Alone today, the semester starts the day after tomorrow. Woke up earlier, Lauren, John, Dominic and Mike were leaving for Cedar Point. Cedar Point, is a park in Ohio; about 2 1/2 hours from metro-Detroit with lots of rides. Lauren loves rides, so does Dominic. Lauren was in the 9th grade, the last time I was in Cedar Point. I drove Lauren and a group of her friends there. I went to Cedar Point a lot more when my children were young.
I was going to go and take Manny with me but changed my mind. Manny is a bit small and there will be no one to take him on the rides. A lot of the rides have height and weight requirements. I don't like rides. Rides make me dizzy and sick - literally throwing up sick. I remember Tia Geline taking me to a carnival in Cebu City - the merry go round made me sick.
Anyway, it is a family day for Dominic. His birthday had been celebrated since last Sunday - on Friday, there was a birthday party at his Grandma Barb's and Grandpa Marty's house with John's family.
Yesterday - his actual birthday, September 1, I took him to Burger King for lunch. We told some birthday stories, like how we were all at the hospital, at the birthing room when he was born - Leto, Rosanne, Donna and I, that is. Donna is the first family member to hold him. Dominic is 12 years old now.
I gave Dominic his first copy of "War and Peace" for his birthday. Paperback with a promise of a hardcover if he finishes the paperback one. I was about his age when I started reading "Anna Karenina" from the old Northern High School library - I was 12 years old just finishing my junior year in high school. I remember talking to Noe Sy about Tolstoy.
Before I knew it, I was reading "War and Peace" right after that. I can't remember where I got the book. Lola used to get so angry that I read so much - she said I was very much like my mother - I guess Mom read a lot, too !!! Of course, that is according to Ms. Branzuela and Mr. Belarmino.
Yesterday afternoon, Dominic's Grandma Del had a barbecue birthday party for him at her house with Mike's family. He is a very lucky boy.
I did not meet my father until I was 13 years old.
Today, he is with his immediate blended family. Mike was a bit late, he lives across town - not quiet as far as Donna's but far enough.
We have come a long way, I still vividly remember the spankings and "Luhod sa Bugas"-
whenever Lola and Tia got wind that I had contact with any of the Rojos.
Go figure??? Catmon is a very small town - there was no way to escape contact with the Rojos, let alone hide the contacts. The gossip mill was faster than electronic e-mail, then!
I have to admit that I went out of my way to seek a relationship and connection with my father's side of the family, no matter what happened to me in process. I understand now, that it is a very natural process in human development.
Leto has Manny with him every other weekend and when he is off school or work in between. He pays his child support and carries other parts of the parenting burden. It is sometimes difficult for him - Manny lives with his mother, stepfather and siblings in Detroit and Leto lives in Ann Arbor.
I spoke to Rosanne today - just got back from church with her two boys Zachary and August (Zach and Gus). And during school holidays and summers, Creek's daughter Jasmine lives with them in Mobile, Alabama. Jasmine lives with her mother in Atlanta, Georgia.
Zachary is being home schooled. He is a very smart boy - can read and write well for a 5 year old. Rosanne is trying to save him from kindergarten boredom.
It looks like Gus may need another surgery on his tibia - I feel so bad for him. He was born with club feet. He has had to go through so many surgeries on his feet and ankles. He continues to wear braces but is walking fine according to Ro.
This is how my branch of the family is defined at the moment. Who knows what the future holds for families these days?
