Co-Founder, SanibLakas Foundation; and Associate Editor, LightShare Digest
I WAS at the doorstep of my Aunt Glory’s house, excited and eager with anticipation to see her and her family, especially my fun-loving and good-humored grandmother whom I had not seen for many years. My paternal grandma’s name is Pilar. She is fondly called ‘Nanay’ by everyone. I would prefer to call her ‘Lola,’ but just like all her grandchildren, I sometimes call her ‘Nanay’ too, by force of habit.
The weather was crispy cold outside to my delight as it was winter time in Sydney when I got there August of last year. I stood outside of the house for another couple of minutes then rang the doorbell again, hoping that my Lola would hear it this time.
Oh yes, she knew that I was coming. And then at last, she was there standing in front of me, looking carefully as if she was still asking herself if it was really me. Teary eyed, I moved closer to her and reached out to hug her tight. A brief moment of silence wrapped the living room as memories of her when I was a lot younger flashed back while we hugged.
It was awesome to see her again, but she looked a lot more aged now than the last time I saw her. Her once long and wavy hair was trimmed short. She now had a stick to help her stand on her two feet. The lines on her face had notably increased due to the passing of years. And her health was no longer in excellent shape.
Really, many things had changed, but not her heart.
I understand how difficult it has been for Lola Pilar to keep up with her daily chores at the ripe age of 90 years, but hey, she still managed to have a prepared dish when I got to their place! This may not sound a big deal to others but it sure is to me.
My stay in Oz would not have been as ‘perfect’ without Lola’s loving tips. The simplest of things that she did were the things that truly mattered. While with her, I saw that it is handy to have a pre-pared crushed garlic stored in the fridge for cooking anytime of the day. Any dish would certainly taste better! It pays to always have a coin purse and a map in one’s bag or pocket when one travels around so one would be hassle-free if one needs to call home or simply needs direction back home.
A personal favorite tip I got is how to to enjoy the kiwi fruit minus the hassle of peeling. That is, cut the fruit in half, then use a spoon to scoop up the kiwi flesh from the rind, yumm!
Our time together was made even happier by reminiscence. We traveled back down memory lane through the cherished photo albums my Lola has lovingly kept arranged in shelves inside her neatly-kept bedroom. I could not take my eyes off her cheerful, smiling face, as she swooned over and over again while she dearly described the events and the people – her loved ones – page by page. I realized what wealth these photo souvenirs have been to her. The souvenirs of her past are also living mementos of the life she has lived.
That night before I went to sleep, I thought about Lola and thanked her silently for being the person that she is. My short visit there had just started, but I could already say on my first day that my stay was already made!
HAPPY FAMILY IN SYDNEY: Lola Pilar (center) and author (extreme right), pose
with other relatives for this shot of their rare get-together. (Photo by Ryan Elizondo)
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