Monday, February 11, 2008  

Today is the day.

More accurately, tonight is the night. At 9:05 p.m. I'll be on an airplane, taking my first trip back to the PI (Philippine Islands) since leaving in February of 1968. The excitement of the trip is somewhat overshadowed by what I'm leaving behind. My family, friends, the comfort of sleeping in my own bed, instant access to the internet, my hair dryer. Yes, I am a spoiled, pampered American who is going to immerse herself into a culture that I feign being a part of. And I'm going to stick out like a sore thumb.

All anxiety aside, I know that what material comforts I'm leaving behind will surely pale in comparison to what I will discover. A culture waiting to welcome me home, exposing me to a world that I've only seen in pictures. A family that I know only by name. An appreciation for life and all that surrounds us, something I feel we have forgotten amidst the hustle and bustle of surviving this crazy rat race we call the American dream. I'm going home.

It's funny that, though I have no memory of ever living there, I still refer to the Philippines as home. That's where my parents were born. That's the homeland of my ancestors. That's where I chose to enter this world. There must be something special about the place, and I need to find out what it is. Though I wish my kids could go with me, I know the trek home alone is necessary. It will be an opportunity to absorb the experience and reflect. It will be another step in the pursuit of my Personal Legend. It will be good.

Chronicled @ 1:27 PM

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Monday, February 4, 2008  

Random thoughts on a manic Monday

In one week I'll be on an airplane heading for the Philippines and I still don't have my passport. That will be done on Thursday the 7th at 9 a.m., the earliest available appointment. Yes, I am cutting it a little short, but that's how I've always operated. Hey - it's worked for many, many years. I don't see a point in changing it now. Besides, I had so much to do last week. I really did. Read on.

I'm still ironing out issues from the PTA Fall Fundraiser. It is the beginning of month three of this ongoing saga of missing orders, delayed prizes and pizza lunches. At last count, I had sent out at least a dozen emails to the principal, the PTA president and the fundraising lady to put an end to this ridiculousness. As of today, everything is still pending. Tomorrow night we're having a PTA board meeting. I will graciously be handing this mess over to the president, with the explanation that I will be thousands of miles away, enjoying the company of long-lost relatives and touring the lovely green countryside of the Philippines.

If jumping on the treadmill for 20 minutes once last week counts, I've unofficially started training for the half-marathon that I've committed to in October. Boy - do I have a long way to go. Realizing that I will not be able to train the way I would like to while on vacation, I've decided to put off any hard-core organized training until my return. I'm sure I'll get a lot of walking in anyway. That will count for something, right?

With Super Tuesday coming quickly, I decided to take a look at the propositions set before us by the lovely and thoughtful California legislators. Reading through all of the information is easy. Trying to understand it is another story. Here's one thing I do understand because I am directly impacted by it. There is a proposition to reduce community college fees without raising taxes. Sounds good on the surface. Everybody deserves to have access to affordable education. However, they propose to put K-12 schools in the same funding category as community colleges. What does that sound like to me? Sounds like a bunch of BS, that's what. K-12 schools are operating in a famine-like state, with budgets so tight that tutoring and reading enrichment programs are being cut. I know some teachers who clean and vacuum their own classrooms because the school has cut back these janitorial services to once a week. Why are we eating away at the foundation when the house is already on shaky ground? California is so ass-backward in its approach to fixing the educational system, with no thanks to Bush and his "no child left behind" law. UGH! That's another issue to be dealt with, but not right now. So what am I trying to say? Vote no on 92 .

Oh, and I did some clutter purging. The most significant item that I have finally relinquished to Goodwill, with much hesitation I must add, was my Junior Prom dress. I've had that beautiful, lavender colored, belle-of-the-ball gown for over 20 years. I remember my mom & dad taking me to the formal wear store to buy it and the look on their faces when they saw the price. I can see the look on my date's face and the intimidation I felt meeting his family for the first time. The memories attached were too precious for me to just get rid of it. Gosh - the innocent (and not so innocent) events of my junior prom woven into every single thread, reminders of the carefree spirit of youth. It seems like it was just yesterday. Now someone else, maybe, will find the same joy in wearing the dress as I did.

So, those were last week's highlights. Not so interesting, but such is the life of a wish-I-didn't-have-to-stay-at-home mom. Happy Monday!

Chronicled @ 9:36 AM

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