Getting Personal with Katy Perry

Yes, you read it right. 

It has become personal ever since that fateful May 7 evening when Katy Perry (KP) graced the stage at the Philippine Arena.

In the beginning, I was not sure that I would enjoy KP’s show.  After all, she and I are of a different era.  Yes, her songs are catchy but I never paid too much attention on the lyrics.  Besides, I noticed that her songs and most of today’s hits are better listened to than sang.  Too much vocal acrobatics.  Not the straight forward tunes of Carol King or the Carpenters… Opps, I am showing my era.

Be Cool- Final Story

Saturday.  

The continuation of our 3-day weekend adventures.

After some brainstorming with my kids, we finally agreed to continue with the relaxed pace of the previous day.   At the suggestion of my son, we booked a suite at Seven Suites Hotel in Antipolo for our overnight “stay-cation”.  A quick check on the internet confirmed that it had everything we were looking for: free wifi, air conditioning and a pool. Plus we were intrigued to check out the hotel’s claim of being the only hotel that had a powerful Sky-Watcher telescope and their very own in-house astronomer. 

Like yesterday, it was a late morning start.   The drinks we had the night before sure helped to ensure a restful night.

Beep, Beep.

I’ll be there in 30 minutes to pick you up.

Bringing Back the Age of Wonder

Visiting Disney World in Orlando was way down in the bottom of my to-do list in my family’s five day visit to Florida. 

Unlike my 9-year old niece, who had her heart set in meeting as many Disney Princesses, mine was set on catching up with cousins and family.  Of course age is a factor in the difference of priorities.  I felt I was pass being enthralled by make-believe characters and could do without the adrenaline rush or heart attack I could get from a roller coaster ride.

In the course of the five-day visit, I found myself being captivated by non-Disney characters (besides my relatives) in easy-to-find locations. And the best part was: there was little or no need to pay for tickets to have close encounters with them.

Be Cool: A Story in Three-Parts

Part Two

9AM.

The alarm rings.

Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I glance at my daughter as she continues to sleep through the noise.

I killed the alarm, stretch, said a silent prayer of gratitude for a good night’s rest. 

I peeked through the blinds to check out the activities on the street outside my daughter’s apartment.  Kids were already playing as a puto vendor tooted his horn to announce his presence: put-o, put-o, put-u.

Beep beep. Text alert.

Be Cool: A Story in 3 Parts

First Part of the Story

10PM.  I received a call on my celphone.

A PAL call center agent was on the other end.

“Please be advised that your 8:30AM flight to Naga tomorrow has been cancelled. Passengers will be rerouted to Legaspi at 1:30PM,” he said.

At first, I politely asked him for the reason.

Airport closure? No.

Bad weather? No. 

Aircraft trouble? No.

A Time Just For Planting

There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens… Ecclesiastes 3

When rain falls almost everyday, what time do you suppose it is?

Time for planting!!

It was time to plant the seeds I got from my mother’s “Peacock Flower” shrubs  in Cebu last summer.  

Pretty Peacock Flowers in a vase

The Ultimate Retail Therapy

I was feeling out of sorts.  My body clock had gone haywire since I arrived from the States.  I was missing my State-side base siblings and friends.  I was having separation anxiety after being the companion of my mother for a month (or was she the one being my companion?!)

Then I get a text from a close friend and neighbor. 

“I’m thinking of going to Divi tomorrow since Monday is a holiday. Want to come along after mass?”, read her text.

“Yes, yes!”, was my immediate response.

Nothing like a trip to Divisoria, Manila to shake the jetlag blues away.

The Quest

The annual visit of my mother to the States always includes visits to her doctor for the once-a-year routine check-up.   She used to confidently manage these visits on her own with a sibling offering to drive her for the appointments.  But a year ago, she needed to be accompanied to these visits.  We took charge in filling out the usual questionnaire given out and sat with her as she met with her doctors.  (Still Mommy)

Maybe, we reasoned, it was because she was getting on in years.  Slower, more careful with her steps; quieter, more introspective.  On the other hand, she was easily agitated in unfamiliar surroundings; and quick to declare, “I cannot!” 

Friendship Across the Miles Series: It’s Yesterday Once More

“All my best memories

Come back clearly to me
Some can even make me cry
Just like before
It's yesterday once more”  by the Carpenters

“Remember me? “, was the first line to a message I posted and sent off to a classmate who I found via FB.  She immediately responded the next day.  And we soon were sending off messages back and forth to each other.

The FB encounter is now a little over four years old.  Before FB, my contact with P was via slow mail probably more than 20 years ago before I lose touch with P again.  My lame excuse “life got in the way”.

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.