And God Took Back His Angel

It seemed like a scene straight from the movies…

A young boy lying on a hospital bed, his lifeless body unresponsive. 

Except that this was no movie scene.  He was my husband’s nephew and this after all is our life.

It was a shock to see him lying still on the bed, heartwrenching to hug him and feel him cold.  

He was Manuel Carl or simply “MC” to us.  He was fair, happy and it was obvious that he has gained some weight this past year.  

Like every morning, MC drank his milk at 5 a.m.  His mom happily put him to sleep, gave him a kiss and placed him in his crib.  Four hours later, he has yet to turn or give a cringe in his crib.  He has turned blue.  A rush to the hospital proved futile,  he was declared “dead on arrival”. 

Doctors declared it was a case of “SIDS” – Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.  There is no known conclusive cause of it.  It just happens.  There’s a one and a half percent (1.5 %) for it to happen to a baby.  It can happen to anyone. 

But how can it happen to us, how can it happen to them.

My sister in law recounted the morning over and over again, trying to decipher where she has missed, where she has been mistaken or negligent in taking care of her baby.  Hasn’t she been a good mother is a heart-wrenching question to hear.  Her husband stood quiet and still by the hallway, his knuckles bleeding from the punches made on the wall.  Has he not been a good provider that the Lord has chosen to take his youngest away, he asked.

All day long I listened to speeches of faith, prayer and God’s unknown design.  I even gave my own.  Willing for the couple to draw strength from these words and the family’s supportive embrace.

But how this can ebb the despair of a bleeding heart,  I am not sure.  No comforting words can ease the pain of a parent mourning over his/her child.  No parent is suppose to mourn over his/her child.  

MC will be laid to rest on Saturday, 10 a.m., in Meycauayan, Bulacan.  He was 18 months old.

It’s a Rosey Rosey Pink World!

Text message:  “Sweet Ilonggo Guy has finally won the lotto!  Good luck to us both!  🙂

For a moment I wanted to ask how much millions, until comprehension finally dawned. 

“Hahaha!  How did it happen gurl?  Kelan mo pa siya sinagot? Tell me the details!”

I pulled over as Sweet Ilonggo Girl poured out her heart, how she has fallen (unexpectedly) for our dearest friend.  This after all is an emergency! A happy emergency which requires my full attention!

I laughed, I cried as she recounted how he, our groomsman, has swept off her, our bridesmaid, feet. 

Over several “Aww…how sweet”, I marvelled at how remarkable life is.  Except for the obligatory walk in the isle, they hardly noticed each other during our wedding.  A chance meeting at the hospital, with them both welcoming Nina into the world, made their paths collide once more.  Mr. P was acting the matchmaker for his “Bro” while I was clucking like a protective mother hen over “My Gurl”. 

Three months later, this –

 

It’s a rosey, rosey pink world indeed! 

Mr. P and I are still at loggerheads over whom credit should go.  But suffice to say, we are extremely elated over this development.  Our dearest friend has won our bestest gurlfriend!  And we feel like WE have won the lottery!  🙂

Farewell to a Friend

Last night I bid farewell to a friend.

I arrived at home to discover that he was already gone, taking with him a myriad of happy memories…

 

He was there when I first saw Mr. P, his gleaming blue skin shining brightly in the sun, adding weight to an already good impression. 

He was there when I finally gave my “yes” to a love offered, his approval roaring loudly in the air. 

He was there during those cold Christmas nights as we cruised along canopies of christmas lights dreaming of a future of togetherness. 

He was there when I sobbed my first cry, his chrome arms a welcome comfort.  He lost his night-vision head then, adding to my despair. 

 

Together, we enjoyed the kiss of the summer sun and breathe the cool air of the December sky.

We joined hands in prayer for every celebration and occasion – a wedding, a new home, a new baby.

He rejoiced with us, he despaired with us, he must have thought it will be forever…

Until yesterday.

 

The buyer called in the morning. 

For the first time in 10 years, he fell. 

Mr. P said his leg must have broken from the weight.

I said it was more like a broken spirit.  

The buyer arrived in the afternoon.

He fell yet again.

He must have known it was the end of our relationship.  

His way of saying goodbye. 

 

I arrived at home to discover that he was already gone, taking with him a myriad of happy memories.

Farewell dear friend, you have served us well.

Future Lawyer

Wouldn’t it be nice if lawyers look as serene as this? 

Inquisitive eyes interestedly looking back at you, instead of inquisatorial ones glaring back.  

Then perhaps every controversy can be resolved with calm and equanimity, not raging heads and flying tempers. 

 

Objections can easily be quiet down by pink pacifiers, damages reduced to bottle-filled milk.

Allegations will be musical sounds from stuffed alligators, motions the gentle rocking of the cot.

 

 

 

 Its a dream I wish for my daughter, but a wistful and funny one. 

But that’s alright as I’m sure she can always stare anyone down when need be. 🙂

Mr. Superhero

Kapatid,

Natanaw na naman kita ngayong umaga

Suot ang iyong bandilang kapang

Naglalayag sa ihip ng hanging umaga.

 

Bughaw at pula

ngumingiti sa gitna ng sikat ng araw.

Ano kaya ang sasabihin ng Inang Bayan

sa tagpi-tagpi mong kasuotan?

 

Kapatid,

Nasisilaw ako sa kinang ng iyong helmet.

Ukit na mga letra nito’y sumasayaw

sa bagsak ng iyong bawat yapak.

 

Kubli nito mga mata

na masusing nagmamatyag. 

May hinagpis ba sa buhay

nakaraan ika’y tinatakbuhan?

 

At aba, Kapatid,

may dilaw na boomerang ka pa!

Sukbit sa dating taling

taglay ng iyong light saber.

 

Kapag hinagis ay bumabalik

bumabatingaw sa langit.

Ilang mga pagsubok na ba 

ang iyong hinarap at nilagpasan? 

 

Ahh, Kapatid,

Ako’y naiinggit sa malaya mong kaisipan.

Bulag sa hirap at sakit 

sa mundo mong ginagalawan.

 

Hindi ko nanaisin na ika’y himukin

bumalik sa iyong kamalayan.

Sino ako para sabihin

Na ang mundo ko’y nakakalamang?

 

Sya, Kapatid,

Sana ay matanaw kita

Ang iyong tagpi-tagping bandilang kapa

Bukas muli ng umaga.

Trick or Treat!

What do you do the last Saturday of October when your husband is the President of the Homeowners Association?

You get up, leave the emergency room and organize a Neighborhood Halloween Party!

It’s my husband’s first year as President of the Homeowners Association, an association composed of 40 homes with more or less that much number of families.  Halloween is one of the events the homeowners look forward to and, yes, one of those events a President will be known for and leave his mark. 

And so for this occasion I played out my role as the dutiful wife, brought out my magic scissors and spruced up the house.  Bats hang from the ceiling, cobwebs with crawling spiders cloaked the stairs, tombstones stuck out from the piano, a sinister creature welcomed visitors by the doorway and a witch with her broomstick was making her way by the fire escape. 

Screeching doors, ghoulish laughter, screaming banshee, and other scary sounds blared from the sound system.

All done to make that perfect backdrop for a scary but entertaining halloween.

At 4:30 p.m. my nephews and niece started to arrive who along with Ricky’s friends joined us for some halloween games.  First on the agenda was Make your Own Tombstone.  I gave each child some construction paper and with crayons and colored pencils each made his/her own tombstone.  This we later used for another game – the Musical Tombstone (ala Trip to Jerusalem).  It’s amazing how creative the kids were –  Anton placed “Rest in Space” in his tombstone while Gab spookily wrote “I am Dead…But I will kill you later.” 

This was followed by Monster Lab during which each group, headed by the Witches of the East, West and South (my sisters and friend), had to appoint a representative and guess what’s behind the black box…by tasting it.  All of them were able to guess the itchy worms (spaghetti in olive oil), cat’s brain (oatmeal), and dracula’s blood (strawberry juice).  

Next was Boo is it?, which is actually a modified pictionary.  The kids were shy but they readily acted out Frankenstein, a witch, dracula etc. for their respective teams to guess.

Last was Wrap your Mummy which is, you guessed it right, wrapping one of the kids with tissue paper to make him/her into a mummy.  Special judge for this event was Mama Linda!

Tired, the kids settled down for some scary refreshment: itchyworms (spaghetti with meatballs), bat wings (buffalo chicken), wrapped intestines  (pigs in a blanket), more itchyworms (gummyworms), downed with Dracula’s blood (strawberry juice).

 

But that’s just the beginning.

By 7 p.m. howling sounds called out the kids for some Trick or Treat…

 

 

And about 100 ghoulish kids came out and littered the streets! 

Dressed in their scariest (and cutest) outfits they lined up and knocked on everyone’s home.   Candies, cookies, sugary treats in every shape and color overflowed  their pumpkin baskets.  Fun and laughter filled the air.  It was a sight to see! 

There seemed to be no end to this as Mr. P finally called out the winners for the Best Baby Halloween Costume and Best Adult Halloween Costume. 

 

All in all, it was a splendid Halloween party for the neighborhood! 

Surely, not bad for a first time President.

Oh, and there’s one final treat…

Bumble Bee Nina came out for her first Halloween party!  🙂