My stay in the Philippines wraps up in a couple of days and I admit to being sad for leaving. This trip has had its ups and downs. For one, my cousin Abby and her family joined us in the Philippines as well as Kate. My family traveled here to celebrate their silver wedding. I had a blast spending all but the last two days with Kate in my neck of the woods in Pampanga. But the thing that saddens me most is how disconnected the family seems.
I see my aunts, uncles and cousins less this time around and I have a strong hunch it has much to do with my Lola’s death from last year. The same thing happened on my mom’s side when my grandparents were murdered in 1996. The family became more detached (family parties didn’t happen so often; attendance was flaky.) I don’t know what it is, exactly. Also, cousins who I used to be extremely close with grew up. We’re not kids anymore and I understand that, but I lived the last decade watching cousins surpass me in maturity and now it’s at the point where some of them are just too cool to do anything or get a single toe out of line.
Aside from that, the ones who are extremely hospitable are as kind as ever and that is why I’m sad to leave. I love the company, my family’s kindness and I loved having Kate with me full-time in the Philippines.