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