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Three more days before Christmas and everyone is going gaga on Christmas shopping and making a list of what dish to prepare for "Noche Buena." If you were to ask me, I don't prepare that much for Christmas. I think it is not practical because there are only three of us and we never had visitors on Christmas eve. It's not because I didn't invite anyone but it's because we are not close to my husband's relatives. There's an issue between us and them. Some sort of "agawan sa lupa' hahaha! They can't accept the fact that we are the ones who get to stay in their ancestral house. So that's why we feel like an outcast here.

Anyways, moving on with the topic, I and my daughter had a conversation a while ago about what am I going to prepare for Christmas.

Her: Ma, ano handa natin sa pasko?

Me: Simple lang nak, 3 lang naman tayo, saka wala tayong budget. Her: So, walang spaghetti?

Me: Meron, spaghetti lang saka isang ulam. Her: Eh paano yung pansit mo, akala ko ba gusto mo ng pansit?

Me: Ako lang naman kakain ng pansit, kayo ni Papa mo ang gusto spaghetti. Kaya spaghetti na lang lutuin ko.

Her: Ganito na lang Ma, luto ka din ng pansit kahit ¼ lang tapos ½ na spaghetti para may pansit ka din. Alam ko naman na yun paborito mo eh.

So, I might cook Pansit as well and not just spaghetti. But it all depends on our budget pa din. To be honest, we are relying on how much will I get or earn in both noise and read. So I need to work my ass off for us to have a decent meal on Christmas, hehe.

Ever since we settle down here in Capiz, I miss the family gatherings we used to have when we were still living in Manila where all my relatives live. Each family has their menu or dish and we will gather in one of the houses of our Aunt and spend Christmas eve full of laughter. We had videoke, games, and of course, drinking alcohol.

This is one of the reunions we had. Can you guess where I am? This was taken 10 years ago, I think. I can't really remember. This was in my Papa's home. We decided to spend Christmas there because that's what he wanted. He was in Saudi Arabia at that time, working.

Oh my, I suddenly miss my father. This will be the third Christmas that he was no longer with us. But it's okay, I know that he's in good hands now. Reaping the good deeds that he sow when he was alive.

My mother also called this morning asking what we'll be having this Christmas. I told her that nothing because I have no money, hahaha. She just laughed. I don't look like I don't have money daw. Gosh, do I look rich? Hahaha! I guess she just misses me because at the end of our conversation, she said that she wish that we could spend Christmas and New Year with her again. The last time we spend holidays in her house was 2018. We spend New Year with her.

Now that Christmas is just a few days away, I can't help myself not to feel lonely because honestly, iba yung saya kapag madami kayo nagcecelebrate. Do you agree with me? But of course, I am happy because with all that's happening today, the pandemic and all, we are all well, alive and kicking.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Date Published: December 22, 2021

All photos are mine unless stated otherwise