Laughter and tears
My cousin came back, just for a week of home. Monday morning, we woke up early to send her off at the airport. We had a nice breakfast, she showed off her (close to) S$10,000 engagement ring, and we took a couple of photos.
Walking to the departure hall, she pulled me aside.
"So here's the plan," she whispered. "I'm just going to make it quick. No hugs or anything. Otherwise, my mom will cry -- I know it."
I looked back at my aunt (her mom), who was walking with my mom and my other aunt.
"She misses you a lot, you know," I stated what must've been the obvious. She stays over at our place a couple of times every week, because we have a room vacated by my sister's absence most of the year.
"I know," my cousin nodded. "You take good care of her, okay? You help me be her daughter while I'm gone."
And just like that, it was my turn to choke up: "I will," I nodded, my eyes blurring.
***
I can't remember why we started talking about the Pope during breakfast, but we did, and I told the joke about the SMS I got, before he'd been elected.
"The new Pope has been elected. He's from China, and his name is..." I remember looking away from my phone, and glancing at my watch, finding it strange because it wasn't yet April 18. I scrolled down. "... Pope-piah." As my mom would say: "Very far-neh."
My aunt chipped in, and confessed that when she'd first heard that "Ratzinger's the new Pope," she turned to her friend, eyebrows furrowed, and asked: "They elected a rap singer to be a Pope? Isn't that... inappropriate?"
It only goes to show that the whole family is hard of hearing.
***
Until you are back again, in December. Then we'll do this crazy laughing and crying thing again. I can't think of anything better.
Walking to the departure hall, she pulled me aside.
"So here's the plan," she whispered. "I'm just going to make it quick. No hugs or anything. Otherwise, my mom will cry -- I know it."
I looked back at my aunt (her mom), who was walking with my mom and my other aunt.
"She misses you a lot, you know," I stated what must've been the obvious. She stays over at our place a couple of times every week, because we have a room vacated by my sister's absence most of the year.
"I know," my cousin nodded. "You take good care of her, okay? You help me be her daughter while I'm gone."
And just like that, it was my turn to choke up: "I will," I nodded, my eyes blurring.
***
I can't remember why we started talking about the Pope during breakfast, but we did, and I told the joke about the SMS I got, before he'd been elected.
"The new Pope has been elected. He's from China, and his name is..." I remember looking away from my phone, and glancing at my watch, finding it strange because it wasn't yet April 18. I scrolled down. "... Pope-piah." As my mom would say: "Very far-neh."
My aunt chipped in, and confessed that when she'd first heard that "Ratzinger's the new Pope," she turned to her friend, eyebrows furrowed, and asked: "They elected a rap singer to be a Pope? Isn't that... inappropriate?"
It only goes to show that the whole family is hard of hearing.
***
Until you are back again, in December. Then we'll do this crazy laughing and crying thing again. I can't think of anything better.
posted by Laughingcow at 1:01 am
2 Comments:
a close to $10000 ring ... just be comforted by the fact that she is REALLY loved by her hubby. I think i shall set that standard for my future partners. grin. im joking. if i really love the guy, i will settle for a 9000 one. i sound so superficial.
My cousin jokes that between the ring and the house that they're thinking of buying, they have no money left for the wedding. ;) (Actually, I'm not entirely sure that was a joke.)
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