Coming out of the Cheesy Closet

The List I

2011-10-10T04:49:00.000-07:00

So far... I've already thought of 2 more items I want to add. The trick is to keep adding to your list so you don't expire any time soon. Assuming that God works with a moving target that is.

Arthur

2011-09-13T01:10:00.000-07:00

My name is Arthur. You can call me Arthur Barthur. I am 3 months old and my Mommy says I am a beagle. I don't know what beagle is.

Mommy said she prayed for a baby and Daddy gave her me.

Seducing Life - Susie's Way

2011-08-26T16:07:00.001-07:00

Susan Luna Fernadez is on the brink of this world, lingering around the edges and holding one foot back from crossing over to the next. Hard to imagine someone as vital, full of life and strength as my aunt is, could be lying on her bed - no longer strong, proud, and yes, sensual. Cancer's a bitch that way - or is it life?

"Part your hair from one side, Nene, and let them fall from one side of your face. Tilt your head a little... There. That's it. You must learn the art of ... Allure."

My Tita Susie taught me that - allure. I was barely 17, awkward as can be - and there she was - 5'10 (to my teenage mind at least. Later on I found out she was only 5'6), in her 40s, beautiful, tall and proud. My aunt is the eldest of a brood of 9. Seven of them women, and all the women displaying - in varying degrees - the characteristic Luna traits: Strong, Impetuous, Proud, and yes, Seductive. She was imparting decades of lessons handed down through generations of fascinating women. And I tried to learn. Still haven't quite gotten it - but I got time. Maybe.

I wonder what is going through Tita Susie's mind. I don't think I can even imagine - nor would I even want to. She always had a bag full of life's precious nuggets with her wherever she went. Any occassion, any person, you can always count on Susie to dispense advice. With the advent of Facebook, distance no longer held Susana back from influencing her niece (by then a 32 year-old mother of two). I was struggling with the thought of "Should I work and earn money? Or stay at home with my growing babies?"

All the way from Arizona, she comments on my post and dispenses this advice:

"Nene, that's child talk for now. Take my case, Was a single mama for 35yrs...Got my kids in college, and they were so good, cooperated with me, got them 6 maids, but I supervised them everyday, every hour..no cellphone those days but you could do work and at the same time enjoy your kids while they are busy being kids.....not for a long time...a year or two, they have their own world...prelude to adulthood.....remember the old saying...'no money, no honey.' Enjoy what you want to do with them but please don't be carried away with child talk. Adieu, sayonara, aloha. you know me and my life...I don't have any regrets..."

I took her advice. I have no regrets. I thanked her for her guidance and here's what she said:

"‎4 facts money can't buy: 1. smile of a baby 2.The youth gone by..(yours) 3. love of a good wife 3. the way to heaven. Do what you wanna do, enjoy what you wanna do, you only live once my dahling niece. HAHAHAHAH...take my case....suddenly I'm OLD!....."

Tita Susie, dearest dearest Tita Susie... I don't think I will ever see you as old. Heaven forbid that something as base and time bound would ever be associated with you. Even as you lie on your bed, holding your rosary, breathing... you will always be the statuesque, formidable, and larger than life woman you have been to me. Cancer will never change that. Life, no matter how transient and cruel of a bitch it is, will never erase that image of you in my head: Looking at me quizically, assessing me and telling me to tilt my head a little and gather my hair to one side....

Thank you for conquering the world for us Luna women. Thank you for seducing life and leading it on by the crook of your finger. As you take that last step towards the yonder, a part of you remains with me, and in every woman whose life you have touched. Adieu, Sayonara, Aloha, my dearest Tita.

Miranda Essentials

2011-08-26T15:52:00.000-07:00

1. I rub my feet together before going to bed.

2. I am half way between being a cynic & idealist.

3. I used to be a shark tail in a play.

4. As a baby, I used to obsess about sucking people's toes (don't ask why)

5. As a grown-up, I generally find toes disgusting.

6. I do not know how to manipulate a pivot table.

7. I want to be a country manager when I grow up.

8. I don't think I will ever grow up - I haven't stopped trying though :)

9. I do not undestand why people would drink tomato juice, bloody marys, etc.

10. I wish I were smarter in math.

11. I LOVE Amorsolo paintings - in fact I will own one someday... someday...

12. I wish I were kinder, gentler & more accepting

13. I only applied for one university - UP - thank God I actually got in!

14. I am currently thinking... "Dear LORD! I am just in # 14????"

15. The following topics bore me: war, politics, stock market

16. I wish I knew more about the following topics: war, politics, stock market

17. I did not know how to spell the following words until the 5th grade: family, coffee, balloon

18. I also did not know my left from my right til I became a Girl Scout (where I was forced to learn this basic of basics with all the marching drills and hateful glares from all my right-facing teammates. Of course, I was facing left!)

19. I cannot tell a joke - seriously, I can't. I have difficulty with the intro, the development and the punchline. I often make people laugh with my smart ass comments.

20. I often get in trouble with my smart ass comments.

21. I temporarily ABSORB movie/TV/literary personas I am currently engrossed with. Seriously. You should have seen me after I watched Kill Bill...

22. I am thinking... "WOW. I am on the 22nd line..."

23. I use 5 fingers when I type. Tee hee hee....

24. I love the martial arts (Capoeira, Arnis, Muay Thai)

25. I LOVE my family and will do anything for them.

My Daddy. My first love. :)