Friendship Across the Miles Series: Best Friends in Florida (BFF)

My nephew, P, had finally found work in Orlando, Florida.   It had been an emotional parting for my sister, G, and her husband.  Their only child was off to conquer the world on his own.  But as fate would have it, he was not totally alone.  A very close cousin, C, had graciously taken P into her wings. 

And when a couple of months passed, my sister, G, decided to take a vacation and visit her son.  Not to let the opportunity pass, the rest of us felt we needed to visit as well.  Besides, it was finally time to accept my cousin’s long standing invitation to visit.

After five hours of air travel, our party of seven (my mom, my niece, brother-in-law and sisters: G, J, M plus me) had finally arrived at the Orlando airport.  My brother and his wife would follow two days after.  That’s how much we take family visits seriously. 

To most travelers, Orlando means a visit to the happiest place on earth: Disney World.  To my sister, it was a chance to be with a sorely missed son.  And to our group, it meant a grand reunion among cousins who were a part of our very happy childhood.

When the Living is Easy

The sea was very close to where I grew up in Cebu.  So close was the pier to our house I could hear the deep and lonely blast of a ship’s horn late at night as it got ready to leave port.  If I imagined hard enough, I could hear the ship’s porter’s warning call, “pwera besita, pwera besita”.

With such close proximity, it was only natural for my parents to bring us to the popular public black sand beaches of Talisay (famous for pinasugbo- bananas dipped in dark and thick sugar glaze) or brown sand beaches of Liloan (famous for whirlpools and rosquillos- a round, scalloped edge sweet biscuit) in the summer. 






 In the 1970s, when barges made it possible to cross over, the white sand beaches of Mactan Island became our favorite summer playground. 

Remembering Past Summers

“….summer breeze makes me feel fine

blowing through the jasmines of my mind”   Seals & Crofts

The noontime newscaster announced that the day was turning out to be another record breaking scorching summer day.  Nothing in the world could make me part with my electric fan.  A short time away from the warm artificial breeze and beads of perspiration would quickly form on my forehead and drip into my eyes.

My Summer Place

Big shady trees, kites flying in the blue skies, delicious fruits coming into season and days at the beaches make me love summer. Growing up, summer spelled vacation time— free from school work and a chance to dream. And since we lived but 20 minutes away from the different beaches of my province— white powdery ones, black pebbly ones and coral creamy ones-- my summer love affair with the sea began and is rekindled every summer thereafter. Granted that I get hot and sweaty, I find that these discomforts can easily be forgotten with the slathering of some sunblock cream and much splashing around in clear and cool sea water. Adding intensity to the love affair: the food-- eating sweet ripe mangoes and licking the juices off our fingers; sip cool coconut water (buco); and cubes of the freshest raw fish in a vinaigrette pool (kinilaw) partnered with barbequed pork belly. The moments— beach combing for the tiniest seashell in the late afternoons; and, a full moon, some star gazing and the occasional sighting of a falling star while listening to the sounds of the waves as the tide comes in. And the people—then, 4 sisters and 2 brothers and lots of sun-kissed cousins; now, my son, my daughter, my husband and like-minded friends. So I return to the sea -- my summer place. Sometimes for just a day, sometimes for a week and always wishing to stay longer the next time. And am happy to report that the love affair continues to burn as brightly and as hot as the summer sun.
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If you love summer that way I do, I am sure you will enjoy the following cool idea. Yoghurt Ice
2 small containers of plain yoghurt
1/2 c chopped fruit ( banana, strawberries)
Some honey or sugar
1 Tablespoon chopped nuts and choco chips

Place all of the ingredients (except the nuts) in a blender and zap until smooth. Stir in the nuts and chips. You may pour the smoothie into the yoghurt containers or ice tray or in Popsicle containers.

Pop into the freezer for at least 4 hours or until firm. When serving, you might want to surround your yoghurt ice with more fruit, nuts and choco-chips. Enjoy!!