I Love Robbie

Looking through the foggy window
I feel the bitter cold
Of winter mornings.

The snowflakes
Enveloping the roads
I'll later be walking on.

I brace myself
Anticipating
This trip I'll make.

Eventful it might be
Long and tiring
A possibility.

I venture out
Warm and comfy
I know I'll be.

For Robbie -
Companion, shield,
Protector - is with me.

Oh, I love Robbie!!!

Kung Hei Fat Choi!

It's Chinese New Year! Wipee!!!! It's a looking forward to event for me.

It's not an event particular to Canada, obviously. But the fact this country also has its shares of Chinese immigrants just like any other country in the world, this festivity is also celebrated here. Richmond, with its residents mostly Chinese, will definitely see its share of Dragon Dances, fireworks, Chinese goodies and the red envelopes. And of course, Chinatown.

However, let me set the record straight. I'm not Chinese (although my father once said that we have about 1/8 Chinese blood). I'm a true-blooded Pinoy. Kayumangging-kaligatan, through and through. And just what makes me look forward to this annual event?

TIKOY. Or Nian Gao as what they call it. Sounds shallow? Perhaps. But I've always equated Chinese New Year with this sticky rice cake abundant in our household during this occasion, year after year, as long as I can remember. I like honey mandarins and the other Chinese sweets (don't know what they're called) but I don't really care much about those. It's the sweetness gooey taste of the tikoy my sense of taste is looking for.

Hence, I'm treading my way right after posting this to T & T Supermarket. I'm buying several boxes. And the minute I get back home, will be slicing it, dip in into the egg wash and fry. I can almost taste it.

Kung Hei Fat Choi!

My Tree of Hope

I set up this year's Christmas tree with the help of Louise. My motif is same as last year's - blue and silver, which continues throughout the house. And the snowmen, yeah, I got "snowmen".

I bought more Christmas balls for decors. To which Louise commented, "Don't we have enough, Tita?". In my mind, do you get enough Christmas decors or balls, for that matter? But 10 or 80 Christmas balls, that Christmas tree standing in the living room symbolizes hope for me. It is MY tree of hope.

And why is that so?

2007 was a very emotional year for me. Aside from that, I wasn't okay, health-wise. My doctor had recommended that I take a leave of absence - to be able to recoup the strength and energy I used to have.

I spent a good part of the second quarter recuperating. Except for a sudden trip to Calgary (to have a change of environment), I just stayed home. Did some soul-searching, too, trying to answer the grey parts of my life. Towards the latter part of the year, I had somehow figured out the direction I wanted to follow. But circumstances (or was it fate?) were working against me. I felt defeated but thanks to my faith and supportive family and friends, the desire to move on never waned. I asked Lord to give me a sign that everything will be alright - in all aspects of my life.

Then on my last weekend working at The Bay, I won a Christmas Tree. I was surprised because I never won anything in any raffles in my entire life. And I wasn't really planning to enter that raffle but for the badgering of Willeen. Add to that, I didn't have any intention of putting up a tree or any decors. So with a Christmas Tree hauled to our home, what choice ddid I have but to put it up.

And yes, I did set it up. And while I was decorating it, an inner voice was whispering that everything will be alright. That I just need to fully trust and hope in Him. And what a better time to remind me. Christmas - given to us so that we'll be saved and have hope for the future.

So there goes..the story of MY TREE OF HOPE.