Thoughts between Christmas and the New Year

 

 

Thoughts between Christmas and the New Year

The holiday celebrations this 2012 weren't as hectic as the past years. Only  got to see three "balikbayan" friends who are here for the holidays; only the Hubby attended Christmas parties of different dental societies; and I survived the three events held at our home in a span of eight days.

Lunch with dear old friend Debbie and some travel buddies.

http://chicsanders22.blogspot.com/2012/12/christmas-lunch-dec-18-2012.html

Post Christmas dinner with UPSCAn's

http://chicsanders22.blogspot.com/2012/12/post-christmas-dinner-with-upscans-12_26.html

San Andres Annual Christmas Dinner

http://chicsanders22.blogspot.com/2012/12/christmas-family-dinner-2012.html

 

Weng dropped by one Sunday afternoon.

Cesbau, the Hubby and I visited Dr. Joni Martinez's home in QC.

My best friend Dr. Aimee arrived on the 20th.

We were at her house the night she arrived.

Welcome home!!!

With my bbff's, Dr. Aimee, Dr. Olive, Dr. Butch & Aya.

... at Thaipan Restaurant. 

I started the  2013 by being with my bbff's.

It'll be a lovely year!!!

******** 

 

I survived but I am very tired. Aging is catching up on me. Eight hours sleep is not enough. I need 12 hours, another day's rest and a massage to recharge, recover and recuperate.

The time between Christmas and New Year is my quiet time. We spent a couple of nights in Fontana: Just lying around all day, with hardly any Internet connection, no cleaning, no baking and no cooking, just complete bed rest. Hubby, as usual, was at the Flying Club for his flying lessons as early as 7 am. Nobody wanted to go with him. I went to Puregold, hoping to buy Christmas decors on sale but I was an hour late. :(



Back to my thoughts........

There are three stages in my life. Santa Claus is real and I believed he did exist. My mom was Santa Claus… and now, I am Santa Claus. ... I even weigh as much as he does.

I believed in Santa Claus, though I never really tried to be nice all year and had been quite a naughty little brat, Santa Claus still came every Christmas Eve until I was eight years old. I hated my older cousins for telling me that my mom was Santa Nanay. Hmpf! *^%##}{][=+¥£€ o well ..

 

 

A monstrous thought ...

Don't you just hate it when you see someone wearing the exact same dress or shirt? Or when someone, somehow, sometimes, just seem to be a copycat? Another Hmpf! *^%#}{][¥£€! What Charles Caleb Colton refers to as the best form of flattery is actually the purest form of annoyance, and when this line within me is crossed, it tests my patience and utmost tolerance.

Here I am again with such negative monstrous thoughts. But as I always say and write," these are just monstrous thoughts. They do not deserve a reward or a reprimand... " 

More thoughts….

What shall I wish for in 2013?

I only pray for two things, that my loved ones will always be healthy and safe and for God to take me first. Since this is my daily prayer, then they don't count as wishes for the new year right?

So, I get to make three wishes.
First wish ... inner peace, and how do I do that? I always read Paulo Coelho’s blog and here’s a link. http://paulocoelhoblog.com/2012/12/28/closing-cycles/  
Do read the comments posted by his followers. I posted one. Hmmm i am such a fan of PC. As I read the comments at the bottom of the page, I saw a comment that I posted sometime in August.  The article gives me the proper encouragement, explains and justifies what I had done and why I closed a lot of doors, kept them shut and kept them that way for a long long time.

My second wish … for the Hubby and the Son to continue to love me and tolerate my mood swings. They give me space, they leave me alone when I become a fire breathing dragon, spewing out ‘evil’ words, that is fiercer and more deadly than the  fire from a real dragon’s mouth.  They patiently wait for me to be ready, to be pain free or to wake up  after noon, since sleep  (again) evaded me the previous  night.

My third wish … is  to pursue my dream to be  a successful artist/painter. I shall finish the painting that I have started last November 2012. I will try  to inspire some people with the things I write, [ simple essays that I publish online with my paintings].  Art of Calm 2012 is posted at scribd.com!
http://www.scribd.com/doc/117062760/Calm-2012

 ... I will continue cooking and baking for my loved ones, not for commercial purposes to enrich myself and share my recipes and food blogs in my new blog, http://chicsanders22.blogaspot.com 

Happy New Year to all... Hubby and Son, my friends, real friends, cyber friends,  FB friends, acquaintances, relatives, neighbors!  May we make new and beautiful memories this   2013.

 

********

My Christmas 2012  

I took photos of Christmas trees and started with mine. I wanted to post them in Facebook and do my countdown til Christmas Day. But somehow, I lost momentum when the dad of my dear friend passed away.  I had to put all holiday photos or blogs on hold to honor this sweet sweet man. 

Here are just some of the photos of Christmas trees.(I wanted to take photos of all the Christmas trees in hotels and restaurants, but didn't have enough time.)

My Christmas Tree 2012

Robinson's Magnolia

Richmonde Hotel Eastwood

Eastwood Mall

Fontana Lobby Tree

Trinoma

Trinoma / Top Floor

Christmas Tree at The Manila Peninsula

********

Happy 2013 to all!

 

{I'd like to thank my sister Maria Yabes for my holiday shirt & Betsey Johnson bag;

DF Jannette for my snowman leggings;

 my Dad for my watch:  the Hubby for my bracelets and earrings

and myself for my hair and makeup!}

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAppy New Year!!!!!!!!

/ betsisanders 2012

 

 

 



 

 

 

Christmas related activities on hold ...

My Christmas related activities had to be placed on hold for a while.

 

It's the most wonderful time of the year... 

 shopping for Christmas gifts starts as early as September.

Christmas songs are played in the malls once the -ber months start.

I put up my Christmas tree on the latter part of August,

 to give me enough time to add decors,

 remove some, even change trees.

  I need the tree to be ready by October, for my Nanay's birthday.

After shopping, I become a Santa Mom. 

This was my Nanay's official role every Christmas.

My cousins would tease and say that Santa Nanay

went up to my room on Christmas eve.

I saw several party dresses, an instamatic camera, a portable phonograph,

several silver dollars. and a net bag, which she said was Santa's bag that he left . ..

and I truly believed my Nanay.

 I was eight years old then and it was my happiest Christmas,

something I will never forget til my last days on earth.

We all want a Happy Christmas,

where we spend time with our loved ones, with my two boys.

I cannot be with my Dad and my best sister in Roseville this year.

My sister inlaw, my  friends and their families have adopted the three of us.

They sure make up for the emptiness and sadness

that I feel during the holidays.

 

********

I told myself that I will not be blogging til next year.

But here I am again at the wee hours of dawn, typing away. 

Blogging is my way of life.  It lessens the load that I carry . 

By writing, that heavy lump on my chest is relieved. 

********

Last week was spent  with a very close friend, my friend for 35 years.

I needed to be present during his family's saddest moments.

Tito Nards, my friend's Dad passed quietly in his sleep

and claimed his eternal prize, reward, which is heaven.

I would have wanted to go to the wake everyday,

every night,and even attend the interment, but,

my spirit may be willing yet  my body is tired, weak, and in pain.

 

I had hoped to see old friends, those guys I used to hang out with in Coco.

But I never got to see them.  Maybe they didn't want to see me.

But thanks to Eric Pe Benito, who has always been consistent,

staying up late during the wake, keeping each other company. 

 Maybe that's why he has thousands of friends in Facebook,

he values friendship very much.

Be well my friend, and maybe we can see each other

 on happier occasions and circumstances.

 

*******

I couldn't stop my tears. I was watching this movie 24/7 in love,

 when Butch sent me a text saying that he is the one oveseeing

 the embalming of Tito Nards, his Dad. 

 Oh my ....  when my Nanay died 12 years ago, I was spared  this task.

 Our long time loyal helper was the one with Nanay during the embalming process.  

  When Butch sent the text, I started crying in the movie house,

 being careful that my companion and the other people in the theatre

will not see me crying, and think of me as a looney.  ......... 

 But when I got to the chapel at Funeraria Paz, in Manila Memorial,

 Butch started narrating how several cuts were made on his Dad's body,

 probably to drain out the blood and inject embalming solution.

He further added that he had to straighten his Dad's arms

 and that glue was placed in between the lips to permanently close the mouth.

.... that was the cue for the avalanche of tears. 

 I was close to Tito Nards. He was our patient in the dental clnic. 

 He would even bring  some goodies and chocolates for my Son

everytime he visits.  He was  mild mannered, soft-spoken,

always proper and very very thoughtful. 

 Tito Nards and Tita Chit  send me birthday and Christmas cards. 

 I will really  miss this sweet man.

.............   I'll see you again someday, Tito Nards.

 

P.S.    Today is also the death anniversary of an old friend, Bobbet,

the brother of my BBFF, bestest best friend forever, Dr. Aimee. 

 Bobbet died 33 years ago.

He was my constant phone pal, prom date, personal dress maker,

stylist and friend.

You will always be remembered fondly!

/ betsisanders 2012