Birthdays, Friends and Whatever Happened to Mr. Bee?

First off, I would just like to say Belated Happy Birthday to my boyfriend's sister, Ate Yna who celebrated her birthday last Saturday, March 15. And to my uncle Tito Dodong, who celebrated it yesterday March 16.

I was fortunate to have celebrated their birthdays with them both of which a day before their actual birthday. Ate Yna and I ate dinner at a local mall but we were suppose to watch a movie that time. Unfortunately, we weren't able to because she had to work overtime at ther job. Tito Dodong celebrated his 80th birthday last Saturday at a hotel penthouse. It's really great. He doesn't look 80 at all. He looks like he's only 50. I really admire that man because he's really a good person. Despite all the hardships and challenges that were given to him, he never cease to smile. You never see him not smile even when his daughter and wife died. He always see the better side of everything. He never seem to judge and always see the good in people. He's a good man and I respect him.

Anyway, for the passed few days I have been trying to get my highschool friends together. Rocky, one of my friends asked for it so I was trying to get them all together. Here's hoping that I can actually get at least 5 of us together on Friday.

Just yesterday, another friend of mine sent me a very disturbing SMS. And honestly speaking, even though it seems that she wanted me to side with her, I would actually side with her mother. This is the gist of the SMS. She just got home from somewhere and she really wasn't feeling well that time. Her sister wanted her to accompany her to a children's party at a neighbors house. She didn't want to because she was tired and wasn't feeling well. Her mother then intervened and asked her to go, even cried to her just so that she would comply. Still, she didn't. This got her mom mad at her. My friend said that it wasn't fair. That her mom was siding with her sister for no apparent reason. She really was upset that night so I just didn't replied to her message. I just let her rant about it.

But honestly speaking, (and I hope my friend doesn't hate me for saying it) I know where her mother was getting at. I understand why her mother was insisting her to come despite her not feeling well and all. And if my friend is reading right now...this is just my point of view. Feel free to call, SMS or even email me to correct me. But this is just how I see it from the SMS she sent me.

Anyway, just keep in mind that as Filipinos, it is important to be very close knit. Family is really a priority to most Filipinos and it really is very painful for a parent when he/she sees that one of their children is slowly moving away...if not physically but emotionally as well.

Here's my two cents worth.

One, our parents have different ways to show us how important we are to them. I guess that was just one way her mother was showing that she loves her. Our parents show their love to us in the weirdest way possible. I guess anger and pleading is one way that her mother was showing how important she is to her.

Two, as I've said before, Filipinos are very close knit. Once, a family member slowly pulls away from the family, parents tend to panic. They are afraid that they don't know their children anymore. It's that fear that drove her mother to insist that she come with her sister to the party. The fact that my friend leaves early in the morning and goes home late at night. And when she goes home, she already goes to bed without even getting dinner. My friend is also very active in different activities. This even takes up her weekends. So rather than spending time with her family, she spends it outside doing her activities. I guess, it's just one way her mom was saying "Give more time to your family."

Family is very important. It should be one's priority. Always remember the saying that "Blood is thicker than water". Friends come and go but your family will always be ther through thick and thin. With all the hardships that you're experiencing, your family is the best source of strenght. It's true that there are some friends you can consider family. I have friends who I can really count on when it really counts but that's only a hand full and you honestly don't know if they do that because they really want to or just for friendship sake. Family will always be there. Don't wait for the time that you would regret not being close with your family. Don't wait until it's too late.

Anyway, if you're wondering whatever happened to Mr. Bee, I never saw him again...I hope... It turns out that he was trying to make a beehive on my chair. Honestly speaking, it would have been okay if he made it at the back of the chair and not in the center where I usually sit.
When he left to get some "supplies" for his hive, I quickly destroyed what he already made and quickly put acohol on my chair. When he returned, he was I think wondering where his hive went and when he tried to make it again, he couldn't go down because the chair was wet with alcohol. But Mr. Bee was smart and he waited for the alcohol to dry and he eventually started to make his hive yet again. This really got me annoyed so armed with my alcohol, I squirted the bee with it. It went wild, and flew towards me and then he left never to return again...I hope.

Still I fear that it will come back with reinforcement. I hope that that would be the last time I would see Mr. Bee. I don't mind having butterflies decorate my monitor once in a while...even dragonflies look cute but please...NO MORE BUMBLE BEES!!!