GETTING TO BED at 5 in the morning sucks. Maybe because having the graveyard shift all my life rubs so strongly on me. It gets really warm in the late evenings and I would look out the window to see any traces of sunrise for the hope of the north wind to blow its coolness in my room.
Mom is constantly on
Skype with my sister, Christine to discuss my parents' plans of going to San Diego in the summer. July is always a favorite month to spend a great vacay in the west coast, I was reading a magazine when I heard my mom called my name, she looked at me and hopefully wished I could come with her and the family to have fun at
SeaWorld and
Disneyland, but she knew I had to finish my rehab and won't be allowed to travel for the next six months. Did I say it sucked?
This year, had been filled with reunions from friends of 10 years or so, and they'd email me the details a few weeks before the event, which I have to pass up again. A lot of opportunities I have to pass up and sacrifice to prioritize myself for the meantime. Like I mentioned in my early blogs, I get so impatient because I want to do everything at the same time. Especially now, when summer hits and the beach is so tempting to soak up all the salty air, the mushy white sand against my feet and the foamy water as it crashes dramatically against the shoreline. The familiar smell of burnt barbecues and children playing gleefully with their kites, playing tag and etching the wet sand with sticks with funny drawings.
When we were kids, the beach was a weekend thing, the resort was five minutes away from us. Every Sunday morning, my mom and the househelp would fill in a very large wicker basket with a pot of steaming rice, fruits, nuts, granolas, marshmallows, dips, dressings and a neatly-tied bunch of barbecue sticks. An ice chest filled with seafood, hotdogs, and
liempo would be tucked away in the car with the basket and a large duffel bag with all our clothes and toiletries. We would rent a cottage for the whole day and swim til we'd get really toasty skin (sunblock wasn't all the rage back then) and tired from all the swimming.
When we moved to Baguio, we missed the accessibility of saltwater and the cool seabreeze. Summer reminds me of memories like these,but I am not wasting this year without a scorcher. We all planned on taking the family for Theo's first summer swim and Porro Point, La Union will be the perfect place to make a set of memories again. Despite my condition, I will try and do a few laps like I used to.
Time to bring out the basket!
BABY, you are growing up fast. Your cheeks seemed to 
puff up like popcorn, and your food intake is increasing. I am proud to be your Aunt Lei. One of the people who loves you unconditionally and will help you get through life as an individual. Who I am for you, will be the person that will keep believing in every milestone you will have. I will be there when you have your own puppy and share the joy of having your first toy truck or choo-choo train. I will be there when your Mom seems too difficult to argue with on your first camping trip and will share your first blush of having a school crush. I will be here if you need me to listen to whatever you have to say. Baby, life will be a very long journey for you, but know that, everybody goes through it, but they don't go through life alone, you are no diferent. I am blessed to have entered your life and more than thankful to the Lord, for bringing you in my life. My purpose as an aunt gives me tremendous joy. I look forward to your life's journeys and life's firsts. Right now, enjoy everyday and being everybody's baby. You make this life much sweeter, after all.
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