I just blogged last night that my husband was not feeling well so he was tucked in bed early.  But he woke up earlier than me today and is already performing his duty as the “IRON MAN”.  I lovingly and teasingly calling him that name because he loves to iron.  Yes, my husband had this affinity to ironing our clothes and very meticulous at that.   He hates to see creases and double lines especially on his pants that is why I am giving him the liberty to do what he wants.  I am very good at that.  You want to do it?  Okey, you can have your way.   Now, he is bent and enjoying his favorite task. 

However, I warned him to take it easy.  I just included few pieces of my blouses so he will not get too tired.  Nothing can stop him, believe me!

An off line message from a friend popped up on my screen the other day.    I immediately called her sensing the urgency of her message.  I thought something might had happened but I was relieved to find out that it was just something she can’t contain to reveal to me at once.  After few exchange of pleasantries, she told me that her ex-boyfriend of 10 years suddenly surfaced after 27 years long of separation.  As I dug deeper into her story, it was indeed a sweet-bitter-sweet relationship.  They were High School and college sweethearts and a year plus after graduation.  They thought they will end up getting married but destiny took a 180 degrees turn.  They separated ways when  an unfortunate incident happened and that was the bitter part as she recounted.  A lot of things happened since then.   Now, after more than 27 years, she saw him again.  The sweet part is that they are the best of friends again.   It was a melodramatic love story.  …

I know based on her story that both of them had moved on.    Forgive and forget… And that they are not meant to be…

I’ve been partying since I came last Saturday but such affairs here in the Kingdom is way different as culture dictates there should be no mixed male and females unles you are mingling with families.  There are no alcoholic beverages, no loud music, dancing and singing outdoor allowed.   All you have to do is socialize by table hopping, story here and there, food trip and see the kids enjoy the day and endless picture taking (of course privately).  There are a lot of restrictions here but we can still manage to have our little get together with caution of course.  And as long as you are in adherence with Saudi law, you don’t have to be afraid.

I had been to 2 Family days, a Birthday party, a Dedication party, a House Blessing, a casual meeting with friends.  I know that there will be more get together lined-up.  Well, I have to be cautious.. too much eating on parties will surely be a disaster.  I have a big wedding day to attend to on October but I can’t turn down invitations.  What will I do?  I will just armed myself with loads of self control and a bagful of stories so I will be busy talking about interesting things and I might forget about food.

Hard..really hard!

Yes, on August 16, 2010, we will be celebrating our Silver wedding anniversary.  We are too proud to announce it that we have reached the magic 25.   Although, our relationship is also a roller coaster ride of joy, triumphs, pains and heartaches, still we stick together to date.  One has to really love unconditionally to be able to withstand all the trials.

We are just planning to celebrate it quietly- a fine dining with friends.   The big day hopefully will be next year as we celebrate our 25th Church wedding anniversary.  We might renew our vows and we are planning a church wedding and our children and relatives as part of the entourage.  That for sure will be an exciting event to look forward to.

However, that depends on the budget, but we will see…

I love weddings!  And a young colleague confided that wedding bells will be heard soon this October.  My mind wandered fast when she told me that my husband and I are among their choice to be their principal sponsors.  Now, our lunch break is sort of a meeting because we talked about how far they have been with their preparation and now, they are rushing to get things done. 

Their motiff is moss green and I am browing the web for gowns- for new styles, color  and good cut. I believe that I needed also to do my own preparation.   Trim down and tone a bit to look my best this October.  Afterall, her wedding will only be once in her lifetime. (I hope so).

As I stand before the  majestic Quiapo church and marvelled at it’s facade, I can’t  help but  remember  my college years in Manila wherein my Fridays won’t be complete without  a visit to Quiapo church to hear mass and proceed to card and palm reading afterwards.    I was hooked on  fortune telling that I never missed it whenever I am within the area.  At the back of my mind, I know that this is not for real but I still love doing it.  It always give me that light and good feeling hearing interesting forecast about my destiny especially my love life.   It thrilled me no end!  And I kept coming back for more, I guess giving bright idea s and signal  for that palm reader to make her forecast more interesting because Iwas a good catch.   I was an unsuspecting costumer!  That continued for years till I stopped going there when I went overseas and that habit was cut short.

While on vacation, I had the chance to have visited  Quiapo chuch last week  for the mass but  I never even dared look for fortune tellers in the area.  I’ve realized that destiny are not foretold, it is meant to happen in God’s time. 

Nah! The last card forecast told me years back was I am going to meet and marry a chinky-eyed guy.  Wow! Chinese!  Slit eyed, fair-skinned! Not bad!   I was very hopeful and anticipated for a Chinese suitor but my destiny happened to be a wide-eyed, tall, dark and dark man.   I ended up with an  Ilocano husband.   No misgivings! 

Fortune telling?  No way!

We always look forward to long, well-planned break but  this time we went home unprepared, almost photofinish from the time we received the news about the demise of my mother in law till we applied and got approval for an emergency leave, process our exit reentry visas and purchased our tickets.  We were agitated with so short a time to catch the burial and panicky that we might miss it.  The plan was to board the plane to Manila and upon arrival my brother will pick up us from the airport to the nearest bus station to catch the first available trip to Ilocos.   It happened as planned and we still came on the last hours of the wake.   My in laws from Canada also headed home and though it was a sad reunion amongst my husband’s siblings and relatives, still this was an apt chance for them to be together.

My mother in law passed away early morning of June 12, Philippine Independence Day.   Initially, acceptance does not comes easily, but we rested with the thought that she finally joined her Creator and this  in a way gave us this light feeling of letting go. Her earthly body is now devoid  of all the pains and aches, worries and problems.

It was unbearable to see how my husband was silently grieving over the loss of his dear mom,  he was at a lost and confused since he just came back from a 3 week emergency leave to the Philippines.  Due to my prodding, I encouraged him to go home while his mom is still lucid.  He was then able to take care of her.   He came back to Riyadh already convinced that he is already prepared for any eventualities.  True enough, barely a month after he had returned to work, his mother passed away.    Whew! It wasn’t easy, bosses and work to consider, time constraint and budget to check and balance but  but still we exhausted all means to come home to see her for the last time.  And their dream reunion happened.  Sad and happy one!

It is a realization that we need to show the love and care for our loved ones, while they are still around.   Tell them often  the magic word “I love you” before it’s too late.