Flashback: On Babies (written December 2010)

Thoughts on babies and why they are cute.

I don’t know why but I have this great fancy for babies.  I see them smile and my heart just melts.  I hear them giggle and I’m brought to a laugh too.  Even when I see them cry, I still find them cute.  Now, I wonder why.  Why are babies just adorable?  Why are they so hard to resist?

Is it the innocence in them that makes you feel that you’re in the midst of cherubs?  You know, the baby angels… Or the curiosity in them that makes them too adorable?  I bet you can picture that, big round eyes and there oohs and aahs that make you smile at them. Whichever it is, babies are babies and I just love them, who won’t, right?

[And I ask myself if I were cute too when I was a baby… I was, I guess.  Haha! Scan through your photo albums and have a look-see, I bet you were cute too.]

 Just a week or so ago, relatives from the metro came to our place for a visit.  Cousins, grandmother and my six-month old nephew.  I met him for the first time since he was born and when I carried him up (since nobody wanted to at that time), he stopped crying, we became friends in an instant.  There was a connection between him and me.  My touch, most probably, made him feel that somebody is there for him.  Sweet.

I became the aunt-in-shining-armor.  By that time, he knew that he could trust me.  Trust me enough that he would want to be with me all the time.  You got it, I became his baby-sitter.  No problem with that because as I’ve said earlier, I love babies.  And I also love to babysit, blame that on me not having a younger brother nor sister.  Every time I see babies, I just want to care for them.

I babysat my nephew for most of the time they were in our place. And I enjoyed every moment I spent with him, good thing my family is going to spend the holidays with them in the metro, I’ll babysit him again.  Although I enjoyed it I still wonder how it could be that the simple task of just carrying him in my arms makes me sweat like I were in football practice.  I tell you, babysitting is no easy job and I salute all babysitters out there.

Going back to babies and why they are just too cute.  I really don’t know why but I thank God that they are.  Although they, especially my nephew, are tiring to care for, the tiredness fades away when he smiles at me, as if saying, “thank you for taking care of me, Auntie.  I love you.”

Read more: http://gomestic.com/family/on-babies/#ixzz2a4gI66aP

The Janson Directive (a half-review)

I only know Robert Ludlum through the movie adaptations of his Bourne series.  And now that I’ve read one of his books (though this one written posthumously, still by the Ludlum foundation), well, half of it, rather, boy, can I say that he is a superb writer.  No wonder my mother loves his works so much.

I have just finished reading chapters 1-8 that belong to part 1 of the novel and I can’t wait to get to read the next chapters.  His plot is chair-gripping and hits the senses, especially the sense of smell, that is often most forgotten by authors.

The story is all about Paul Janson’s rescue mission of the humanitarian Peter Novak and the details have all been well-written and the end of part 1 leaves you hanging.  How could it have been a rescue mission if the captives and Janson’s team are presumed dead in the helicopter blast and if Janson lives to tell the tale, dumbfounded as to why he is still alive.  What conspiracy has he been entangled in?  I would soon find out.

Farewell, Coach Tanet

Three days ago, a friend passed away.  He was no ordinary friend, he was special, because he too was a football player like me and he was at the same time, the nephew of my football player boyfriend, Mikki.  He was older than us, that is why we called him “Kuya”. Kuya Tanet, I can still remember vividly that short conversation we had when we were partying last June 30, the Feast Day of our city’s patron saint, Sto. Niño.  We made fun of you in your pictures at the residence in Diorico’s Bakeshop because your pictures in the photo wall were so old and you still had thick hair, and you told me that we should update the pictures soon, because someday, my and Mikki’s picture will be included in the photo wall when we decide to tie the knot.

You also told me that my relationship with Mikki has been going on for so long already, at 4 years, turning 5 this December and you requested that I do not leave Mikki.  I did not realize that such conversation will have too much impact; that was your way of setting things right, telling me not to take my relationship with Mikki for granted and to continue to nurture it.  You were one of the people who first taught me football, you told me not to be afraid of playing rough and tough with men in practice games and even in tournaments.  You would no longer hear my “thank you’s” and praises but I hope you feel through my and the football community’s prayers that we have surely lost a fine man.  Our team will be playing with one man down but we assure you that your passing will be an inspiration for us to stay strong amidst adversity.

We will surely miss your contagious laugh and crazy antics.  There was never a dull moment when we hung-out with you.  To a relative, a football coach, and a dear friend, may angels guide you as you find your way to God’s kingdom.  Farewell and continue to play the beautiful game in heaven, UP-SMB Football Club jersey number 11.  Send our hello’s to Kuya Lino and the rest of the family.  Godspeed, Kuya Antonette Diorico Esmande – February 19, 1973 to July 16, 2013.