My Thoughts on Mother's Day 2015
This year's Mother's Day is different from all the other years.
You'd probably expect me to post food photos
of our yearly lunch with the San Andres' clan
or I'd be in Roseville with my sister and Dad.
Today was intense ...
but only the first half of the day though.
***
First ...
Let me tell you about the origin of Mother's Day.
At the beginning of the 20th century,
Anna Jarvis (1864-1948) came up with the idea
of celebrating Mother's Day to honor her mother,
which is also the reason why Happy Mother's Day
is singular and not Happy Mothers' Day.
Ms. Jarvis was a Philadelphia activist.
She gave away 500 carnations to her mother's
church in West Virginia on May 10, 1908.
Read Time's Article.
***
The white carnation is the emblem for Mother's Day.
One white carnation would suffice but since
this day has been commercialized, all sorts of flowers,
cards, stuffed toys, chocolates (atbp) are sold
and given to all mothers, dead or alive.
Btw, I got this photo from someone else's blog
because I couldn't find my folder of flowers
and the Hubby gave me a Stargazer Lily arrangement
instead of a white carnation. I even told him
that it would have been better if he brought
home some pancit because lately,
as I have aged much, I get allergies from flowers.
***
Let me also share with you this photo and quotation.
How I wish I could relate to everything that's written here.
There's one part that is definitely my Nanay and that is
... "she is Christmas morning."
I remember one very special Christmas morning.
I was probably eight years old then.
Nanay told us to write to Santa Claus.
Whatever we ask for shall be given on Christmas eve.
That Christmas morning, I woke up with everything I asked for.
There were two party dresses (one yellow & the other pink)
with matching headbands, an instamatic camera,
a portable radio / phonograph that played 45 records
and a big white 'net' bag with silver dollars!
I ran downstairs to Nanay and told her that Santa
brought presents. She just smiled.
That same morning, my older male cousins
kept on teasing and said that it was Santa Nanay
who brought and bought those presents.
What? Santa Nanay?
I just ignored them because I really believed
in Santa Claus. A few years later, I finally accepted
and realized it was really Santa Nanay all along.
***
A closed door with a wreath and snow on the steps.
It must be Christmas time.
Paulo Coelho wrote,
“close some doors today. not because of pride,
incapacity or arrogance, but simply because they lead you nowhere.”
The whole morning, I was literally and physically
closing my door to someone who served
me for the past three years. I finally fired my maid.
I gave her more than what she deserved.
I sent her to night school. I paid her well,
even giving overtime pay. But for the past
months, she wasn't doing her job...
and that is to clean, meaning sweep, dust, mop,
wash the dishes, pots and pans.
I do the grocery, cook and clean our bedrooms
and bathroom upstairs (twice a day).
We also do our own laundry and I am the Iron Lady.
Told her to leave
several times, but she wouldn't. Took her TV a month
ago. Deducted a thousand from her salary two weeks
ago. Then I moved her from the driver's room
near the garage to the maid's room at the
back of the house last week. Gave her a list of things
she needed to do last Monday. Nothing.No improvement.
But she still wouldn't leave.
Son said, "Mom, she won't leave because you
keep giving her options. Just send her away."
Oh.... so I fired her and closed the door.
Son drove her to the guard house.
My Son told me that the maid said,
"Salamat at sorry."
She always said sorry to me every time I'd get angry.
I was a bit sad to let her go,
but I have had enough. I have endured her
laziness and incompetence for three years.
Oh dear... she wakes up at 9 or 10 at
may siesta pa after lunch.
Breathe. Sigh ........
***
Our two little doggies had to go too!
Hubby brought them to my sister in law's house.
My nephews were just more than willing to
take care of them. They even thanked me.
Hubby will be at the convention for a week
and I just couldn't clean up after these two.
Goodbye Chicco and Becky.
***
That's me ... last November 2013.
It was the last time I saw my Dad.
***
Happy Mother's Day!
I got a few texts from friends but the text
from Dr. Joey, (whose mom is confined
at the hospital at the moment)
plucked at my heartstrings..
"I believe in love at first sight. I have loved my mother
the moment I set my eyes on her."
Every time I read the text, I just cry.
My reply to Dr. Joey was ...
I hope that Alvin will love and take care of
me like you do when it is my time to go.
We are all mothers really ... when we love,
serve and care for our aging moms.
Roles are reversed.
I greeted my two male dentist friends
Dr R & Doc Alan a Happy Mother's Day too!
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