue for it's immeasurable with the feelings I had after seeing his smile of "excitement" when I said I'll treat him. In the end, I thought "money isn't really that important in life, but you need it to make the people you love happy sometimes." I hope to see that smile from Papa again.