Madd World

In honor of Mother’s Day, I would like to share a story that I found with all of the mommy’s out there…

It started to happen  gradually.

One day I was walking my son Jake to school. I was holding his hand
and we were about to cross the street when the crossing guard said to
him, “Who is that with you, young fella?”

“Nobody,” he  shrugged.

Nobody? The  crossing guard and I laughed. My son is only 5, but as we crossed the street I  thought, “Oh my goodness, nobody?”

I would walk into a room and no one would notice. I would say
something to my family like, “Turn the TV down, please,” and nothing
would happen. Nobody would get up, or even make a move for the remote.
I would stand there for a minute, and then I would say again, a little
louder, “Would someone turn the TV down?” Nothing.

Just the other night my husband and I were out at a party. We’d been
there for about three hours and I was ready to leave. I noticed he was
talking to a friend from work. So I walked over, and when there was a
break in the conversation, I whispered, “I’m ready to go when you are.”
He just kept right on talking. I’m invisible.

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response,
the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I’m on the phone
and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I’m thinking, “Can’t you see
I’m on the phone?” Obviously not. No one can see if I’m on the phone,
or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the
corner, because no one can see me at all.

I’m  invisible.

Some days I am only  a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open  this?

Some days I’m not a pair of hands; I’m not even a human being. I’m a
clock to ask, “What time is it?” I’m a satellite guide to answer, “What
number is the Disney Channel?”

I’m a car to order, “Right around 5:30, please.”

I was certain that  these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and  the mind that graduated sum ma cum laud - but now they had disappeared  into the peanut butter, never to be seen again.

She’s going¸ she’s  going¸ she’s gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return
of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous
trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was
sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well.

It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked
down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that
was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a banana clip and I was
afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty
pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package,
and said, “I brought you this.”

It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn’t exactly
sure why she’d given it to me until I read her inscription: “To
Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building
when no one sees.”

In the days ahead I would read—no, devour—the book. And I would
discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after
which I could pattern my work:

No one can say who built the great  cathedrals—we have no record of their names.

These builders gave their whole lives  for a work they would never see finished.

They made great sacrifices and expected  no credit.

The passion of their building was  fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit
the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a
tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man,
“Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that
will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.”

And the workman  replied, “Because God sees.”

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was
almost as if I heard God whispering to me, “I see you, Charlotte. I see
the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No
act of kindness you’ve done, no sequin you’ve sewn on, no cupcake
you’ve baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are
building a great cathedral, but you can’t see right now what it will
become.”

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a
disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my
own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder.
As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see
finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The
writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever
be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to
sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don’t want my son to tell the friend
he’s bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, “My mom gets up at 4
in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a
turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.” That
would mean I’d built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him
to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his
friend, to add, “You’re gonna love it there.”

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if
we’re doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world
will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has
been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

I hope you enjoyed it.   Until next time.  Take care.

Happy New Year!  I hope that you all had a very happy and festive holiday.  I cannot think of a more fitting way to start of this new year than to dedicate my first blog of the year to my first baby.  She is celebrating her 10th birthday today.

I am having trouble coming to grips with this.  How is it possible that I am a mother of a 10-year-old?  I don’t feel old enough to have a child that old.   Where has all that time gone?  It seems like only yesterday when she was born. 

I will never be able to forget that day 10 years ago.  To make a long story short, my labor and delivery was done in under two hours—yes, it was a natural delivery.  For a first baby, this surprised pretty much everyone.  I am very grateful that I am  fortunate in this department.  :     ) 

Let me tell you, now, about my first born.  Gabby is currently in the 4th grade.  She is quite intelligent, even if I do say so myself—a consistent straight A student.  She was also admitted into the Gifted and Talented Program in her school which is not an easy feat.  She LOVES to read.

It is said that you can never read too much.  I think that Gabby just may be the exception to this rule.  If everything is quiet, I can pretty much guarantee that she is off somewhere with a book.  She has read all the books in the Harry Potter series at least twice—that I am aware of and that does not include the audio book versions.   She goes through books like you would not believe. 

Her teacher and classmates refer to her if they have any questions regarding animals.   She loves animals and devours books about them.  I don’t know how she keeps all the information straight in her head but she, apparently, does. 

At home, we call her the resident "dogologist".   Ask her any question about dogs and she’ll have an answer for you.  She knows all the breeds and their categories.  She knows all the types of dog ailments and loves to diagnose Bailey.  All she needs to learn now is how to give shots so we would not have any reason to take Bailey to the vet.  :  )

Gabby is also an altar server at our church.  Like anything new, she was hesitant about becoming one.  After almost 2 years, she now enjoys it and has made many friends.

For those of you who know her, you know that she is a very pretty, sweet and charming girl who we will continue to watch grow into young adulthood (now, that’s a scary thought!). 

HAPPY 10TH BIRTHDAY GABBY!  WE LOVE YOU!

Until next time.  Take care.

It has been a while since I have created a new post on this blog.   A friend of mine sent me a short video that I found very moving and I would like to share this with you.  I hope that this leaves you in awe of this man’s courage and inspired by what he chose to do.

Randy Pausch  "Last Lecture" Reprise, October 2007

Until next time.  Take care.

I went to the mall yesterday with Gabby and Ally.  Being the day before Thanksgiving, I was hoping that the retailers would start their sales before Black Friday in an attempt to increase their profits.  There were, in fact, some very good pre-Thanksgiving sales. 

As we went from store to store, I was struck by the disposition of the people that I encountered.  I was, actually, quite shocked.  Most of my fellow shoppers and the sales people were very, very friendly. 

I guess this is could be attributed to the fact that the mad rush to shop has not quite started.  Everyone was just relaxed and easy going.  No one was stressed out.  In this instance, it really does pay to try to beat the crowds.

Tomorrow is black Friday–the official start of Christmas shopping.  It will be be total madness at the malls and the major retailers.  It is something that I look forward to every year.  I just love to hunt for bargains.

I am really glad that my kids–all three of them—do not want any of those "hot" toys this year.   I had the hardest time last year getting them the Wii.  They decided two weeks before Christmas that they wanted one. 

I did things that I never thought that I was capable of doing.  I got up at 4 a.m. to line up outside of stores, in the freezing cold!  I was one of those crazy people, nationwide, that went on the hunt for a Wii.  I hope that I will not be forced to do anything like that again. 

In my search to try to find the ever so elusive Wii, I stumbled upon another elusive toy—the PS3.   I bought it in the hopes of trying to profit from this.  Thanks to Vic, I did not make any money from this.  He sold it to his co-worker at cost.  :  (   I already had a buyer who was willing to pay more. 

After almost two weeks of getting up early and driving around, my efforts were rewarded.  I was able to get my hands on one a few days before Christmas.  Quite honestly, after all that I went through, I think that I would have bawled my eyes out if I was not able to find one. 

I am still quite fortunate that I did not go through the extremes that one mother did.  She died from drinking too much water in a radio contest to try to win a Wii for her young children.   I cannot imagine being that desperate for a toy.  Although, she probably did not know the consequences of what she was doing.  She died out of love for her children.

Until next time.  Take care.

Hello again.  I’m back.  I have not made any entries lately because I have been busy preparing for a trip.  My sister, brother and I went back to the place that we were born–the lovely little island of Guam. 

We were able to spend a week with our parents.  It was really nice to see our old home again.  It has been almost six years since I left Guam.  It was all so different but, at the same time, still quite the same.  :  )  Are you confused?! 

No matter where you physically move to, the place where you grew up will always be home.  In our minds, home will always be home, no matter how many years that may have passed and all the changes that may have occurred.   

I ran into some old friends and elementary school classmates.  It truly is amazing that after all the years that have passed, we still recognized each other.  :  )  It does my ego good to think that I do not look old.  :  )  If I did, they would not have recognized me.  Yehey!!!

I think that our trip to Guam will most likely be the last.  My parents will be selling the house and moving to the Philippines next year.  This will remove any link, and purpose, for any of us to go back.  While this transition may be sad, it is all a part of life.  Time does not stand still for anyone. 

Until next time.  Take care.

People watching is a particularly favorite past time of mine.  I try to do it as unobtrusively as possible.  I find it very intriguing to watch total strangers going about their daily lives.  I enjoy watching couples, of all ages, together strolling hand in hand.  The love that they share evident on their faces.  There is a glow that surrounds them.

I love seeing the children with their families.  The mothers all frazzled and the fathers trying to lend a hand.  The bright, happy faces of the children hanging on to their parents while telling them excitedly about all sorts of stories.

These are some of life’s simple pleasures that can bring pure joy to my heart.  The feelings of love and happiness that surrounds us can overflow into our lives.  Why don’t you give it a try?  The next time you are at the mall or the park,  take a minute to look, and I mean really look, around you and discover for yourself how beautiful life can be.

Hopefully, it will bring a smile to your face and a little lift to your soul.   Until next time.  Take care.

I was talking to a good friend the other day and we were discussing the fickleness of human nature.  It has been a dream of his to own a Beemer.  He was able to realize this dream and now laments that it is not a Porsche.  He then admits that if he did have a Porsche, it would not be a Ferrari.  I cannot help but smile and shake my head at this never-ending cycle of wanting more.

My example may be a little extreme but, if you think about it, it really is typical of human nature to never be content with what you have.  On one hand, this may be a good thing.  It will make us strive harder to attain the higher goal.  On the other hand, when do we finally accept that what we have is enough? 

I was talking to another friend of mine a few weeks ago.  We were discussing how wonderful the weather was for that day.  Somehow, we ended up complaining about the transition in weather that we will be encountering in the coming season.  It was really funny because we actually caught ourselves doing it.

We were not content with enjoying the weather, as it currently was.  We could not remain focused on the current good fortune that we were having.  We had to wish that it would always remain that way.  Why are we never satisfied?  :  )

Is it possible for us to just stop and think about all that we have and all that we have been blessed with?  Can we learn to appreciate and, actually, be grateful for all of this?   Maybe, just maybe, this feeling of gratitude will explode within us and leave us satisfied and fulfilled with all that we currently have.  Human nature be damned.

Until next time.  Take care.

Today is my hubby, Vic’s, 40th birthday.   Despite his age, he is a very good-looking guy with a lot of female fans.  To most of his family, he is known as Aga.  This all started when they discovered that I just love Aga Mulach.   ;  )

Hmmm, what can I tell you about him?  Well, he works for Citigroup, where he has been for the past 15 years.  His corporate title, which he has spent long, endless hours to earn, is  Vice President.    He comes home every day saying "I am so tired and handsome"—I kid you not.  :  )  He is a very understanding boss and his people enjoy working with him.

Just last May he finished his MBA. We are all very proud of him.  He is very smart and quite funny at times.  He just adores his kiddies.  They have him wrapped around their little fingers.  :  )  Before I forget, he also adores his boy—Bailey.

For those of you who have not met him him, let me tell you how I met him.  We met 19 years ago while in college at UP Diliman.  He was a good friend of my roommate. 

His girlfriend was staying at my dorm so I would run into him every so often, when he came to see her.  This is how our friendship started.  I need to disclose that I also had a boyfriend at the time.  :  ) 

To make a long story short, we became good friends and started dating.  After  he graduated with a BS in Industrial Engineering, he worked as an engineer at Toyota Philippines.  He was my boyfriend for over a year and a half before we decided to get married. 

The rest, as they say, is all history.  He is my husband and very dear friend all in one.  What more could a girl ask for?

Happy 40th Birthday Victor Emmanuel !!! 

Today was a cool and rainy day.  Ally and I normally walk to pick up Gabby after school.  It really isn’t far—walking comfortably at Ally’s pace takes us less than five minutes to get there.  Today, because of the rain, we took the car.

Parking at the school is limited.  About thirty minutes before the kids come out, they block off street in front of the school and make it open to one way traffic only.   As I was sitting in the car, reading my book, a minivan tried to parallel park into the spot in front of me.  Watching her, I could see that there was no way that she was going to get into that spot at the distance and angle that she was at.  Anyone could see that.

While this minivan was trying to park, another car drove up beside me and snuck into the spot.  I, honestly, don’t know who I was more irritated with—the driver of the minivan who does not know how to parallel park or the sneaky person that stole the spot.

The past few days here have been gloomy so I have been driving to pick up Gabby.  In these past few days, I have seen this same minivan try to park.  She really does not know how to parallel park.  Everyone just stops and stares when she makes these attempts.  It takes her 5 minutes of backwards and forwards before she stops—I kid you not!

When she does stop, she is so far away from the curb.  I don’t know whether I should feel sorry for her or if I should laugh at the absurdity of it all.  Since she obviously cannot parallel park she needs a Lexus upgrade.

Whatever the case may be, I think that the driver who just drove into the spot was out of line.  It really just doesn’t make a difference if the minivan driver knows how to park or not.  The minivan was there before her so she just has to have the patience and the courtesy to wait it out and look for another spot.   Like the bumper sticker says:  "I may be slow but I’m ahead of you!".

This is another example of the impatience and rudeness of the people here.  I think that when God was handing out patience no body here wanted to wait in line.   :  )  Why can’t people tolerate delays?  It’s not like she had to go anywhere in a hurry.  She just sat her car for 15 minutes waiting for her child to get out of school, like everyone else.

The arrogance of the people here never fails to amaze me.  Just because the average salary in this area is higher than the national average, does not justify this attitude.  I guess that you need to be born here to understand the rationale behind this because I just do not get it.

So goes another day on Wisteria Lane .  :  )

Until next time.  Take care.