How to save your heart?

SHOULD

• never expect
• never demand
• never assume

KNOW

• your limits
• where you stand
• your role

DON'T

• get affected
• get jealous
• get paranoid

JUST

• go with the flow
• pray fervently
• and stay happy

Meeting Mr. Eddie Mabulay (Xylon's Biological Grandfather)

The time is set for us to meet Xylon's Grandpa. My heart was pumping so fast because I feel shy and I don’t know what to say whenever we will meet.

I got the contact number of Maria’s Father from her sister Mai-Mai in Cebu few days ago. From that time, I told James I already have contact number of Xylon’s Grandfather in Ozamiz. But we were thinking of when is the best time to meet.

A day before the meeting, I messaged Sir Eddie ( Maria's Father) that we would like to meet him up in a Jollibee in Ozamiz. His reply was "Who is this?". Gosh, I can't explain my reaction, my heart was beating so fast, thinking what should I say or how would I introduce myself. I pretty sure I mentioned my name in my first text to him, hehe... maybe He just can't figure it out who's messaging him :)... So instead I messaged Mai-Mai (Maria's Sister) that we wanted to meet her father in the following day. Actually I don't know what to message back to Sir Eddie because I felt deaf, my eardrum sunk, all I can hear is the BLAG…A..DAG… in my chest (Kulbaan kaayo ko). So Mai-Mai called her Father and told him about me and James and the boys wanting to meet him. And yeah we were set to meet up. Meet in Ozamiz, the old Jollibee Building, Time around 10 o’clock in the morning.

In the following day, Xavier walked up so early, and he told me “Mommy we need to wake up early because we will go to Ozamiz, right?” I already told him a night before, that we need to wake up early to get ready to go to Ozamiz because we will be meeting his Grandpa. He was excited and so Xylon as well. So I got up and prepared things. Both boys were excited to take a bath although it was early for them where they are used to take a bath around 10 in the morning.

Things were all done. We were walking in the road waiting for a bus to ride, I told Xylon “Baby we will be seeing your Grandpa today.” Xylon said “Grandpa…” Sounds like a question. I said “Yes, Grandpa….(thinking of the name but I don’t know).  I looked at James and asked what’s the name of Maria’s father, he said Mabulay… he don’t know the real name. So I told Xylon “Grandpa Mabulay”.

No bus came by so we took the motorcab going to Tangub town and went to the Commuter (little bus that bring passenger from Tangub to Ozamiz vice-versa). Finally we’re in Ozamiz, we took motorcab again going to Jollibee.

At Jollibee. We ordered burger steak for me, chicken nuggets for James, fried chicken for my brother and pancake with hotdog for the boys. I was thinking of what to order for Sir Eddie, coz I’m not sure if he will eat chicken since I learned from Mai-Mai that he just had a mild stroke. So best to wait for him.

I messaged Sir Eddie that we were already in Jollibee but he never replied. So, I messaged Mai-Mai again telling her that we’re already in Jollibee. We never noticed the time, we are so early, it’s just 9:30 and what Sir Eddie knows is 10. So excited maybe. Mai-Mai messaged that she called her Father but he cannot be contacted maybe the battery was dead. So, I messaged her that we will just wait. And we ate.

And so my phone beeps and its Sir Eddie texted that he is ready and will only wait for our text. I was thinking maybe he didn’t received my text earlier, so I texted him back telling him that we were already in the Jollibee. And he replied that he is on his way now.  WOW…. Again, my feeling was something I can’t explain. My heart was BLAG, BLAG, BLAG…..  I messaged Mai-Mai, that her Father is on his way now, but I don’t know how he look like. Mai-Mai messaged me to text her Father to be the one who will just come close to us since we will be easy to recognize, we had foreigner.

5 minutes passed by, I kept looking at the door who’s coming in and I know James was too because he really was facing the door. I looked beyond the glass hoping to see someone who uses a stick (sungkod) to walk because it’s what Mai-Mai told me aside from gwapohon (good-looking) and skinny. And I happened to see a man walking with stick but far beyond with the description because he was too chubby and dark. 3 minutes passed and yet nothing. So we ordered French fries to eat while waiting and somewhat killing the tense I felt (he he). Then I went to the bathroom.

When I got out in the bathroom I saw James shaking hands with a man in yellow shirt, and yeah it was Sir Eddie Mabulay (Maria Karla’s Father). He saw Xavier and hug him and saw Xylon and hug him as well. I went straight opposite to the table he sat in. Xylon easily go with him, He called him Grandpa and always wants to be noticed. And the feeling, the shyness, the awkwardness I felt was slowly gone. He is so nice, lively and jolly. Maria got this personality, I think. He showed the pictures of Maria he brought to the boys, and both boys are busy looking at it. I took pictures of them (Grandpa and Grandson).

So we went to the Gaisano Mall the new building where there’s a place for kids fun to play. Xylon wants his Grandpa to carry him. He kept giving Grandpa a fries. A very sweet little boy. I took picture. We went to the second floor, in the kids corner. I let James and Sir Eddie talked. I now felt little comfortable.

For the lunch. It had been agreed that we will eat our lunch in Sir Eddie’s home in Bagakay, Ozamiz. So we bought puso (cooked rice wrapped in a coconut leaves) and litson manok (roasted chicken) at Pedro’s. And we went in there home. I like the place, it’s almost the same as our place. Lots of trees, fresh air and no lots of noise of big buses.

We are in the house. And wow, the boys feels really at home. They went inside and played with the boys (Sir Eddie’s kids). I met his wife and I helped her prepare the lunch. And again I felt awkward little since it’s a new person but it went away easily. She was nice and natural making me feel at ease. She laughs when Xavier and Xylon starting to jabber jaw (blah blah blah). Her kids where shy and went to go bath.

Lunch was ready. We ate. Grandpa Eddie joke to Xavier

Grandpa : Do you want to go swimming?

Xavier (with a big eyes) : Where?

Grandpa : Over there, with the Carabao.

Xavier : Is it Dirty?

Grandpa : No, with leeches and alligators.

Xavier : Are they friendly?

Grandpa : Yes.

Xavier : You gotta show me after we eat…

All smiled with this little boy. And we ate lunch…

Some relatives of Xylon went there ( lolas) I don’t know the name. I took pictures of the boys and Grandpa. I saw a big picture of Maria, she was so pretty. I took picture of it as well. Then chit-chat, the boys feeding the chicken. Played toys. Xylon was full packed with toys in his packet. He brought on our way home some of the little cars that his uncles had or maybe all.

Then time to go home. Sir Eddie came with us in our place in Tangub so he will know where we live. We got a free ride from Bagakay to Tangub. It happened to be one of the bus of the city I worked with was on his way going to Tangub. Xylon had a little nap while in the bus. Then dropped in City and ride a motorcab going in our place.

In our home, I introduced Sir Eddie to my Papa and Mama. They talked. And it happened to be that my papa knows some of Sir Eddie’s relatives. It was a fun talked because Sir Eddie is kinda a joker hahaha… He said jokes to James, about drinking moderately and three cases of beer is okay and enough… hehehe And he also suggested my papa to let James drink a coconut wine… hehehe (Daghang bahal sa amo hapit na mahimo ug suka). Sir Eddie talked about when he was assigned in the Tangub before, he being a priest/pastor, being a soldier… They talked a lot, I just listened to them.. He mentioned Karla to my papa and mama but my parents used of the name Maria. They all looked at Xylon and oh yeah, Xylon as if he knows that he was being talked starting to jabber jaw again.

And time for Sir Eddie to go home because he and his wife will go get some grocery. Xavier gave him hugs and kisses. And Xylon come with us in town. So we went in Tangub town riding a motor bike, he come with us walked around in the Vegetable market. He carried Xylon (Piggy back ride).

The day turned out so well. It was a very touching event not only for me to see them see each other but for Maria’s family as well, coz I know they really super miss her so much. The way they hug Xylon, the feeling I seen in their faces, the smiles, everything. It wrenches my heart.

Overall the day was a blessing from GOD.

GOD bless us everyone!!

Eugielene

Jesus is Risen!!

God our Father, by raising Christ your Son you conquered the power of death and opened for us the way to eternal life. Let our celebration today raise us up and renew our lives by the Spirit that is within us. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Christ is Risen indeed from the dead. Amen.