Flying with angel wings…

     Sometimes, life gives us unexpected circumstances that throw us off-balance. These circumstances nevertheless turn out to be cataclysmic of some of the most worthwhile events and the most poignant realizations.  Amidst the myriad of activities and the stress of a major event that happened last weekend, my hyper-activated cerebral processes took a backseat in favor of a meaningful and heartfelt experience.

     November 2nd was a day fraught with quite a lot of tension.  It was the day before LU Live 2007 and preparations were well underway, both in dressing up three of the booths James has planned for, as well the the ensuing cosplay competition.  Things-to-do were piled one after the other, all hands were on deck in decorating the booths, decors came from north and south literally, and last-minute shopping had to be done at Divisoria for the merchandise as well.  It was a hectic day, to put it mildly.  And my mind was whirling with thoughts of the things that had to be accomplished.

     Everything stood perfectly still for me, however, when James told me something I have never anticipated; I was to spend the night at their home in Bulacan, as requested by his mom.  I guess what I felt could best be described as mingled elation and anxiety.  Elation, because I would finally get to meet his family and see his home, which is definitely a meaningful step in any relationship.  And anxiety, because I somehow felt the weight that the impressions to be formed would bear on our relationship.

     After quite an exhausting day, we finally made our way to Bulacan at around 7:30 in the evening.  We stopped for dinner at Burger King along North Luzon Expressway, and James formally introduced me to Pastor Robert, Pastor Meng and his wife, Ate Jenny.  They were really very nice, and I immediately felt at ease in their company.  After dinner, we proceeded to Paombong and Tita Jocelyn was there to meet us.  It felt really nice finally being able to converse with Tita Jocelyn in person, after the conversations we’ve had over the phone and through Yahoo messenger.  I finally got to meet Oton personally, as well as Joseph.  Tita Jocelyn was really nice and approachable.  We spent some time brewing slim potions and then planning further for the event.  I shared Tita’s bed that night and a really pleasant memory that I’d always remember was when I woke up in the middle of the night to find Tita awake as well.  We exchanged good mornings and she placed an arm around me.

     The morning after was spent in a bit of a hurry but I was able to get a good look at the yard that James often describes as Noah’s Ark.  With several dogs, a myriad of love birds, and quite a lot of ducks, it was a sizeable menagerie.  We left home at 7:00 a.m.  Due to some delays with James’ biochemist costume, however, we had to be left behind at Bulacan until almost 1:00 in the afternoon.  James took me to Barasoain Church.  I spent some time in prayer and contemplation at the Adoration Chapel and then we took some photos.  It was a lot of fun and I’m really happy that James suggested taking me there. We bought a take out lunch at Jollibee and were on our way to World Trade Center by 1:00 p.m.  We got there by 3:00 p.m. and we manned the booth.  James wore his biochem costume.  Adam and I went home to Imus to get my boots and more clothes and then were able to get back to WTC at past 7:00 p.m.  At 7:40 we all started packing up and had a quick discussion for the following day.  We made our way to Bulacan by 8:00 p.m.

     Saturday night, I was able to spend some time talking to James’ grandmother.  She kept me company while I was having dinner, and then she invited me for a chat in her bed.  We talked about so many things, from politics to religion to family histories.  I barely noticed the passage of time and before I knew it, it was past 1:00 a.m.  I apologized to Lola for keeping her up so late, but I really enjoyed our conversation.  James, Jerri, Jhoi, and I barely had sleep that night because we had to prepare for their Cosplay skit, but the warm afterglow I felt after having the chance to talk with James’ family was enough to melt my fatigue away.

     We all left for WTC at 7:00 a.m. but by the time we arrived, we discovered that the power supply for my laptop was missing.  The lappy was crucial for the cosplay presentation, so James and I had to travel back to Bulacan to get it.  We left WTC at 11:00 and got there shortly before 3:00 p.m., just in the nick of time for the group cosplay competition.  The ChocoZaidos performed, we tried to sell more merchandise, and we wrapped everything up by 6:45 p.m.  The egress was almost as tedious and time consuming as the ingress and I broke down in tears when I relaized our egress form was gone.  James comforted me and in the end, everything was fine.

     Sunday night, Tita Jocelyn and Tatay To went with us from WTC to take me and Adam home to Imus.  My mom was able to have a short chat with Tita Jocelyn.  Seeing our moms like that gave a unexpected and poignant tug at my heartstrings.  Everything that transpired felt like taking a huge step into deeper, more meaningful territory for James and me.

     It was the first time I’ve been to Paombong in Bulacan, the first time I got to meet James’ family, the first time I’ve been to quite a few places.  It was surprising though, to have felt such a familiarity for people and places I’ve only just gotten to see and know.  It was a heartwarming experience to say the least.

     Thank You, Father, for making all these possible.  Thank you po Tita Jocelyn, Lola, Oton, and Joseph for acommodating us at your abode.  Thank you po Tatay To, Pastor Robert, Pastor Meng, and Ate Jenny.  Thank you James,  for introducing me to the people who mean the most to you and bringing me to the place you call home.  Thank you for making me so happy that I feel as if I’m flying with angel wings…