My Baby is Now a Lady

Nicole had turned 19 and something suddenly came over me, like a sledgehammer. Our baby girl is officially an adult. :'(

I remember years ago, she was so little then, she was our little angel. Sometimes, I can't help but wish that she was small again. She isn't a child anymore, though in our eyes, I guess she will always be that baby girl and little angel who changed our lives and who means the world to me. I can't believe our baby is gone. I feel like I'm mourning a death. Like I've lost her. I want to physically hold on to her, hug her, tell her how much i love her. I do it all the time.

For me, she left her wings. The next few years will so quickly fly. She doesn't know how much joy she truly brings. She brightens up my days with her her infectious laughs. She reminds me of all the blessings that I have. She is my world. I have no other passions or interests that occupy any place in my life. She is my life, my sunshine. She brings with her a sweetness that doesn't end. She is the reason I always try my best.

I love you 'Bam.

My Cousins are Better Than Yours

As kids, your cousins are usually the first friends you have. The rare kind of friends who remain close to you for so many years. You lost your grandparents all at the same time. Welcomed baby cousins into the family together. Dealt with family crisis one after the other, all at the same time. No one will ever understand your crazy family like your cousins do.

You once spoke about your careers and jobs, marriages and children. Girl cousins talked about being each other’s bridesmaids. You talked about how your kids would grow up together and play together all the time, like you once did. Cousins are the ones celebrating with you at your highs. They are the ones mourning with you at your lows. And an unprecedented kind of companionship can only come from that. Now that time is slowly creeping up on you, you wish you could go back to just playing together when the whole family meets up for lunch on Sundays and during the holidays.

Now that everyone's grown up, you don't get to spend time with each other as much as you would want to, as you all have your own families to take care of. But when you do get to see each other again, these times are a lot more entertaining. My cousin Kenneth just came back from the UK for a short vacation. We met up and caught up with each other over the weekend when they came to our house for lunch. It was total chaos. We then went ahead to enjoy a night of music and the "feel-at-home" outdoor dining experience at The Outpost, along Veterans' Drive in Lahug.

The place is an old house turned resto bar and hang-out place for aspiring rock musicians. The place was pretty packed that night, both indoors (where the main stage was) and outdoors, with a veranda with a couple tables (that we occupied) overseeing the stage only. The bar is also known to support local popular Cebuano bands like Fastpitch and Urbandub. So, if you’re looking for a place to hang out, try the Outpost, for good music, relaxing ambiance and an interesting menu of local drinks and hang-out food (their Pork Sisig is to die for).

Good music and good food shared with good company, I couldn't think of any better way to end my week right. Because you’re more than just friends (you’re blood), the ties that bind you with your cousins are deep. The pride and loyalty you have for your family, fierce. While friends will be there for you when you call, cousins will show up just because there’s food.