Joy and happiness reign throughout my house this week, Cecil my son-in-law is home from his ten months in Kodiak Alaska, he had started in Dutch Harbor but decided a different Island would be better. So he moved further north, it made sense to him.
Thursday morning (18 April) Mayang and Ymir Thea were running it ten directions at once getting ready for the trip to Mega Manila’s NAIA to pick up Cecil. Yours truly stayed at home to protect the dog Army from any harm befalling them. Okay the truth is, as I’ve pointed out in the past, I’d rather take a whooping from a very large man then venture into the city limits of Manila.
All day foods were being prepared and preparations made for Jayden’s first trip to his Nations Capital. He didn’t really seem to care one whit about any of it. But that’s how an 11 month old kid is.
So we’re approaching 1800 hours and the Van just pulled up and the loading commenced car seats stroller diaper bag and toys. Plus the cooler of food, I pointed out to all involved that along the highway every few miles there were food stops that I could really afford for them vice having to bring their own. That is when Mayang, her sister Clara Ymir Thea and my niece Shea-Shea all turned at once and gave me the “LOOK”, I shut up and my grandson Little Dude just grinned at me because even though he can’t talk yet he knew his Lolo was in deep doo-doo. It would have been the perfect time for him to perform one of his cute antics and bail me out, but he passed on that.
They departed and I was left to fend for myself at the old homestead well me and the 13 members of the dog army. I went up stairs with the three in the house dogs and turned on the air con, and started to read, blazing page by page through my android electronic book reader thingy with a full charged battery. I woke up and read some more.
Airport0430 and the doorbell goes off, well actually I ripped the wires out of the doorbell my first week of retirement as kids found a great joy in pushing the button and dashing up the street. But now I have the dog army to tell me when someone is at the gate. I know which bark is the doorbell, vice the no reason barking.
I must admit it was good to see Cecil my long lost son-in-law as I really did miss him while he was gone. Now the unloading of the van is going full blast, people luggage and Jayden’s stuff and the cooler full of uneaten food, it seems that they do open the food courts along the highway 24/7. Who would have figured that?
So for my first time in 66 years on Earth I ate a double whooper from Burger King for breakfast, not bad but cold pizza will always be my number one choice.
Jayden and I went to sleep and let the Tagalog reminiscing begin. (I speak some Spanish and a lot of English, and the Jay-man has his own language.) I awoke at 0900 and found the family in the front yard and my grandson and five rubber ducks in a tiny swimming pool splashing everyone he could BTW the boy was buck naked! My other Son-in-law Chris and my daughter YoHanna plus the light of my life my granddaughter Colleen had dropped by on the way to swimming practice So I was very pleased, sometimes it really is the little things in life that bring the most joy.
Then Cecil turns to us and declared hot it was, I smiled and said; “Missing Alaska already are you?” His next job is in Hawaii never to return to Alaska again. I can’t say that I blame him.
Hi Paul – I have been wondering about Cecil and how he was doing in Alaska. Glad to hear that he made it home to see his wife and child.
Hey Bob;
He has to leave in a couple of months but this time he’s lined up a job in Hawaii, the young man learns quickly about temperature variances and that Alaska is damn cold. He told me a funny story about being chased home by two blue eyed huskies; he’s never seen that before! He never ate that yellow snow.
Glad to hear Cecil is hoe Paul. Now you will have a reliable mate in the man cave.
Joe;
If my daughter lets him, If not he could be sleeping there! (lol)
Did he learn how to write his name in the snow? Many places in Alaska are warmer in the winter time than Michigan is… I have been here in the Philippines for 3 years now, still looking for that first snow flake… 😛
Gary;
I believe that you can get Snow Cones at your local 7-11, that’s as close as I want to get to the stuff. I can’t argue between Michigan and Alaska as I just don’t ever want to find out. They can keep it!
Great news that Cecil is home and all is well. I can understand him wanting to work in a warmer climate, but it’s hard to beat the idea of working in Alaska (staying there long enough to earn the resident’s bonus every year) and the “snowbirding” it back to the Philippines every winter.
“Living in the Philippines Can Be a Bit Taxing — Best States to be a Resident Of”>
Thank you Dave;
The fishing industry is going full bore during the winter, I think it was a onetime shot, and he wants to live in Hawaii full time, and bring his family over there with in a year. Watching my Grandson fly away will be the hardest part for me.
Sounds like is a good family reunion. Jayden in the pool in the buff ? Why of course, with the tropical temperature and humidity there why not get maximum cooling !
Bob;
My daughter will deflate the pool every day, then look at me the next morning to fill it with air again. I was going to suggest we leave it inflated or at least buy a pump, and then my Son-in-law came home. I’ll buy the pump when he leaves.
Paul,
You mean you passed on going to Manila with that bunch of beautiful women? LOL
I do not blame you at all about avoiding Manila. The only thing I have come to like about Manila is the road leading out of there going back to the province!
I thought it was funny reading about the cooler full of uneaten food!
Steve;
There was no way my wife or the ladies are going to listen to a Kano tell them something about the Philippines. The cooler of food was not eaten the next day as they brought take-out from the un-open foods stores along the highway. But my dog Army had a good feed the following day.
I’ll go to Manila if I really have to, but I’ll go kicking and screaming and with a cooler full of SMB’s!
Love the picture of the little dude in the pool. Also noticed that the food was in picture number one. Very Pinoy!
Mike;
The food picture was my idea as I wanted to prove something to Mayang, now I have the photo.
Little Dude, would spend all day in his pool under the mango tree, if I was smarter I’d join him, but to spare the world a lot of discomfort I’d wear the bathing suit.
Paul,
Glad to see Cecil back. I was wondering if he would go back to Alaska again. Glad he was able to get a job in Hawaii. I know you will miss the little guy around the house, but you can always hop on a plane and visit Hawaii lol. Have a nice day
Papa Duck;
Not sure yet if Ymir Thea and the Little Dude will be on the way to Hawaii this next trip, as there is a lot of paperworks that have to be done, The Little Dude is a US Citizen but not yet our Daughter. So he’ll be here a little longer and that’s fine with me.
I think Ymir will find Hawaii just like the Philippines. You should have her take a crash course in Ilocano, while she waits for her paperwork.
Hi Jay;
I mention that to her, the longer it takes the happier I am. They are off today working on the paper work to make the Little Dude an American. I teach her the Ilocano, I don’t speak it but if it keeps her here longer…
Hi Paul,
I dont have idea how Alaska look like, wish i can visit alaska one day, some says alot of
snow and very cold. Alaska also have summer season? have nice day.
Anne;
Alaska is very beautiful, and it takes a special breed of people to live there. The Alaskain summer I believe is July 4th and 5th.