A Visit to the Past

First time that we traveled North and I am so excited. My sis-in-law, Jojie, and I were joking when they dropped my son and myself off at the Centennial Terminal 2 Airport. I would be in 2 places at the same time. I would be in the Philippines on 8 April at 8:30 pm, I will be in LAX on 8 April at 8:30 pm. How cool is that?

It was a long flight which I spent most sleeping. I watched 2 movies (Unstoppable and RED) then slept again. Aj was playing games and slept too. Few hours after breakfast was served, they announced we're landing shortly. We were fetched by my neice, Dey, and her sweet daughter Keilani. It was 12 degrees and it rained while on our way to Orange County. We took away In n Out Burger, drove to their home where we were warmly welcomed by the rest of the family. And it was time to sleep again.

I have flown thousand of miles to see the place and be amazed by the beauty of this country. My first day was spent driving to Laguna Beach, visiting a school to watch Kiana's game, going to different shops to buy my new cam. The people are warm, the place is sunny, cold a bit, but nice weather I should say. But nothing is more beautiful than the feeling I have now. First I have the chance to bond with AJ. And I again met a nice family member. Being with Dey, who I have not seen for more than a decade, meeting her beautiful family for the first time, being entertained by sweet Keilani, being welcomed warmly by James, Dey's husband, and having a short but nice chat over dinner with Kiana and Michael is priceless. Dey has grown into a beautiful super-mom! She's so caring about her kids. She is trying hard, I know, to show us around and at the same time be able to do her tasks as a driver, a cook, a house maid - a mom. LOL! I witnessed how so wonderful a woman she has become. I used to just see and read her in Twitter and Facebook but now, to be actually with her...it feels good. I felt like the happy past is back, only now we're more matured, more knowledgeable, more enduring. We had a talk about our younger past together. We brought back those happy childhood days, the old Canlubang and talked about everything we've gone through (don't forget our past crushes). Life wasn't easy for her, it wasn't easy for me too. But we both have the same summary about it, God is so wonderful, life is so nice. Everything happens for a purpose. Reminiscing the past made us feel we're in two places at the same time- the present in our new lives and the past - the lives that made us stronger and be what we are now.