Memory Meme
Thanks Dexie for tagging me. This exercise made me sit down and take a look back — something I haven’t done in a long time, maybe due to business or maybe (subconsciously) avoiding to do so…I don’t know. But it sure was one heck of a trip down memory lane. It was fun, funny, sad, painful, happy, wistful…all those and more. 
20 years ago
Our family has settled into a normal life once again…well, as normal a life as one might have after losing our mom a year and a half ago. She left behind a husband who tried to remain strong and to keep the brood together but privately grieved. My 3 brothers and I were all in college — I was in my freshman year. Our youngest sister was only 4 years old and to her I became more of a mother than a sister. When I enrolled her in kindergarten, I remembered my first day in school and how scary it seemed. My mom was there during the first few days soothing my anxiety. So I was prepared to do the same for my sister. Well, independent spirit that she was, as soon as we got to her room she turned to me and said, “Ate, you can go home now. I’ll be okay.”
15 years ago
I landed a job and part of my job description was to conduct culinary demonstrations & dealer seminars and test new kitchen appliances. It was a relatively easy job and working with nice co-workers made it enjoyable. However, the everyday commute just wasn’t getting easier so I opted to leave. I apprenticed at a restaurant and tried to learn the ropes. I spent most of my time in the kitchen where there always seemed to be a feast. I remember lunchtime being our busiest time. We would be cooking non-stop, order tickets came in constantly it seemed, the kitchen became hellishly hot. As if that wasn’t enough, we’d usually get an order of big bilaos of different pancit dishes. It was then that I realized that I didn’t want to work in the industry. I enjoyed cooking but my ideal setting was in a personal kitchen serving family and friends.
10 years ago
I was working at a company where I met the people who would be my “bestest” friends. They also ended up being the ninangs to my little boy but who knew at that time? We were becoming more and more unhappy with our workload, the 6-day work week, and the lack of the chance for promotion. It was after all, a family-owned company. Oh, and did I mention the pay? One by one, my friends left to find greener pastures. But we still kept in touch and made it a point to regularly get together.
5 years ago
The year before, I met the man who would become my husband. I left for the US where we got married and a few months later found out we were expecting. It was certainly a year when so many things happened. I had to leave my family, friends, home, and a job I loved. I guess I adjusted pretty well until the holidays approached. I cried my eyes out remembering holidays past.
3 years ago
We moved into a house that we leased for a year. T was one year old, blabbering a mile a minute and constantly on the move. He still refused to say “Mama” but he had a name for everyone else. Heck, his first word was “Jack” which was the name of our cat. I probably should have expected it. After all, he must have heard me hundreds of times yelling, “Jack, get off the bed!” or “Jack, stop kneading the blanket!”
1 year ago
We moved back into MIL’s building to occupy the 3rd floor. I missed terribly the independence and privacy we had at our previous place. Not to mention having a big backyard where T and I could run around in. T had to adjust to living with other people other than his parents. He still talked about our old house like we were going back to it soon. It took a few months but we finally settled.
Last Night
Hubby came home from work. He ran his fingers through my hair and said, “You need a haircut.” 
Today
My hair was wet and I was about to put shampoo in it when I thought, “This is a good time to get a haircut.” So I dug out the scissors and comb and with hair dripping, I started chopping about 2 inches off. It was a straightforward haircut and I just didn’t see the point in paying someone $30 to do something I could do myself. And if it came out funny, well…at least I still saved a lot of money. Hehehe! Took T to the park where we kicked a soccer ball around and threw a football. Hmmm…shouldn’t he be doing that with Dad? Afterwards, we went to the library to return and get books and videos. He’s currently into Arthur so we’re recycling books every other week. I have to admit the aardvark has grown on me, too, and I enjoy reading the books almost as much as T does.
Tomorrow
It’s Saturday and as usual we‘re going treasure hunting (read: garage sales). I’m still holding out hope that I’ll find that one item that some appraiser at Antiques Roadshow will declare to be hundreds of thousands of dollars. Fat chance!!! On a more realistic vein, I’m hoping to persuade hubby into driving us to Battle Creek or Lansing. I do need to buy gifts because it seems like every weekend this month someone’s having a birthday.
Next Year
We hope to go back to the Philippines for a visit. The last time we did, T wasn’t even a year old and was at the “nangingilala” stage so no one else could hold him but me and hubby. By the time he became familiar with his Lolo, it was almost time to leave. This time around, he’ll be more sociable. Hopefully, I’ll go back to work next year when T is a little less dependent on me.
5-10 years from now
I hope that we’d be able to settle in the Philippines or at least be able to afford to go for yearly visits. If we’re still here in the US, I have visions of running a little business. A store maybe? One of my friends and I have been toying with the idea and talking about it but we both have to get over our fear and pessimism. Who knows? Maybe we’ll decide to jump into it or maybe our husbands will get tired of us just talking and give us a mighty shove.
