Yestertuesday, my sister and her daughter arrived from The Land of the Merlion. We haven't seen each other since forever ago when a couple of my siblings and I visited her family there last March. Stoked to be seeing their beautiful faces, I was part of the entourage who volunteered to brave the roads at 4 in the morning to pick them up at the airport. Famous to my family as being a creature of the night (or early morn), when I own the moment, Papa the Rolling Stone tasked me with making like a rooster and waking them all up from their slumber. I do as I am told -- shaking bodies, irritating voice and all, disturbing their peace and depriving them of sleep. They roll out of bed, bleary eyed and throaty voiced as they scramble off to their respective bathrooms hurrying to get ready.
As we leave the house, annoying habits emerge. Nail biting, finger tapping, lip biting, tongue clucking as we anxiously await their arrival. We look at the terminal, not once blinking as we search the near-empty area for a familiar face. Suddenly, my eyes focus on on two lone figures. Their faces are covered half-way by masks -- a must for travelers thanks to the A(H1N1) pandemic. My heart thumps, my breath catches. "They're hereeee!" I scream when I'm sure it's them. As they spot us, a feeling of rightness takes place. Completion. We hug, we kiss, we laugh as all of us try to dim out the sappiness of the moment -- no Pamandanan is sappy. As this is happening, Hugh Grant's speech from Love Actually plays on my mind. Airports truly are one of the happiest places on earth.
We load their luggage and we ride the car, all as if nothing has ever happened. We pick up right where we left off. We stop by a McDonald's, break our fast, and head home. As we arrive, the house becomes alive with laughter and merriment. The dogs are excited, the house help are excited, we're excited.
Our bodies soon feel the fatigue as days of preparation decide to take it's toll. We are lucky, for the visitors feel the need to rest as well -- thanks, red-eye. We wake up, not so long after just closing our eyes. The day awaits!
None of us are that eager to venture outside the confines of our home, but 2 of my sisters and I have been wanting to chop off our hair. Goodbye, long locks. You've been a friend, but the heat is infernal and I need to take refuge where I can.
The evening found us at my Aunt's dining room, shamelessly finishing her grocery stock. We looked at old photos and did more catching up before beautiful dawn called on us and good manners dictated that we allow our Aunt and her family to rest.
On that note, I'm allowing my fingers to rest and will get back to you with more updates on the morrow. DVDs, I hope you're ready to damage my eyes even more.
ALL GOOD THINGS,
Essa
