A WALK AT THE DIKE AND SENTI THOUGHTS ON FAMILY TIES
12-13 April 2008 — We slept over my Mom’s place in the province Saturday night. It was a sleepover unplanned because we’re only supposed to fetch Nico who spent almost a week at his Lola Mommy’s. But chitchatting and eating out with family members and playing with the kids went far too long and enjoyable (like there’s no tomorrow) 
that we decided to stay for the rest of the night.
The following day, my brother invited us to join them in an early morning walk at the dike at Tanay, Rizal. They regularly do the early morning walk at the dike every Sundays with my four-month old niece in tow. It’s been ages since I last saw the dike while Hubby and Nico haven’t been there, so off we went for a leisurely walk.
The dike, except for some little improvements in infrastructure, barely changed. Since I last stepped foot on the place years ago, it still remains to be a favorite venue of families especially those with little kids and babies. It’s a belief by Tanayan folks that early morning breeze and basks of sunlight near the lake are good for babies’ and little kids’ health. My niece was no exception.
The breathtaking view of the lake and the glorious clouds alight in the golden hue of sunrise, little by little, they perked the wee bit sentimental in me to look back and reminisce how life was so simple then. I suddenly remember what Erma Bombeck, a woman journalist whose famous in writing humorous housekeeping columns, said about a family—
The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another’s desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together.
We were exactly like the quote above years ago, until we have our own families to keep. Sigh. Geez, here I go again, me and my sentimyento de potpot on the joys and pains of living alone. Can’t help but think about it even if it’s a concern resolved for so many years already. You know, a thought that sometimes… I’d just wish my original family is just a door knock away where there’s a Dad to consult with, a Mom to comfort me, or simply have my brothers and sister to hang out with. But reality says it can’t be so. And besides, Hubby and I love the independence that we have. 
Okay, end of sentiment. Photos to keep of that impromptu weekend in my hometown
10 responses so far
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Ganda ng photos mo!!! Where is that? My best word..idyllic
Anong isda (the red one) yun? HUGE!! Sarap sigurong isigang yan.
Psst…Little girl…penge ng arroz caldo..hehehe
Konkong622’s last blog post..I Am So Back!!
thanks Cookie.
sa Tanay Rizal yan, sa Dike.
re: name nung fish—eh di ko rin alam eh, pero parang big head yata tawag dyan, I think.
hahaha, takaw ng niece ko noh. at si Nico naman, parang walang ganang kumain that time.
sarap ng buhay probinsya no.. family ties.. na-senti din tuloy ako.. there was one time, frenchguy asked me if anybody in my family would like to come over, to have the life im living here.. and i looked at him, teary-eyed and told him that at that very moment, everybody in the family’s home because it was the bday of my mom.. and i was alone here.. but that was pre-louna.. now, my family is here and i feel complete..
analyse’s last blog post..Dalaga Ako Ngayon
hi Analyse. one thing I that makes me miss buhay probinsya–lahat ng bagay simple, malumanay, tahimik at syempre nakaka miss ang company ng buong pamilya.
na senti naman din ako sa kwento mo. good thing you already have your Frenchguy and Louna there. and with the coming of a Little Bundle of Joy in a few more months, for sure, you’re family’s completely happier than ever.
Thank you for sharing these lovely photos. They sky is so vividly blue. The spiral stairs must be quite a climb.
I understand how difficult it is when you’re away from family. I constantly miss my family in the States. I’m happy this summer because my brother went home for a vacation. He brought along my SIL whom I met for the first time. They will go back to the States on Monday then after two weeks, my parents will be coming home to have a vacation. Sana parating may opportunity na ganito.
Rach (Heart of Rachel)’s last blog post..Photo Hunt :: Thirteen
Hi Rach! and thanks for those complements in the photos. I myself was in awe how the photos turned out! we were blessed with a very good weather that day.
so sorry to hear about your family physically far away from you. it must have been difficult for you for quite sometime. but then again, it’s a good thing you get to communicate with them constantly and may bonus pa because they get to visit you this summer.
Wow! Breathtaking photos, can’t choose which one’s my fave! Thanks for sharing!
miss ko na ang mangga!!!!!!!!!!!
GreyMom’s last blog post..Spring Projects Galore
thanks Greymom. you don’t know how much thrilled I am to know the complements you have for the photos. ahem, pwede na bang photographer?
manga? dami ngayon, kasi summer!!!
Feng, how can we go there? Pano ang way? Gusto ko yata dyan.
Ganda ng mga photos mo, ang linaw lahat.
julie’s last blog post..Litratong Pinoy: Pahaba
hi Teacher Julie! the usual way going to Tanay. take the Antipolo route, you’ll pass Teresa, then Morong, then Baras. upon reaching Tanay proper, turn to JP Rizal, then yun na, malapit na kayo sa Dike. heehee, gulo ba ng instructions? basta, pagdating nyo ng Tanay, tanong nyo lang kung saan ang Dike, they’ll show you the way.