Song File: Everytime

Dear Kids,

I should be doing others things now but I feel like writing to you and just do whatever I need to do tomorrow. That is one thing your grandma hates about me - I love to cram! LOL

I find writing to you therapeutic even if I know that you are at this moment, still but a theory and a hope for me and your sweet dad. I guess it makes me feel that I have a purpose in life and I am imparting very important life lessons about life, dating and being carefree to you. I probably will be the Dragon Mom every Asian mom is but then I might turn out to be a cool mom too!

Anyhow, I can hope that despite me not being able to carry a tune, you would appreciate music and be able to enjoy it as much as I do. If I look back, there is always a song that best describes a time of my life.

This song, Everytime by Janet Jackson (who is she? Goggle will be a good source!), has always been special to me and evokes kilig and giddiness every time I hear it. Listen on :)

Sounds romantic, right? What more if that song started to play during your first school dance? You are on a date with J - a guy you have a huge crush on and he just asked you to dance - your very first proper slow dance.

AWWW...

I tentatively put my hands on J's shoulder and his arms go around my waist, pulling me closer that I end up encircling my hands around his neck. We slowly sway to the music and I look at him, nervous yet smiling, thanking the high heavens for this chance. He gave me a reassuring smile and told me how pretty I was that evening and made stupid yet funny jokes to crack me up.

I felt that I can die at that moment out of sheer happiness.  It was as if my short teenage life was complete.

I look back to that memory and still smile more than 15 years later and remind myself that life can be sweet and simple, we just have to enjoy the moments that life throws us.

xoxo

Virtual Love

Dear Kids,

Yes, meeting someone online and falling in love is risky and stupid. But maybe if you are lucky like me, you'll meet your soul mate. Someone who will ignite the fire in your heart and make you realize your worth. Someone you will never forget. Someone who will make you re-think and re-consider things.

People will judge and ridicule you. Some will say that he was a poser, a fake. His MO is to make girls fall and not catch them. I don't want to dwell on the negatives and be bitter about it. All I know albeit it was fleeting, it was at least for me, true.

Like someone has told me, given the choice of believing or not believing, choose to believe.

I am always and forever a romantic at heart.

Or I am always and forever the gullible naive.

The Greek Files

Dear Kids,

One day I hope to be able to take you to the Greek Isles and enjoy and have a relaxing summer break there. I have fond memories of the island specifically in Mykonos and Santorini. And knowing how your Mommy is, I have not one but two adventures to share!

I
We had a hot tour guide when we were in Santorini. Think a of young, buff, tanned Greek version of Tom Cruise. Always in his aviators and leather jacket. Yes, he was crushable but I wasn't really interested at that time. So I was on my picture taking spree not realizing that he was taking notice of me.

One time during dinner, he was teasing me and being dense, I was like "What is wrong with you?". Until one of our tourmates told me that he has a big crush on me. He was starting to talk to me more and more each day and would even photobomb some of our pictures. He'd also bring out his camera and take pictures with me in it LOL Haba ng hair moment!

After dropping the lot at the hotel, tour guides would usually go on their ways but he would usually stay around hoping to talk to me and spend a few more minutes or hours talking or having a drink at the bar. I told him I was seeing someone back home and said that he understood and just wanted to be friends.

On our flight back to Athens, he gave me a big hug and told me that he would miss me. He handed me a piece of paper where his contact details were scribbled.

We're Facebook friends until now :)

D
We were in Mykonos and our bus driver had a very cute son, D. His was tagging along with his dad for the duration of the tour. Everyone was gushing about him since he was very cute - think blonde hair, blue eyes, cute smile. He didn't speak much English though so communicating with him was hard! But eyes on the prize, you're mommy dear was dead set on getting to know this cute guy.

It started with shy hi and hello's to sharing snacks with him to asking his name and age to see how much English he spoke. It wasn't much but it was enough for us to communicate and start spending lots of time together. From where he was seated at the back, he then moved closer to where I was so we can play games during the long drives. I was the envy of the whole bus because I became such friends with this cutie that we were spending all our free time together.

On our last day, I had my picture taken with D as a remembrance -

Did I forget to mention he was 7 years old? LOL