My sister-in-law is so addicted with accessories specially if these are made of silver or any kind of metal. But she doesn’t like gold because according to her, it’s for the “oldies.” So for my nephew’s baptismal, I gave her and the baby a pair of identical silver necklaces. The pendants are the initial letters of their names – A and J.

In order for me to choose the right design, I had to consider a few things. I don’t want to give anything that I like but the person who is going to receive the gift will not appreciate it. If you know what I mean. First off, we’re of the opposite tastes. I like things simple and feminine while she likes simple but “rock.” LOL.

What I’m trying to say is she’s so youthful. As a matter of fact, she’s the one who introduced me to modern music – the kind that Nikki Minaj, Chris Brown and Karmin sing.

Going back, it wasn’t really hard to choose a piece that will please her. I just had to stay away from stars, hearts, flowers, and anything that spells girl. I got them two thin chain necklaces with 50% discount. It’s so plain. There are no designs except for the pendants. It’s all I can afford but I’m glad that she likes it. She even thought that the pieces are expensive.

If I had extra money, I would have ordered from a tungsten jewelry online store that I saw last month. But you know tungsten. It’s expensive compared to silver plus shipping fees so you can imagine. I bought the necklaces from silver works at a very affordable price.

Summer 1994. Cousins from NJ visited us for a short vacation. It was the first and last time that my siblings and I saw them in person. Their mother, my aunt, always sends pictures to my mother but we never really talked on the phone or exchanged letters. So basically we’re not “close.” When they arrived, I didn’t know how to get along with them and I didn’t even know what to say to them. With their brown hair, hazel eyes, and fair skin complexion, it was easy to tell that they are “imported.” My playmates asked me “pinsan mo yun?” “Yes. But they don’t know Tagalog.”

At the time, I didn’t know how to converse in English. Actually, until now. LOL. Good thing my cousins are not shy. They asked me if I know how to play baseball.  But that sport is not famous in the place where I grew up. Batting Gloves are actually unheard of during those days. At the time, we were addicted to sungka, tsato, and piko.  So my playmates and I taught them how to play the local games. Then after a few days,  it was my cousins’ turn to teach us football and baseball.

One thing I noticed in their family’s “culture” is that they are very expressive people. They are not the type who would suppress their feelings. They cuddle, kiss and say “I love you” all the time. Something that is not common in my own family. For us it’s corny. We don’t even greet our parents happy mother’s day or father’s day. But we do greet them on birthdays and Christmases. Not verbal thou. We prepare greeting cards using coupon bands and crayons.

Looking back, I never had any doubt that there is love within my family. I know my parents love me and my sister and brother. I can’t complain with how we were raised. However, now that I have nephews and a niece, I want to change some things. I’m not the parent but I can be very mahadera at times. I want them to grow up in a home where saying I love you is not corny

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