2008 Shake Up

Half of 2008 has gone yet my mind is still reeling from how much different this year has been.  

JANUARY - The remnants of the New Year celebration were still scattered in the streets.  My nose was still filled with firecracker dust, yet, I found myself queueing to get a Visa at the US Embassy.  How many years ago was it when I was first denied?   As faith would have it, I got a ten year multiple pass to the US of A.  The once called denial queen...ha!...who would have thought?

FEBRUARY - I began swirling into a life so not my own -- bringing the schoolyear to an end (and it's not even March yet), fetching my cousin Danielle from her beauty pageant practices (she won Ms. Congeniality), losing sleep over Daddy's emphysema-labored breathing at night, worrying about a dear friend's failing health, and basically stressing over wanting my easy life back.

MARCH - We made a makeshift stage in our school's backyard. The kids brought Noah's Ark to life. Wow! It was one of those moments that a teacher would never forget. Happy kids, proud parents, and a fulfilled, warm-chocolate type of feeling deep inside.

MARCH (still)- Holy Week came so early this year. It felt weird in many ways -- perhaps an omen of things to come. Our usual routine at the beach (composed mainly of praying, bonding and lots of eating) turned horrible awry! On Holy Thursday night, Daddy had difficulty breathing. He was purple as an eggplant when he got to the emergency room. We were told that we almost lost him that time. Next time I saw him was through a small glass window in the ICU. We couldn't even come to him (not even to say goodbye). All we could do was wave and put on a brave face. I'll never forget when Daddy mimicked a hug with his arms. I had to move away and cry.

Well, Daddy returned to us safely from that one. Albeit with oxygen tank in tow, he went back home soon after that.

APRIL - Summer Vacation! Yehey! This is it! I'm finally going on a vacation! I feel it was a well deserved break, yet there is still one final hurdle to conquer. Daddy was back in the hospital again. His heart's function was still down to 35%. At that time, his lungs was so weak that an operation would have been too risky. I last saw him in the hospital on April 18. I was to leave for my US trip the next day. It was so hard, not knowing if I'll see my daddy again.

I was fortunate that my cell phone messages came in late. I was spared the emotional trauma of worrying while Dad's operation was going on. By the time the phone messages came in, Daddy was already in the recovery room. His operation was a success! =D

MAY - Our US trip ended; we got back home on May 17. The trip was so much fun! Check out our photos: Florida 2008 and California 2008.

Our vacation was a journey into ourselves as well. Alvin and I learned so much about what it means to be a family. We've been married for seven years, yet we never really saw ourselves as one solid unit. This month was really about reconciliation and planning for an exciting future. For the most part, it was a month of returning to family as well. Seeing Daddy and Mommy was sheer joy. My cousins, too, returned from their trip in Australia. We shouted like crazy little kids when we saw each other. Oh, I just love my extended family! For the latter parts, May was also about recovering from jet lag. Haaaa! The grooooove...can't get it back!

JUNE - June? Well, it's only the first week. Blue will be going to big school next week. We're really excited about that (um, in a nervous-parent kind of way, hehe). Things are looking up in our school as well. This schoolyear will surely be more exciting than the last.

SHAKE...SHAKE...SHAKE! Wow! Wouldn't you say it's been intensity gazillion in my 2008?

It takes a lot of courage to release
the familiar and seemingly secure,
to embrace the new.
But there is no real security
in what is no longer meaningful.
There is more security in the adventurous and exciting,
for in movement there is life,
and in change there is power.
--ALAN COHEN