the calm AFTER the storm

Everything is almost back to "normal" now but my definition of "normal" has changed so I don't know if everythin is back to normal. Yeah, now I'm confused and so are you. Cool.

My tito, tita, and cousin Gino left last night for Cali (that's home for them). The house is quiet, we are less busy, but the house is also less happy because Gino's not around anymore. No one's hiding my celphone each time I leave it on the table (or anywhere else!), we don't constantly go out anymore to different malls to bring my cousin who is the ULITMATE MALLRAT, and I don't eat like a boy anymore like when my cousin was around. Ate also moved out even if her things are still here. She still sleeps over and she'll come back tomorrow with Kuya John until my parents fly back to Brazil via Los Angeles for ten days.

I should be good at goodbyes by now because I've done it countless of times but I guess one will never get the hang of bidding goodbyes especially to people you love. Goodbyes are always sad because the distance is there and the absence is painful when you miss people. But such is my life...distance has made this family closer and even if we're not physically together, the love will always make us FEEL closer than we really are. Besides, if December next year pushes through then it will be just a year apart of not seeing each other.

I owe my Auntie Belle stories and photos of my birthday celebration, ate's bachelorette, ate and kuya john's wedding, and the three day vacation away from the city at Tarawoods. I also owe Ate Anabelle a lengthy email. I feel lazy just thinking of recapping all these activities but I do want to chronicle them for the sake of looking back when I feel like it in the future. I promise I'll blog them...one step at a time. I have tons of photos to share too but I haven't uploaded them yet.

I got tired from all these acitivities but it was worth it because I LOVE MY FAMILY. :) And 2008 is a hell of a year to remember, alright!

Can't Stop Christmas

My father and I email each other regularly. In one of our emails, I mentioned how I don't feel that it's Christmas yet. It's the same over there in Brazil, he said. The common denominator of our sad Christmas feeling is that we're not together as a family for Christmas. They're over there SO FAR FAR FAR AWAY and well, Christmas isn't really "merry" without your loved ones around.

It's a sad Christmas for us but then I remembered Martin Nievera's song, "Can't Stop Christmas", which happens to be my most favorite Christmas song ever because of how realistic the message the lyrics send out. We can't stop Christmas no matter how crappy our situation is. No matter how far away our loved ones are, no matter how many misfortunes have hit us, no matter how sad our dispositions are...WE JUST CAN'T STOP CHRISTMAS.

Like I said before, Christmas isn't entirely about PEOPLE. It's about the birth of Jesus anyway. And wherever we are right now, I think we should be able to make the most out of what we have. In my family's case, we should be thankful that we're together and even if my parents are far away we should be thankful that we're together as a family and that we have a whole lot of love that can be felt even from a million miles away.

It's cheesey but maybe we can have them in our hearts this Christmas and there's the beauty of the internet to share pictures with, chat, or call for long conversations...CHRISTMAS SHOULD BE IN OUR HEART and that's how we're going to spend it. THERE SHOULD BE NO ROOM FOR MELANCHOLY. JUST PURE JOY AND GRATITUDE BECAUSE WE HAVE THE GIFT OF HAVING EACH OTHER AS A FAMILY.

Enjoy the song!


This is my most favorite Christmas song ever.

Note: Papa, this is the song I emailed you about. :)

Can' t Stop the rain from falling
Each time the sky decides to cry
Can't stop the sun form shining
til the day turns into light

All over the world
They try to steal our joy
But our spirit can't be broken
Every man and woman, girl or boy

Refrain:
Can't stop the joy
Can't stop the reason
Christmas lives inside of us
from season to season

Can't stop the pain
of all the hatred in the world
There'll be no hate; no war
In god we'll trust
And peace on earth
Cause you can't stop Christmas....

There's a feeling we share
Didn't know it
it always was there
For united we will stand
Brother to brother hand in hand

With one song, one dream, one prayer
Let your voice be heard
For his blessings surrounds us
All across the world

Refrain:
Can't stop the joy
Can't stop the reason
Christmas lives inside of us
from season to season

Can't stop the pain
of all the hatred in the world
There'll be no hate; no war
In god we'll trust
And peace on earth
Cause you can't stop Christmas....

Bridge:
Reach out for those in need
For the magic of Christmas
Is to give and to believe!

Silver

Happy 25th anniversary, Papa and Mama! We ♥ you very very much! May you have many more anniversaries to come. :D