'Tis The Season For The Young
Category: Seasons
We've played host to my sister and her husband for 17 days now, and I'm already beginning to feel separation anxiety (aww come on, they're here twice a year), knowing they'll be leaving our happily agitated home in a few days. I was hoping to find reason to make them extend a few more days (for the sake of my mother who wanted us all to have Christmas eve dinner together), although quite unsure if I really wanted to do that. Christmas is meant to be spent with family, and family for them are my nephews and nieces and a couple of brand new babies by those nephews and nieces (which technically makes me a grandmother, a young one, at that) who are spread out between LA and New York that are waiting for them to come home.
'But Christmas seems to be more fun in the States now', my sister observed, probably considering the gloom of bigger things that transcend mere bibingka and puto bumbong, which mildly alarmed me but confirmed my own secret fear that the times have really, really caught up with Christmas. Why, we were out shopping to fill out varied orders from my nephews and nieces which, among other things, required us to go to Megamall, which made me imagine death by trampling (well, I exaggerate, of course), only to find it was actually manageable which semi-shocked us. 'Where are the people?' she asked.
Well, they certainly were at the 168 Mall, during our brave foray there the other day, which normally excites me to do, but felt agonized doing at that time because it was too chaotic. The tourists enjoyed actually, although what I wanted was for us to venture out into the streets outside the mall which was really the Divisoria that my sister knew but haven't seen for 20 years, which, of course, proved impossible at the time. Still, my sister ended up with what she called 'amazing' purchases, which, converted into US dollars, would always be the case with any 168 Mall-bought items. I myself went home with 3 things I bought by the dozen, plus a migraine and bloated feet to boot, from overly MSG'd pancit that we ate from one of the Chinese food stalls on top of the mall that we had for brunch.
So I gather that not all the family reunions, parols, and an overload of Pinoy Christmas delicacies are enough to tempt my sister to ride out the season here before they get back into the cold of New York, which makes me think that there's something she knows that I don't. Or maybe she's just proving a point in convincing why I should finally move with my family to the States. Or maybe she's just turned all-Americana already and have no sentiments left for what she used to enjoy here before. My best guess is that she's just really gotten old in spirit and bones and they say that Christmas is really only for the young. Just like me.
We've played host to my sister and her husband for 17 days now, and I'm already beginning to feel separation anxiety (aww come on, they're here twice a year), knowing they'll be leaving our happily agitated home in a few days. I was hoping to find reason to make them extend a few more days (for the sake of my mother who wanted us all to have Christmas eve dinner together), although quite unsure if I really wanted to do that. Christmas is meant to be spent with family, and family for them are my nephews and nieces and a couple of brand new babies by those nephews and nieces (which technically makes me a grandmother, a young one, at that) who are spread out between LA and New York that are waiting for them to come home.
'But Christmas seems to be more fun in the States now', my sister observed, probably considering the gloom of bigger things that transcend mere bibingka and puto bumbong, which mildly alarmed me but confirmed my own secret fear that the times have really, really caught up with Christmas. Why, we were out shopping to fill out varied orders from my nephews and nieces which, among other things, required us to go to Megamall, which made me imagine death by trampling (well, I exaggerate, of course), only to find it was actually manageable which semi-shocked us. 'Where are the people?' she asked.
Well, they certainly were at the 168 Mall, during our brave foray there the other day, which normally excites me to do, but felt agonized doing at that time because it was too chaotic. The tourists enjoyed actually, although what I wanted was for us to venture out into the streets outside the mall which was really the Divisoria that my sister knew but haven't seen for 20 years, which, of course, proved impossible at the time. Still, my sister ended up with what she called 'amazing' purchases, which, converted into US dollars, would always be the case with any 168 Mall-bought items. I myself went home with 3 things I bought by the dozen, plus a migraine and bloated feet to boot, from overly MSG'd pancit that we ate from one of the Chinese food stalls on top of the mall that we had for brunch.
So I gather that not all the family reunions, parols, and an overload of Pinoy Christmas delicacies are enough to tempt my sister to ride out the season here before they get back into the cold of New York, which makes me think that there's something she knows that I don't. Or maybe she's just proving a point in convincing why I should finally move with my family to the States. Or maybe she's just turned all-Americana already and have no sentiments left for what she used to enjoy here before. My best guess is that she's just really gotten old in spirit and bones and they say that Christmas is really only for the young. Just like me.
Poppycock | 12/16/2006 |
2 Comments:
"Death by trampling" at Megamall? I don't think you were exaggerating the slightest bit!
Anyway, I haven't had Christmas at home (i.e. Manila) since 1983. Which means I haven't had a really merry one for 23 years now. It might be pretty here at times and all, but oftentimes it feels like just another day off from work. I think a major difference between Christmas here and there are the days/weeks leading up to the 25th instead of what happens on the day itself.
You can guess what I wish for every year. :)
hi gigi :)
you know, 'death by trampling' is a hazard in 168 mall these days, but not in megamall, you'll be surprised.
in fact, 168 dampened all retail business elsewhere in metro manila since it opened 2 years ago i think. and it's funny that you're bound to see people you know shopping there, even funnier the number of items you get for your peso :)
but you know, i hate to admit but there's really something missing out on christmas here the past few years -- it's certainly not like the ones that you knew from before. although of course, the christmas anticipation, you are right, starts from the days leading to. for me it starts after nov. 1 :)
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