I miss...

ORMOC.


I miss everything Ormoc.


I always said I'd live and die in Ormoc. I've always loved Ormoc, wholeheartedly. Even when I went to college in Cebu, I always knew I'd go back to Ormoc after, settle there and all. Alas, God had different plans for me. I know life's turned out better - because I know the life I am now living (and enjoying!) is what He thinks is best for me  and my loved ones.


But still...


I miss everything (and everyone!) in Ormoc.


I miss...


HOME. Everything in it, everyone in it. From my parents and siblings, to the household help, to the dogs, turkeys, roosters (believe me, I miss most the yabag tugtuga-ok of the roosters at 5 am!). I miss the sight of Poppy in prayer early in the mornings, having coffee with him; I miss Mommy's automatic early morning "Noy Kayooooo!" I miss my brother's stories, my little sister's endless questions, my other sisters' newest adventures! I miss Nang Boning's cooking; the ease with which I could just ask our reliable secretary, Lerma, to do groceries or buy a particular medicine. 


FOOD. No matter how Filipino food here in the US has become more accessible than in yesteryears, it still does not compare to how food is at "home". Somehow, Filipino dish here has a tad bit of an American touch, it just doesn't taste like "home". It's just not as good as our home-cooked meals. I miss Nang Inday's fried chicken, dinuguan, crabs, shrimps and pork barbecue. I miss Pardis' fried chicken skin and chicken barbecue. I miss Nang Boning's pork steak. I miss my mother's food inventions. She's not good at cooking, but she's definitely the best in inventing and instructing Nang Boning how to cook them! Moreover, I miss my cousin Tina's chocolate fudge (I now live in the US of A, seemingly the home of all sorts of desserts and goodies - you name it, they've got it; but none has compared to her goodies!). Best of all, I miss everything Mayong's. I've tasted practically every burger this country has to offer, but still nothing lives up to THE Mayong's cheeseburger!


MORE FAMILY. I'm a family person; I adore my family so much! The past year (or so) I feel I've been "deprived" of them. Don't get me wrong, I have family here. My husband and Leila are my family. My husband's family is here, too. They are my family. My sister and her hubby are also here. They are family. Some relatives - aunts, uncles, cousins - are here. They're family, too. But I miss the whole Rodriguez and Tan kaboodle. I miss the familiar "chaos" when everybody's around. I miss every conversation, every laughter, every story we all share when we get together. 


FRIENDS. I miss my friends/cousins. I miss my girls - I miss having them around when I need to de-stress or just rant about a bad day. I miss having them to share a good, big, delicious meal with. I miss how I can talk to them about anything and everything. I've made a lot of friends here the past year, most of them Asians, as well; well, Vietnamese at that! They're fun and we get to talk about anything and everything, too. But because we've just met over a year ago, the whole feeling of familiarity just isn't there yet or as much as I already share with old friends. Nonetheless, I feel blessed, as it is.


LINGKOD. I miss the community and all the brothers and sisters. I miss serving God through the community. I miss all the activities. I miss praying and worshipping God with the whole community. I miss the talks, retreats, workshops, everything community-related. It's just so different here. The closest I got to being involved with community was joining an old group (literally, OLD) for Wednesday novenas (while I was pregnant). Having Leila has become a handful, I don't ever go out of the house without her. It's not an excuse, it's reality for me now. 


However, by God's grace, I have about 58 days left to "miss" Ormoc because yes, I will see and experience Ormoc (everything and everyone in it) SOON. GOD WILLING!