Lola Anita

..or Mama Aning, my Mama's mom, as we most grandchildren call her, is a strong tiny woman who is in her eighties.

Well, strong is really a wrong word to use because she suffered a cardiac arrest right after my father's funeral. She's told by the doctor to slow down after that, and is gradually doing so, against her will.

I hardly talk about this grandmother of mine (unlike my other Grandmother Nanay Toyang--father's side), because our contact is rare and very much in small (well appreciated) doses as we live so far apart from one another. But you know you are loved even the small contact that you have.

Mama Aning was a school teacher during the war and continued to do so until she had her children. She retired in her sixties but i must say, stopping,she has done little so far.

She has a garden which she keeps immaculately, and still cleans her house top to bottom on her own.

If i feel tired or lazy, i always remember this lola of mine and im put to shame. She is always active, and never sits down as she feels tired and unhealthy when she does.


Funny thing about this lola of mine, she is quite strict and a disciplinarian, (old school type and was known in her barrio as "the terror teacher", the kind that will throw erasers at you,LOL, not kidding) and runs a tight house. I would know about the eraser-throwing reputation as one of my cousins who was under her section wasn't spared from the 'mighty' eraser. It was a source of 'fight' between the uncle and my lola. She said, she doesn't do favouritisms in her class, and whether you are the grandchild or not, if you deserved to be put in your place, she will do so, blood relatives be damned.

I agree with the non-favouritism issue, but i dont with the eraser-throwing though (haha). Those were the times when the old corporal punishment was the done (and only) punishment in small town barrio schools.

Strict, terror-teacher reputation aside, I always am inspired by her strength. She got widowed quite young, has 8 chidren, and until now, keeps her children in her bossoms as any mother would.

I always request for my lola to come and be a guest in Cebu whenever im in Cebu. Im hitting two birds with one stone when i do it, as i know, she would be able to see my mama and her other children who now live in Cebu, but she would also see her granddaughter who loves her to enjoy the city life once in a while.


And i also miss being kissed and smothered by a lola, who kisses and smells you at the same time, you know that kind of kiss? Ohh, i love that. And i always make her feel she is adored by me. Always.

She's treated like a VIP guest when shes in Cebu, toured, wined and dined. Something she probably never expected to experience in her lifetime. Oh i love doing that. ( She was so cute, everytime she's in Cebu she lists down all the places and restaurants she's been to so that she could remember the name to tell my uncles and aunties back home,LOL. she's proud of me,what can i say?)

I miss my Lola Anita. I wish and pray she's well and healthy, and taking care of herself.

More than that, i want her to be happy. And i promise, when im home in 2011, she will be there to meet me at the airport.


***

i sleep tonight with a prayer that she is healthy and strong...our Lola's (and Lolo's) are our special angels on earth. they remind us of whats to come and how we treat them, will always be how we will be treated when and if were lucky enough to get to their age.