Of Indochina and Household Chores In Bloomers

The marching band.

I have always coveted to be a majorette. Not even a baton leader, but just to be a majorette. I want to wear bloomer shorts under those semi-tutu skirts, dance on the streets with the rhythm played by the little drummer boys. And those high-heeled boots…oh, those high heeled boots!!!

In high school, I have successfully convinced my parents to take me out of the convent and to get me into the public school where the rest of my cousins were - of course, with the ulterior motive to get into the marching band. In the same year, the band was…disbanded! Along with it was my shattered dream of those cute bloomer shorts.

I have to set aside this dream, to make a way for more dreams. Some other dreams whose rhythm plays only in my heart.

Proposed entry: Ho Chi Minh; Proposed Exit: Bangkok

When I received an invitation for WD funded research, hopefully to happen within the second to the last quarter of the year, my heart is exalted. I hope to cross four countries on a backpack. For sure, it is not going to be like the other travels where I base myself in the capital and enjoy the city. It will be more of the countryside, landmines and crossing borders on a bus, hopefully not at gunpoint. I hope that the cease fire between Thailand in Cambodia is now on by that time as the conflict over Preah Vihea is still under negotiation.  I see myself doing an interview with the Cambodian army as well as crossing paths with the Vietnamese soldiers. It will be a great challenge, but an opportunity for me to do the things I love. Who knows, it might get me a Pulitzer or a Nobel?!? Whoah!  Just being ambitious.

I still have the time to think. As I did some, here comes another one of my dreams. To be make my home a source of love, comfort and happiness for my family: to make sure that the kids have their snacks and their homework done when they go to school; to make sure that Ram’s got a hanky in his pocket when he’s at work; and when they come home at the end of the day, I have to make sure that my arms are waiting to give them the tightest embrace.

Before I take upon the destiny of the household chores that I would gladly surrender to, I will have some great experiences to tell my kids. Stories of the goodness of life and strange, beautiful dreams that drive every man, as they too, will begin to take off on their dreams. Wouldn’t it be great to tell them about the Saigon river over a delicious jelly afternoon snack while Daddy’making the dinner steak marinade? (Totyal daw sa mga ‘kano lang bah! Steak a.k.a. sinugba! Hihi.)  Yes indeed, it would be great fun.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that my Indochina research it will come true. I will get a confirmation in six weeks as my entry portfolio is being reviewed. I pray that the Lord will grant me all the desires of my heart. 

For so long, I have whined and fretted. Recently in an experiential conversation with Ram, I have mentioned, “Being a majorette has been my dream. Wala gid ko ya kaagi majorette. Mayo ka pa naka drummer boy!” Quickly he said, “Honey, para lang na ya sa mga gwapa!”

We both laughed, but I had second thoughts wanting to cry kay hambal ya para lang na sa mga gwapa…but then again, I analyzed ‘para lang na sa mga gwapa’.

Therefore, to him, GWAPA-GWAPA GID KO YA!!! ***Bleh!!!

With this, another of my dream is waiting to happen again. To lie in his arms with no bloomers on -  and in three years time, we will be buying our baby girl her own baton.