LUKIE'S BMX:STOLEN

Lukie's Ninang Rose who only comes to Venice with his employers on summer invited us for lunch last Sunday. She and her daughter Kaye will go back home to Milan this week. We were rushing out of our door when Gerson, our 6 year old neighbor, asked where is Lukie's bike. Its always parked on the right side of the house... now its not there. Santa's present last Christmas is gone!

Gerson said that his brother Gerome's bike was also stolen last night but his father found it parked outside the grocery store (200 meters away from our place) early that Sunday morning.The automatic main gate of our village is not working. It had been widely open for a week now. Making it easy for the thieves to sneak in.

I was so upset that I keep on talking about the bike while we went to Lido for lunch. But, I was more disappointed because my son seems not affected at all. It seems nothing happened when its the "worst crime"(hehehe) that ever happened in our little village. When I was a kid, if a toy is gone missing, even the simpliest 'gading'(rubber band), my life is doomed.

I told Boogie that maybe Lukie knows we would replace the stolen bike so there's no worry at all. Huh? That ain't good! His BMX is even way expensive than the bike my husband is hesitant to buy for me.

Of course Ninang Rose gave his godson Lukie an amount for a gift and Mama and Papa will just add a bit for yet another bike. But, we decided we won't till our son learns a lesson from his bike being stolen.

When we went home that night to feed Dylan first before we'll go and have dinner at Cat-cat's 12th birthday bash (hehehe pansin nyo, nakikikain na lang every Sunday), our neighbor asked me a minute for a talk. Boogs and Lukie raised for the gate so just me and Dylan on his baby carriage was left for whatever interrogation(lol) this neighbor will do.

Fronting our home is a hotel and restaurant, AL CASSON, run mostly by their family members. They only open during summer and on Carnevale. Its from them we buy our yummy pizzas which they cook the traditional way - with stone oven heated by woods or charcoals.

So our neighbor, the son in law of the hotel owner, told me that he saw two men last night with Lukie's bike. OMG.... he did?... I asked were they 'straniere'(foreigners) and answered no. They were Italians who live around the area only on summer to work in one of the camping village here. Then he told me he was wondering why these two got Lukie's bike and stopped them to ask. I wasn't listening anymore because Dylan wants his food already but when our neighbor said he took the bike, my eyes grew big and said, "YOU DID?" He said YES and the bike is inside the hotel SAFE AND SOUND (sound, what?hehehe).

I saw him with a halo arms clasped wearing a white frock that very moment. Then I run home to shout, PAPA, PAPA! UN MIRACOLO!(a miracle)....

WEEKLY QUESTIONS 14,15 and 16

WQ 14 - Facial Regimen: What are your facial or beauty regimens that you do before you go to sleep?

Nothing extra ordinary or no "voodoo rituals"(lol), I just wash my face with lukewarm water and Papaya soap. Any Papaya soap from the Philippines will do. Then Nivea Moisturizing Cream after.

Speaking of Nivea Cream, it had been a necessity for our home back in Tublay specially during the coldest months. That's why its never missed when a parcel is sent along with pasta and Nutella hehehe...


WQ15 - Blogging for Advocacy: If you are to start a new blog focusing mainly on a particular topic or niche, what would your niche blogging be all about?

A distinct blog with a single theme won't work for me, maybe. For one, I suck in sticking with the rules and lousy to even follow it. Just like this out of topic I am about to say.

As much as possible, blogging for me is something I own which I don't want to own me. I'd like it to stay as a space for me to laugh at myself. Where I could be shallow, silly and mad with no worries.


WQ16 - Are You a Cry Baby? What makes you cry?

SI(Yes)! EVERYTHING! Its a curse hahaha...

Another OT: Lukie took his being serious all the time from his Papa. Mine are his tears that readily drop. When he started reading before he can even talk, he cries all the time after finishing the book: Are You My Mother?(By P.D. Eastman) that his Lola Becka sent him for Christmas. So we stopped reading it. Also when he watches the Ugly Duckling, same, water flows from those eyes which would also make me cry. Btw, we do share tissue paper sometimes hahaha...

HOW FAR CAN YOU GET?

Thick skin. Does that come with having decided to be a parent? I mean, doing things you couldn't possibly imagine you are capable of for your kids. If you still can't do this, I guess parenting didn't "hit" you yet.

Things like, your kid badly needs to pee and its impossible for him to hold it till you get to the comfort room. You tell your child to do wee-wee next to the tree and you don't care if passersby are despisingly looking at you.

When you're in a Supermarket, there's no comfort room and your son needs to go. Then you asked the sales girl or the lady in the cashier if they could help and good thing they're kind to give you the key to their private lavatory.

When you're in a quiet bank waiting for your turn to be served and your two boys are throwing tantrums because they're sleepy or hungry.

In a restaurant when your toddler walks here and there stopping at stranger's table for a 1 year old "mumbling" chat.

When you breast feed your baby in public.

When you're in a long line and you ask everyone to let you go first before your child will go into an undesirable mood.

Etc.. etc...

GUARDA!(look)




Last Sunday we went to watch the AIR SHOW at Jesolo and the place was packed except for a part which is obviously for the VIPs. There were 2 entrances to this enclosed spot where benches were also put up. It was heavily guarded so as the boarders between the "commoners" - sitting, lying down and standing on the sand and the VIPs comfortably waiting for the show.

I want my kids to see the spectacular clearly so I went to ask the guard how we can get in. If we need to pay or what? He said only those with invitations and I asked him where I can get that. Duh... I knew invites were sent days before the event or even months but still I asked. S----d isn't it? No, the guard is not dumb to let us in hehehe...

I still didn't give up. I carried Dylan and left his carriage somewhere, took Lukie's hand and we walked into the the crowd to be able to get in-front. Saying 'scusa'(excuse me) and 'permesso'(may we pass) helped and I just brushed off the shame of stepping on towels or walking pass through sunbathers while they irritatingly looking at us. Alas! We got a nice and clear view on the "front line".

Then I called my husband who is somewhere taking pictures of the air crafts leaving me with our boys. I told him where we're seated. More on just to let him know, I'm proud to grab a nice spot for the three of us on my own hehehe...

Well, it turns out Lukie and Dylan were more interested on playing with the sand than looking at those flying machines. I keep on telling them, "LOOK-LOOK!"... Dylan quickly looks and back to his 'sabia'(sand) while Lukie answered my "LOOK-LOOK" with "I KNOW!" and not looking at all.

AIR SHOW

Our second entry for Photo(s) of the week: Taken last August 24 at the Jesolo Air Extreme. We were not able to take the finale because Dylan was kicking sand to the young ladies sun bathing and watching next to us.

WEEKLY QUESTION 13

Dreaming for Others is Teacher Julie's 13th post for her Weekly Questions.

If you were to decide what advocacy would you like to campaign for as an advocate or being involved in a foundation, what sector of the society would you like to serve?

If only my means, as of the moment, could support all the cause this author is in to, all the help I can give - I'll give it to him. Patients he is writing for makes me guilty all the time for the things I have and still want to have. Every time I read his articles at SunStar Baguio, tears blur my vision while I'm trying to digest his "words" I just saw from my monitor. Here is one of those page.

Humanitarian Golds by: Ramon Dacawi

JUST hours before China unfolded its pageantry and fireworks display in Beijing, Edgar Dacanay, a 36-year-old barber, was fidgety. Edlyn Joy, his two-year-old daughter, was an unsure starter for her next crucial bout. The kid is in a personal combat event of sorts she's too young to comprehend and wage and her family simply can't afford.

Edgar couldn't watch seeded Filipino boxer Harry Tanamor's debacle Tuesday night in the hands of Ghanaian light-flyweight Manyo Plange. He had to be at the corner of her kid. He learned of Tanamor's fate only the following morning, when he and his wife Merlinda were on their way to bring home Edlyn Joy. The kid had just pulled through her fourth bout and will rest for her next fight.

Each victory of the kid - and kids all over - is worth more than an Olympic medal. Her battle is protracted - against a dreaded Goliath who has no regard for disparities in age, weight and height, and too wily, deceptive and painfully brutal. Edgar and Melinda can only be relieved, thankful people came to cheer for their daughter and hope they will be around before the next round.

Edlyn Joy is battling cancer. The big C is at her tailbone, diagnosed as sacrococcygeal tumor. Doctors said it's malignant.

That's why hours before the opening of the World Olympics, people who heard came to see her being admitted for her next chemotherapy session at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center.

Juliet, a public school teacher, handed Edgar P5,000. She said it came from her brother Irwin Ilustre. Earlier, a woman delivered P4,000 at the barbershop, saying it was from an anonymous donor. A mother and son added P1,000.

As Edlyn Joy was being wheeled into the chemo room, a man caught up with them. He handed Edgar a wad, and reminding him of the power of prayer. When he has settled the kid on her bed for her six-day chemo confinement, Edgar remembered and counted the man's support. He then called him up, saying it was too generous - P16,000

The man said he understands how difficult the ordeal was for Edgar and his family. He said he knew because he, too, survived cancer survivor. That's why he came, he said.

That's also why when Edlyn Joy's illness was diagnosed, her uncle Antonio, a farmer in Tubao, La Union sold his cow and had the small family land he was tilling tied to a loan. With no land to farm, he came up to watch over the kid, so her father can cut hair at the United Barbershop behind the Tiongsan Bazaar.

So her mother can go back to work and repay her wage loan as a salesgirl at the Maharlika Building.

So Edgar and Merlinda could attend a court hearing last Thursday morning before bringing her home to their rented house in Loakan Proper Barangay.

The hearing was about what happened to John Emerson. Edlyn Joy's elder brother, three years ago.

That was when John, then eight, and a classmate of his were walking to their second grade class when a passenger jeepney bumped him. He died two days after the accident in late January 2005.

Edgar said John, his second son, was able to push the other kid, saving him.

That's why Edgar can't give up on Edlyn Joy, whose other brother, Edmher, now 13, is in first year high school.

That's why members of members of the Chrysanthemum Lions Club came to her hospital bedside, handing colostomy bags so Edgar won't worry about having to buy them for a while.

More articles by the same author:

Billy Dean's "If It Hadn't Been You"

Kidney patient eager for 2nd chance

BEACH ON FIRE 2008

We are on our last week of our "summer spree". School will start soon and back to our normal "routines". The Beach On Fire last Saturday reminded us that night outings, swimming and dinners at the terrace are almost over. I didn't take pictures of the longest fireworks display this year, the camera will be in danger(lol) with sand + tripod + Dylan/Lukie - Boogie hehehe.... Good thing someone uploaded it at YouTube, credits to daStefan89 for the video. The last part's the best!

I was glad my kids were pissing off each other and still wide awake at 10 PM last Saturday. I wasn't suppose to take them out and skip watching the fireworks this year because it was windy and roaring thunders are like bowling balls up there after each lightnings. The rain didn't pour so I let my two boys wear their jackets and we head off to the beach. We got there 30 minutes early and lucky to have found two empty sunbeds.

As we were lying down the sunbed with the sky so black and the magical colors of the fireworks cracked, it were like amazing stars falling just of our reach. That when our eyes are closed, still the lovely hues linger even sleep will conquer us so...

Wheeeww, did you just read that? Sounds corny but Lukie agrees with me while his hands are tucked under his nape, lying down legs crossed. Awed on every "POOOMM" while he says, "grande!"(great/big), "che bello"(beautiful/how nice) and "forte"(strong).

For Dylan? He was with headphones and scared while he is embracing me tightly. He only relaxed when he turned his back and watched the fireworks of Union Lido, a kilometer far from us.

SEASONS OF THE HEART

Bees And Ducks was my entry a year ago for remembering my Mama Normie's day. She should have been 54 now and would love to hear this song -Seasons Of The Heart. My mother is a fan of John Denver and loves to sing Perhaps Love.

When I turned 33 last year, I realized my Mama passed away at the same age. Right there and then, I decided to write more about my kids. I've also started composing them letters which are stored in our PC. Here's my very first 2 paragraphs:

My dear Lukie and Dylan,

Here's another of Mamas story for you to read when I will be no longer here to tell it to you. I lost my Mom at an early age and there's no day that I don't miss her. Im always wondering what were her thoughts, beliefs and what she feels on and about everything. I want to hear from her how she got angry or laughed with all the clutter I did when I was a toddler like you two.

Someday, I don't want you to feel the same - to be left out with questions and wishing I am still around to answer them.

I don't mean to sound morbid here, Ill fight to see you grow. Its just that, I didn't know my mom would leave us that soon too......

Going back to my Mom's birthday, I can't remember us celebrating her day but its so clear to me how she makes mine a "grand" one. Her hair set with curlers while she cooks, arranging flowers she bought and later dressing me up for the party..... Just among the many "happy childhood" she gave during the few years of her stay.