Holy Wednesday, last day of the work week. Boyfie & the family picked me up at home at around 7PM. It was my first time to meet his entire family, except for his 2 sisters, and I felt so welcome when everyone screamed “Hello, Ate Mimie” as I hopped in the car. It radiated a sense of “welcome” and it instantly lifted my mood as I hollered back at everyone. We all headed to their Antipolo home to spend the night. We left at around 5am for the long La Union drive. It will be a big challenge for me for you know my ass tend to hurt on long drives. I’m doing it, however, for the sake of adventure, and, er, luuuuvvvv! We had breakfast at around 10 in Jollibee in Tarlac and everyone was starving we could eat an entire cow! In about an hour or so, we finally reached their La Union home in Bauang.
We were greeted by his grandparents and a tita. I noticed they prepared a lot of dishes, but I was still stuffed when it was served. I just had morsels as I was still stuffed. What I pigged out on was mangga’t bagoong. Serve me green mangoes anytime and I will wipe it out! Good thing boyfie’s sisters love mangoes too, hindi halata na matakaw ako sa mangga.
To keep ourselves amused amidst the scorching heat, some took showers, others caught up with their Zzzzs, and others sung their lungs out in videoke.
A little later, a number of their relatives came by and I was glad to meet them as well. I just adored one of boyfie’s baby cousins who’d always come with me every time I stretch my arms out to get her. Hmmm...must she sensed that I do smell harmless and that I have motherly instincts and my ability to take care of kids is potent. I just love babies!
That night, we played this crazy card game called Killer, the same game we played in Bohol which I sucked at, where the players guessed who the killer is. The killer would wink at the players until the police would catch him. The “loser” basically had his face swiped with powder. Everyone had a good laugh for 2 consecutive nights even if it was Good Thursday & Good Friday respectively.
Come Saturday, we were preparing ourselves to go surfing that afternoon in a beach in San Juan. We headed to the beach around 4PM and at the mere sight of the sea, I felt all psyched up to ride the waves. Seeing the sun set while waiting to ride a big wave was breath taking.
Hey, keeping your balance and standing on the board for practically 2 seconds was not bad at all for a first-timer huh?! However, having ridden the wave for a couple of seconds meant hitting my jaw with the board’s tip, almost snapping my top off, drinking gallons of salt water and having a sore body. I’m not complaining. In fact, I’m stoked and I wanna do it again soon!
On Sunday, the elders were busy cooking and preparing for lunch. They had a small gathering, called on some more relatives, to celebrate the graduation of boyfie’s 2 sisters. Again, I met a bunch of members of his extended family. They did not expect the group to be that small, compared to the reunion they had when he passed the bar exams, but it was all good.
It was so refreshing to be in a family reunion. I wish we have these in our clan.
It’s Monday and time to head back to Manila and face the real world again. Plus the thought that I won’t be seeing boyfie’s face tomorrow when I wake up wasn’t a comforting though either. So I bid everyone goodbye and thanked them for being so good to me. Really, I do hope I can come back in the near future. The trip was still 5 hours long sans any traffic. We hardly spoke in the car for some strange reason. I was thankful we got home safe just the same.
When I reached home, it took me a while to get used to the silence at home because of my small family. It dawned on me that the importance of family, no matter how loud or crazy they may be, keeps one person sane and grounded. I just wish that we be given the chance to spend time to reconnect once again and make us feel that we are make up one another.
Thank God for answered prayers.
I just heard from Mom that one of my titas will be coming over next week to see us after some time. I had this aha! moment and told her that we should have a small reunion. It doesn’t have to be über bongga, but it should be something that will connect old ties. So looking forward to the coming week!
How did your holy week go and what were you able to reflect on?
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