childhood

For our 31st monthsary, we had a breakfast of pancakes topped with maple syrup and canned blueberries.

Her: Mmmm. Brings back childhood memories!

Me: The blueberries? Ang sosi naman ng childhood mo.

Her: Eh sosyal kasi nanay ko eh.

~o~o~o~

What were my childhood memories?

They consisted of eating rice with sugar with my bare hands, because those were the only things my parents could afford at the time. We were living in a shack that used to be a storage room, and the roof constantly leaked whenever it rained. Being a kid, it became a game for me, of finding enough buckets and placing them at the right spots so the floor wouldn’t get wet. It was fun rather than annoying. It was a fact of life.

excuses, excuses

- Finished planning my finances for the rest of the year. Seems like if I behave myself with regards to work (meaning not give in to katamaran), I’ll be able to go to Malaysia in November. Last chance before Carlo’s contract expires.

- My little sister and her boyfriend of 7 years broke up. They’ve been together since 3rd year high school.

- Can’t wait ’til the house in Pangasinan gets built and we won’t have to live with my brother. He ate the truffles I made for Carlo and got the frame of my “Best QA” award from Amber. What the hell?!

- Pizza Hut’s Lasagna Pizza isn’t all that great. Edible, but I don’t like the taste. Not a bad idea, just a case of too much tomato sauce and too little cheese. Parang kulang din sa herbs and spices.

- Failed to go to the surgeon again. I don’t know why I keep making up excuses not to go. Do I have a death wish or something? Friday, Scout. Friday.

The Sandwich Generation

That’s what we are. We work not just to support our selves or our own family (as in the case of those who’ve already settled down or planning to), we’re also expected to work to support our parents. Blame it on their lack of foresight, or even to the lack of foresight of our parents’ parents. They were never taught about managing their finances. They’re 60 and got nothing in the bank to show for it. Only debt incurred from the local “bombay”. And when you tell them what to do to manage the debt, they don’t even listen. As if you’re not the one who’s gonna pay it in the end. It’s giving me an effing headache.

conversations with my tito ben

While we were at the dock, taking in the view of the lake:

Tito Ben: Ilang taon na yung bunsong kapatid mo?

Scout: Si R—-? Twenty na yun. Graduating na this sem.

Tito Ben: May boyfriend na ba sya?

Scout: Meron na. Matagal na sila.

Tito Ben: Tignan mo, natalo ka pa!

Scout: Ano?! Anong natalo? May contest ba?

Tito Ben: Eh, ikaw? Kelan ka mag-aasawa?

Scout: *uneasy* Saka na. Wala pa ngang bahay eh. Magpapatayo muna ko.

Tito Ben: Ilang taon ka na ba?

Scout: Twenty-seven.

Tito Ben:  Sus. Baka mahuli ka na nyan.

Scout: Bakit, may karera ba?

Tito Ben: Shempre, baka di ka na magkaanak.

Scout: Wala naman akong balak manganak eh. Ang sakit-sakit kaya nun. Mag-aadopt na lang ako.

Tito Ben: Di ka rin mag-aasawa?

Scout: Di ko naman kailangan ng lalaki eh. Kaya kong buhayin sarili ko. Sakit lang sa ulo yun.

Celine, who was beside me, thoroughly enjoyed this conversation, all the while smiling sneakily to herself.