At around 10:30 in the evening, I was already into my last task for the day – a conference call with our Ernst & Young contact in New York. All went well and good. By a few minutes past 11:00 pm, my workday was done!
Something sweet…
Something colorful…
So go ahead...love life!
I went to my favorite chill-out place: The Old Manila Coffeehouse (Dela Rosa St., at the back of the SGV office), and had my very late dinner. I wanted to reward myself so I acceded to the friendly waiter’s suggestion and ordered their specialty for the month: Beef Caldereta, paired with a healthy fruit shake.
It was almost midnight when I got back to the SGV office. I’ve decided to stay over instead of go home since (a) I would be less tempted to oversleep and risk missing my flight, and (b) it’s more convenient and safe to get a cab to the airport from SGV because the cab’s plate number is logged by the SGV guard.
I went to my desk and worked on getting my forty winks.
August 19, 2010
At 12 midnight, I sent my SMS to Mama greeting her a “Happy 65th birthday!”. Of course, I thought that she’d be asleep by then (but later learned that the blinking light of her cellphone for new messages woke her up early in the morning).
I posted my Out of Office message in my SGV email and my cork board.
That’s Marlin, the blue fish that traveled all the way from Oman to Makati,
courtesy of my best friend Shirley…
courtesy of my best friend Shirley…
and my SGV anniversary balloons (which I incidentally left at the after-party; fortunately, the staff were kind enough to bring them over to my desk).
I love posting “OUT”, especially if it goes with something like “Vacation Leave”.
By 2:30 AM, I double-checked my stuff (I didn’t bring much – just my birthday gift bag for Mama, my office bag and the Vietnam paintings inside the tube). I’d already changed into jeans and red shirt, and had my infinity wrap (i.e., a very versatile wrap which can be styled in infinite ways; the nice girl from Memo showed me at least eight ways to twist and tie it; I got the one in black)
…Ready for my Mission: Surprise!!!
Our kindly kuya guard helped me get a cab to the airport. I was there in no time at the NAIA Terminal III. I got the Cebu Pacific promo fare and booked this as early as May 29. (Mission: Surprise was a ‘leap of faith’ three months ago.)
FB Status: Genefel Ober is going home to Iloilo (in a few hours) to surprise her mom on her 65th birthday...Happy birthday Mama!
I got my 12-dozen box of Go Nuts Donuts in assorted flavors, including Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse (for the fun of it). Mama liked these the last time I took one box for my vacation last May 2009).
I sent another SMS to Mama reminding her to: “eat something long, sweet and colorful for her birthday…and to stay at home ‘cause my surprise birthday gift is coming”.
I didn’t have to wait long before the boarding time was announced.
Yey, finally, I’m going home again!
FB Status: Genefel Ober "the flight going home always feels heartwarming-ly different...i pray for more flights like this..."
What a beautiful morning…whew…so refreshing and exhilarating at the same time…Nothing beats the Iloilo greenery and the smiling Ilonggo folks starting their mornings as early as 5:00 AM.
I chatted with the taxicab driver for a while about miscellaneous stuff (oh, I miss the Ilonggos, I realized; I wouldn’t even smile at or joke around with a Manila taxicab driver especially if I’m on my own).
While inside the cab and approaching our subdivision, I called up Mama just to make sure she’s awake at this early hour. She may already be up and about since she didn’t immediately take my call. After a few minutes, she called me up and I greeted her (still on the premise that I’m just calling in to greet her and is just up early preparing to get to the office :)). After a few minutes, I’m already in front of my home sweet home’s gate (still locked, since it only gets opened much later after sunrise)
…SURPRISE!!!
…SURPRISE!!!
The doggies got wild when they heard me knocking and saw me at the gate.
My Mama went out of the door, a little confused and definitely surprised…
(The look on her face and my Mama’s smile…. I will forever treasure these…Really, the best things in life are priceless). I didn’t know that I was capable of planning on surprising anyone special until then…
My doggies (I really really missed them) were scrambling to get my attention. What to do??? Shakespeare was whimpering-barking-crying on my right ear…Faith and Hope were hopping in zigzags…Love and Tiger, the dog guards that they are, were all over me, sniffing and jumping (with their full grown dog-size, you’d be scared if they weren’t your dogs). I had to leave my bags someplace safe (on higher ground, ha-ha) and had to take off my coat to save it from an eternity of dog-fur…so I can subject my self to the doggies' “balik-bahay” welcome. Hahaha…I love these fur-balls…another priceless tender-crazy moment…
It was overwhelming to see all of these roll (like a movie) before my eyes. This was the first time that I went home on August for my Mama’s birthday (i.e., it’s not vacation season; my Mama doesn’t want anyone to fuss over her birthday).
I didn’t care that I didn’t have enough vacation credits, and I didn’t care that I have at least three major special projects ongoing. I just had to go home. My Mama is turning 65 only once!
An ideal early morning with my Mom…We had coffee and donuts for starters. Mama opened her gift bag and the tube for the Vietnamese paintings.
Happy Happy Birthday!
I realized that while I may have surprised my Mama with more expensive Christmas gifts before, my Mama’s happiness is never measured by the price tags. She’s just happy at the thought of someone exerting an effort and she wouldn’t care if that’s the high-end brand for a cellphone, watch, perfume or shoes (in fact, she just doesn’t know those brands at all; but ask her about quality, she definitely knows better; indeed, I’ve confirmed time and time again that the price tag is not proportionate to quality).
Mama knows that I’m very busy to catch the malls before they’re closed (thanks to the extended hours on Christmas season); that’s why she seems to really appreciate it if I went out of my way to get her something. I say, ‘If you really want to, you’d always find time for your loved ones despite the busy schedules’.
Coincidentally, her gift bag included curious Asian stuffs – cotton dress and blouse from Indonesia, a jarful of sweets from Thailand c/o Ms. My – who was as excited as I was on my Mission:Surprise, plus the paintings all the way from Vietnam.
In the afternoon, we bought our groceries and prepared for Mama’s birthday dinner. We took out the flatware (the 25-year warranty silver I bought years ago, hidden somewhere) and Mama’s china for the birthday-worthy plating. If everyday is an occasion, then this day should be extra special!
We invited over our boarding couple (Mama’s godchildren in their wedding) to share in the long, sweet and colorful treats.
Something long…
After all the fun and eating, Mama and I vowed to celebrate more :)
The Heavenly Father is always good to us, and we owe it to Him to live the good life --- enjoying and sharing His blessings.
The day was done…
My Mama turned 65…
I love relishing this moment again and again…
All the stress that I had to go through at work to put some semblance of order before I leave things for at least two work days…
All the cramming and sleepless (and no-sleep) nights…
It was all worth it!
FB Status: Genefel Ober will forever treasure the memories of today. "Thank you so much Almighty Father.
Post Scripts: August 20-23, 2010
Mama with Tiger and Shakespeare
FB Status: Genefel Ober "Life's high & low tides add up to moments that make up our versions of forever... While I take care of my sails and map my directions, I trust that Someone Up There knows what to do with the storms."
FB Status: Genefel Ober loves spending quality time with my dogs :) -They eat 5 meals a day, smell really good after their bath, are easily made happy by hugs and kisses, and are always enthusiastically alert (even without coffee)...what enviable lives
Mama and Tiger (his curls are more tamed now)
(Just like our only lady dog–Faith, Shakespeare also loves the sofa’s arm)
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Shakespeare, “camera-scaredy” doggie, ha-ha
(Shakespeare: ‘Don’t shoot me please’)
|
So I took out the flash…
Hope…without fail…is picture perfect!
Shakespeare is not that photogenic
(though he’s almost always the chosen favorite by onlookers/strangers among the five doggies, when seen in person)
I loved my nails (in Revlon Iced Spice)
…before I took the stress on them by removing the nail polish due to the one-hour delayed flight back to Manila (August 23)…hmp!
FB Status (August 23): Delayed flight...Cebu Pacific-super dislike...may airline pa ba tayo na always on time? Oh well, kaya siguro hindi makalipad ang Pilipinas...
Faith, in her messed up glory
(my Mama will always say that this ‘bruha’ look always suits her :))
Starbucks is here in Iloilo!
(Two more wishes to go: Powerbooks and Via Venetto)
FB Status: Genefel Ober "Life's high & low tides add up to moments that make up our versions of forever... While I take care of my sails and map my directions, I trust that Someone Up There knows what to do with the storms."
So go ahead...love life!
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