Family Stuff « Kutitots

Family Stuff

My husband, the birthday boy

13 December 2006 • 8 Comments

Marc, my ~~fiancé~~ husband, turned 26 today. He’s a 26-year-old angel, you know. Well, sometimes he’s not-so-angelic, but regardless of which, I can still be more evil than he is. I guess that’s why we work so well together—we’re total opposites.

I’m not much of a superstitious person, but the circumstances on how Marc and I met were a bit strange. This sounds really cheesy, but really, for some reason I feel that it was meant to be (geez, just a bit more cheesiness and I’ll be turning this blog into one of those omigod-he’s-so-cute pinky dear-diary blogs).

Seriously though, if you’ve already met me and Marc at the same time, you’d see the difference. You’d probably hear me talking the entire time you’ve been drinking your coffee, but you’d be lucky to hear more than 5-minutes’ worth of talking from Marc. Probably even less than five minutes.

I’ve heard some friends telling me that we usually end up with somebody who somehow reminds us of our parents. It’s a psychological thing—I don’t really know how to explain it, I’m not a psychologist, after all. Marc is a bit like my dad in some ways.

Both are incredibly patient, and shy. Dad wasn’t much of a talker either, well, not until my mom had the stroke at least. My mom usually did the talking, and it was only recently did he become the one who talked because Mommy couldn’t. They were both scrawny when they got married (Dad only put on weight when he got older), and both of them married bitches haha. Dad and Marc also make me feel safe and protected. But regardless of all these similarities, they’re still different. Dad is Dad, Marc is Marc. And I love them both. In different ways, yes, but I do love them both.

Before we got married, I endured major teasing from my friends: “sigurado ka na ba dyan? (are you sure about him?).” There was also one person who has tried to make us doubt each other, but we just laughed it off. The idea of one of us messing with the other because of money was just ludicrous (don’t ask me where this guy got his insane ideas, but hey, we have to accept the fact that there are a lot of crazy people in the world running amok like a chicken with its head cut loose). Marc is kind, but he’s not a fool.

We’ve gone through a lot together already, there were even some things that don’t normally happen to most people but did to us. Those people and circumstances only brought the two of us closer to one another. I know we’ll be “stuck” to each other for the rest of our days, but contrary to bitter people’s belief, we’re both happily looking forward to this lifetime together.

I thank God for giving me Marc. Happy Birthday honey dears! :D

Contemplating on “What If’s”

10 December 2006 • 2 Comments

Family Stuff

I think you’ll agree with me when I say that each and every one of us has contemplated on what could have happened if things were different. It’s fun to daydream, but sometimes we daydream about stuff that are more serious and emotional than unrequited puppy love or material things.

I thought about the “What If’s” a lot every since Mama Nena, my grandma, passed away. It’s been more than three years already since her death, and yet, I still do till now.

Things would have been very different if my grandma was alive and well today—if she hadn’t had Alzheimer’s, she would have lived longer. If she was alive, she would have help my family financially with Joyce’s and my Mom’s treatments. She would have insisted on me having a grand wedding and paid for all expenses. She would have bragged about me to all her friends and relatives for the things I have accomplished. She would have loved meeting Marc and talking to him about me as an unruly kid. She would have been there smiling proudly when I took my vows last November 25.

I can think of dozens more things of what could have been, and yet, would never be.

The day after my wedding, Marc, my immediate family, and my mom’s brothers with their spouses went to the cemetery to accompany me while I offered my bridal bouquet to Mama Nena. My sister Joyce left her bouquet for Uncle Joe (who was my favorite uncle). Aunt Bubut led us all in a short series of Hail Mary’s and Glory Be’s, but before we left, we took a few minutes to say our own silent prayers.

I had prayed that Mama Nena and Uncle Joe have been there in spirit during my wedding, and that they saw I married a good man so they need not worry about me anymore. I thanked them for all that they have done for me. I had prayed that they rest in peace, and be happy wherever they were.

It was after that I said this silent prayer I felt an unexpected closure within me. It’s difficult to explain, but for some reason I no longer felt the need to daydream of what could have been if they were alive and well today. That cloudy Sunday afternoon somehow liberated me and gave me the strength to finally move on, and begin this new and exciting chapter of my life: my life with Marc.

I will always remember Mama Nena and Ninong Joe.

Me, a home-maker?

5 December 2006 • 5 Comments

Family Stuff

If my college friends heard you saying “home-maker” and “Gail” in the same sentence, they’d probably think you’re nuts. But lo and behold, these guys were the first ones to bear witness to my home-making.

One of my best friends in college, Rahul, went back to the Philippines for a week just to attend my wedding. He left to migrate to the United States a few months after graduation, so I never really expected he’d be there when I took my vows. You can imagine how shocked and pleased I was to see him (even Marc was so surprised to see him at the Church). Since it’s really rare for me and my friends to be together in one place like that, we made the most out of Rahul’s visit as soon as Marc and I got back from Hongkong.

My friends were the “first visitors” of our new home. But since they went to visit us the day after we got back, what they saw was a mess of a house. To be honest, it looked more like a storage facility than a home (yeah, that’s why I don’t want to post pics yet). So there. We had our first ever drinking session in our new home over boxes of electric fans and microwave ovens (not to mention atop of the eight rice cookers we received). And since Marc and I are such generous hosts, we bought my friends beer and sunflower seeds (Rahul treated us all to dinner in Eastwood City) for our little bonding session that lasted till 2am.

They were very amused to see me opening boxes of plates and glasses, and preparing stuff for them. Leng even commented that this was the last thing she thought she’d see: me getting excited opening boxes of kitchenware. It wasn’t what they were used to, that’s for sure. They won’t be surprised to see me go gaga over a new stick of 1GB RAM (they’ve already learned to accept the fact that computer parts will excite me more than a dozen of roses and a box of chocolates will), but kitchenware? It was simply… unusual.

To be honest, I’m also still finding it hard to believe that I’m now a wife. Checking my email used to be the first thing I did in the morning (I only brushed my teeth after I’ve gone through my emails hehe), but now, it’s different. Aside from having to brush my teeth first (it’s disgusting to kiss your husband good morning with a dragon-breath, you know), I now have to do some household chores first before I get to open my inbox.

Yesterday, I made my version of Connie’s Baked Creamy Chicken and Potatoes. Which, to my surprise, was a hit with my sister and Marc. Just this morning, I cooked rice, did some laundry, and marinated the beef we’ll be having for lunch. And now, as I write this entry, I still marvel at the thought that I actually did those things first before sitting in front of my pc.

I don’t know how long before I could really get used to this whole idea of “wife-hood” (it’s such a new thing for me that I even added a new post category called “wife-hood”). I guess I’ve just been so used to being a daughter with parents who run the household that the idea of me running my own household is still a bit strange.

Though there are still some things that remain the same (I still jump up and down on the bed when I desperately want to wake someone up—annoys the heck out of Marc), the thought that I’m now in a new chapter of my life is beginning to sink in. I’m also starting to realize and understand what it meant when people say “marriage will change your life.” Because in a short span of a week, it already has.

Back from my honeymoon :)

1 December 2006 • 16 Comments

Family Stuff

I’m now writing this post as Mrs. Gail Dela Cruz-Villanueva. It’s still kind of strange saying that, but I’ll get used to it :)

Marc and I have just gotten back from our honeymoon in Hongkong. The first piece of news we heard was of a typhoon coming. Call me selfish, but really, it’s a weird sort of blessing. I’ve been planning to get back to work as early as tomorrow (just thinking about all the work I have to do makes me want to go back to Hongkong!), but if this coming typhoon really is stronger than Milenyo, I’m not sure if that’s even possible. I’ll try anyway—at least until before the electricity shuts down again.

I have a lot of photos and stories to tell about our trip to Hongkong, but I’m just so tired now. The plane that took us back here in Manila was just a small airbus—the experience was far from pleasant. The turbulence made me feel like I was inside a blender (I’m exaggerating, but really, the turbulence made Marc and me extremely dizzy). I’m probably more tired now than I did when we got back to our hotel in Kowloon from Ocean Park.

Anyway, I got the CDs containing the photos from our wedding. Fast huh? Well, that’s the best thing about having a photographer for a dad—his photographer friends gave me the photo and video coverage of our wedding as their gift.

Sneak peek!

We’ve got a LOT of wedding photos (I actually felt like a star being chased by paparazzis hehehe), and I’m still choosing the best ones to upload. But for now, I’m going to take a rest. I’m just so tired!

Enjoy an alternative to a hotel in Hong Kong and stay in time shares! Enjoy the city with your family in a newly purchased RCI time share. Check out some popular areas and their time share rules. Whether you are looking to stay the summer or just explore for a week, time shares for sale are what you are looking for. Read up on how time shares work before you make your purchase!

An open letter to my favorite grandma

25 November 2006 • 5 Comments

Family Stuff

Dear Mama Nena,

How are you? I really miss you. Even though it’s been more than three years already since you left us, I still wish you’re here. I know you’ve already moved on to a better place with Ninong Joe, but I can’t help it. You were like a second mother to me. You were my mother when Mommy wasn’t around. I’m probably the most attached to you than any of my cousins—probably because you did show everyone that I was your favorite.

I wish more than anything that you could join the family when I get married this afternoon to the kindest man I’ve ever met, Marc.

We’ll be getting married in the Church where you used to take me every Sunday for mass. We tell people that the reason we chose it is because their fees are cheap, but that’s not the whole truth. I chose that Church so it will be easy for you to find. I really wish you could be there, Mama. I hope you and Ninong Joe can find time to drop by, even just for a few minutes. I won’t be able to see you, but I’m pretty sure that I’ll feel your presence.

You’ve already met Marc, but you were stricken with Alzheimer’s at that time. He’s a good man, Marc is. And I’m sure that if you weren’t sick at that time, you would have loved him too. Since you’re now watching over us, you can see why I love Marc so much that I decided to spend the rest of my life with him. You know more than anybody how difficult I can be at times, but Marc is able to handle them well and take my tantrums in stride. He’s very patient just like you, Mama.

Marc and I love each other more than life itself, Mama. You don’t need to be worried about me anymore. Marc will take care of me the same way Lolo Julie took care of you.

When I walk down the aisle later, I will be thinking of you and Ninong Joe—wishing more than anything that I could have one last hug from you (the hug that had always made me feel that nothing in the world could harm me) before I take my vows.

I love you, Mama Nena.

Gail.