A Journey Through Life

It has been several days when my Tita Marlene and I talked and still I have not even texted Mama Eva about it. I was so busy with my life here I guess. Or maybe, like before, I was just not interested in going to the States. Moreso, I am enjoying career successes here in my place of work. My new Honda Civic has just arrived and its really cool stuff I have always dreamed of playing with.

From the looks of it, Mama Eva would eventually invite me again to visit her and see the US. I can play the talk in my mind and how I will let her down again because I am simply not into going away from the Philippines. Why should I? I am considered successful here career wise.

But then out of courtesy and respect, I felt the need to comply with her request. So I texted her first this morning and ask her what's the best time to call. She replied immediately and said she is still at work at that time and that I should wait a few hours and she will call me back.

After some hours I decided to call her on the cellphone number she texted me earlier. I did this to show her I can afford an international long distance call. That its not a big deal to me. I also want her to feel that I am capable of spending a few bucks for a call to the US from time to time.

And so she picked up the phone and we talked. We talked a lot about how she wanted to help us get to the states as her primary concern is to bring her older brothers and sistes there (she is the youngest). She said that she is finally set up emotionally and financially to help those who are interested in settling in the States. She sounded so desperate, lonely and longing to do what she always wanted to do - to bring the family to the land of excesses.

The plan is for her to help her nephews and nieces to settle in the US and after some time bring our old folks there so she can mingle with her brothers and sisters that she missed so much. I can't blame her. She is living in the states for 20 years now. She and her family struggled there half of that time until finally getting financially stable this time in their lives.

She have seen what America has to offer to us. She wants only the best for her other family members especially those for her older brothers and sisters who have been away from her that long. She knows they are aging and soon death will knock upon each others doors. Before that happens, she wants to give them back what she has not given them for the longest time - the help they deserve from a sister in the US.

And so she went on saying that she contacted me first because she felt that amongst her nephews and nieces, I am the most qualified to come in and start the exodus. I was on top of her list and I was elated to hear that.

And so as always, I made it sound that I am a bit hesitant to even dream of going there. We discussed (and argued sometimes) for a while on my status here in Manila, my work, my life and my family. In short, I was saying to her I am not really interested to live and work in the US as I am happy to live here.

But she made a counter offer I cannot refuse. She promised me that if I would only give her a chance, she will pay for the cost of my travel and accommodation. It was like winning a major prize here in a Manila - an all expense-paid trip to the US!

Amazing! How can I resist that? Or should I?

To be continued...