Mathoms, etc.

I miss Nanay Leonor. I loved staying at their house in Novaliches on weekends. I loved that big old white swing in the garden. The smell of Lifebuoy soap reminds me of their bathroom. 6 pm dinners seemed to be so early back then. It was lights out after that. But my aunt would sneak in her television time later on, and call me to her room to watch.Tatay Andres was such a kind soul, too.

She stayed with us during the last years of her life. She stayed in our room. She had private nurses that helped take care of her. The smell of Johnson's baby powder also reminds me of her, because the nurses would put it on her skin. I would read her charts even though I didn't really understand what the numbers meant at the time. We had parallel bars ( I didn't know what they were called at the time.) where she would practice her walking. I didn't know that was Physical Therapy either. I remember her laughing, biting our fingers when she had her dentures off. I didn't know what it was at the time either, but she would call my sister Vietcong.

When she passed away, she was laid to rest at our house. I wasn't scared. I inherited the bed that she slept in. It actually felt comforting, as if I could still smell her, and that she was still around.

Rest in peace, Nanay.