First: I had a very successful closed-retreat ( hey I am Catholic you know!) for seven undisturbed, no-internet access, no cellular phone signals, days at a retreat house which they called "ridgehouse". The experience was just awesome and i had no regrets having joined the "group retreatants".
Second: I had a wonderful experience with a non-stop 6-day snowstorm at the retreat house leaving the whole surroundings completely covered up with a 4-feet snow.
Third: I got my much-needed respite and rest which i just really needed before i embarked on another journey of my life.
HOWEVER....HOWEVER...HOWEVER.
ON THE LAST DAY OF MY RETREAT (Friday night USA time) , I received a very bad text message from my elder sister salome telling me about an accident that happened to our mother.
The message was clear to me: "dinala namin si inay sa St John hospital. nadapa sa sahig, at nabagok ulo sa tiled floor at nahimatay. Sinabi sa akin ni Dr Semanya na nabali ang pelvic bone ni inay dahil sa pagkakadapa kaya kinakailangan na operahin ito". end of text message.
The message gave me so much anxiety- I decided to make an overseas call right then and there to my sister Salome (it was 11Am Phil time then), and luckily get myself connected after a series of repetitive dialing.
I clarified the matter and this was what i got from Salome.
Inay is in a critical condition as the doctor found out that her chest (lungs) had some problems) - i remember it right that in 1990's she got a pulmonary TB and that I had to attend to her medications for 10 long years-.
I really don't know if the P-TB is recurring to her now.
I made a quick decision: I AM GOING BACK HOME ASAP.
I told Salome about my plan. I told my boss in New Mexico this morning through a phone conversation (please let it be known that i am in Pennsylvania right now- a 7-hour flight to New Mexico) about what happened and the need for me to go home ASAP.
Xtian, approved of it so now, i am fixing my flight to Manila. I have just sent my email to Andrei- the manager of a Travel and tours company which is based in Sta Fe New Mexico (it's the travel company that takes care of all flight bookings of the guys who belong to my work-community and etc)to do the necessary flight itinerary for me. The plan is for me to stay for at least 25 days as specified in the company policy for leave and vacations with pay or whatnot, so I am to go back after the 25th day inclusive of my round-trip travel time.
But i really don't know what is gonna happen to such schedule as i still do not know what is gonna transpire with me and with my mother after this accident.
my mother is 96 yrs old and if the doctor advises us to take the risk of a major surgery despite her age and condition, then it is goin to be up to all of us: the children to bear the brunt of what might happen. All is a risk. All is to be accounted within the decision and consensus of my mother's children.
I actually emailed the manager of the travel agency that the earliest i can take up to leave where i am now and to be able to free myself from the responsibilities up here, that includes my packing-up with my luggages, is a Wednesday!
Let me see what the travel agency manager can do for me....
So, friends--that's what i can tell you about the latest in me.....
Just stand by for more updates..
Can i just ask you a favor?
Can you say a little prayer for my mother, who is in a critical condition right now because of the bad fall!--and also: i need your prayers for me so i stay focused despite these eventualities?
Thanks. I certainly would appreciate it.
No photos this time- all of my photos are still in my memory card intact and has not yet been uploaded in my notebook.
Later my friends!
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