Disarmed

While on a week-long vacation in Massachusetts with all of the family—that includes 2 of my children and son-in-law, we were sitting around the dinner table at our rented villa and shared stories.

I asked Larry, my son-in-law, if he was scared and felt awkward the first time he met us.

By the way, 9 years ago, he came over for Christmas break together with Yna several months after officially becoming a couple. Both of them were still working for companies based in Washington, DC.

"Not with you. With Papa, I was scared and shy."

Now that he's married to Yna, he immediately got comfortable calling me Mama but is still trying to get used to calling Jay Papa or Papi.

"What?! Only with Papa? What about with me?"

"Ma, you talked to me and asked so many questions," he continued.

"And what were the questions I asked you?"

"I just remembered they were disarming."

Wow!

Disarming?

I have never used that word.

I love that.

Disarming.

My Mother

NOTE: Reposted from Facebook, posted on September 29, 2023

On August 27, Jay received a reservation from Larry, Yna's fiancé, at al di là Trattoria for a September 26th dinner. It's the day we'll arrive in New York with my little sister and mother.

It was a dinner for us prior to Yna and Larry's big event (their wedding) on Sabado.

It was in a cozy northern Italian restaurant in Brooklyn. Each table was adorned with votive candles in clear rounded glass containers and a dimly lit up interior. It was dark yet pleasant.

All of the tables were occupied except for the long table that sits about 8 people near the window. The card also indicated that the table was reserved.

As soon as we were handed each of their menus, my soon-to-be-85 mother pulled out her cell phone, proudly telling us that she had just learned how to turn her flashlight on.

Hilas na!

On September 12th, a couple of weeks prior to her flight to New York, she called and sounded concerned. She stated that her mobile phone has an issue and that there is a light on on one side of her phone with no button to turn it off.

She was anxious, bothered, and upset enough to consider replacing her phone.

I had a challenging time teaching her over the phone from Maryland. By the way, she's in California.

A young gentleman from her cellphone service provider taught her. It was a slow but thorough training till she grasped it!

It was perfectly fitting for her to proudly demonstrate her newly learnt cellphone feature in the dimly lit Italian restaurant in New York.

Congrats, Ma.

Who's your favorite...

While driving on our way to brunch, I asked my kids,

"Kids, who's your favorite auntie?"

In unison, they both answered, "((( Mama Tita!!! )))"

"Who's your favorite uncle?"

"Who else but Uncle Mama Tita!"

Hihihihi.

Their favorite is my little sister.

Which band is...

While we were stuck in traffic on our way to New York City, I overheard the boy asking his father.

"Pa, which do you like better, Black Sabbath or Def Leppard?" 

"Def Leppard," replied his Papa.

"Unsa man ang imong favorite nga kanta nila?" I asked. (What's your favorite (from Def Leppard)?)

"Photograph (released in 1983)!" 

I searched it on Qobuz and played it.

"But you don't like any of the songs by the Black Sabbath?" I asked further.

"Naay isa, pero wa ko kahibaw sa title." (There is one, but I don't know the title of the song.)

...and then he hummed a few notes from the song.

I checked the famous songs from Black Sabbath too.  This search would be a long one when he only remembered a part of the tune.

He was still humming the song when he remembered something about it.

"I think naay pigs sa title." (I think there's "pigs" in the title of the song.)

"(((WAR PIGS??!!)))" the boy chimed in from the back seat. 

I played it on Qobuz, and the boy sang along to it. The song was released in 1970. That was 2 years before the mister and I were born. 

I don't know those songs, but I have heard them a few times. I just wouldn't be able to identify who sang them, but honestly, I just realized that they're nice. 

I am also surprised by our son's wide knowledge of the artists and their songs from J and my era.

By the way, both bands were favorites of our next-door neighbor. Back in the day, we always heard them talk about these bands from our bedroom window. 

They always hang out with their sets of friends, enjoying shots of liquor and countless puffs from their cigarettes under the star apple tree that stood near our house.