Anyway, I've had time to think during the holidays and I've come up with my opening post for the New Year, my Top 10s. This post features the first of three parts.
TOP 10 BLESSINGS OF 2007
1. My daughter is safe. In December, while shopping for my daughter, Marthe's, polka dot dress for her Christmas party, we didn't notice that she had attached herself to a stranger, thinking that the woman was me. I was standing a few feet away from the rest of us, going through a rack of clothes, when I noticed a girl in red walking almost past me. From my peripheral vision, she looked familiar and I glanced up in time to see Marthe holding the wrist of a woman I didn't know. I grabbed her instantly and she was shocked to realize she was holding somebody else's hand. I still get goosebumps whenever I recall the incident, especially when I remember that the woman pretended not to notice Marthe by her side. I think that woman had a plan to lure my daughter away and kidnap her, for whatever reason anyone has to kidnap a child from a poor family like ours. I'm just utterly thankful Marthe was safe and is still safe with us today.
2. Curative surgery. In April, my gynecologist confirmed I had a rapidly growing myoma in the uterine wall and drastic measures had to be done to keep it from growing bigger. She gave me two options: an IUD form of drug that will be injected in the uterus for 2-5 years to reduce the myoma size, or surgery as soon as possible. Both options will prevent me from having our planned second baby. After researching about the drug and the surgery, my husband and I opted to have surgery, as we think this was the more reliable choice. However, we were warned that if the myoma is well-entrenched in the uterus, the doctors may have to remove the entire uterus. I had my surgery in late June, and indeed, it was total hysterectomy (the whole uterus was removed).
Two weeks after the surgery, while I was still grieving from not being able to have another child, the biopsy report on my operation arrived. I had cancer of the uterus in a very early stage. Had I opted for the IUD drug, this would have worsened my cancer. On the other hand, because the uterus was removed, an oncologist declared that my surgery was curative of that kind of cancer. I didn't need to undergo chemotherapy or radiotherapy, but have to watch my diet and go through a series of tests yearly to monitor my health. I am alive and safe.
3. Marthe's good academic standing. My one and only five-year-old started going to Nursery school in June, shortly before my operation. It was quite difficult for her to handle being away from me during the operation while adjusting to her new surroundings in school. But she did well and continues to excel in her studies. She's getting good grades and improving in her interaction with her classmates. She was recommended for acceleration to Junior Preparatory level but she declined because of its morning schedule (she currently has an afternoon class). Still, the recommendation is proof that my daughter is exceling in school, and to any parent, that is more than enough blessing.
4. Stronger relationship with my family. For my family, the year 2007 was characterized by several spontaneous weekend trips to places we haven't been before, such as new malls or locations out-of-town. These trips helped strengthen our bond with each other. Some of the places we hied off to:
- Sta Rosa, Laguna and Tagaytay People's Park in April: My mother's sister purchased a house in Laguna Bel-Air Phase 2 in late 2006 and she invited us to stay in the house even if they're away in Spain. We did this one weekend of April and while staying there, went to Tagaytay's People Park, with its ecotourism trail and hanging bridge, for a quick picnic. You can see the viewdeck from this link http://www.pbase.com/explorer/image/39577410 We also had lunch at the famed public market, where they make special bulalo (beef stew).
- Subic's Ocean Adventure and Zoobic Safari in November: Actually, my mom and I just accompanied Marthe in her field trip. It was some kind of bonding for my mother and me, and also for the three of us (three generations, we call ourselves). The field trip included Ocean Adventure and Zoobic Safari in its itinerary. It was a really educational trip, even for us adults, as we saw the Dolphin and Whale Show, the Sea Lion Show, the aquariums, the bone and egg museum. We were chased by live tigers while riding a screened jeep dangling a live chicken as bait, and saw crocodiles and other reptiles, ostrichs and a community of aetas. It was worth the long trip.
- Trinoma Fireworks Display in December: After Marthe's Christmas party, she was so bored, she wanted to get out of the house and had to "stage" a tantrum at home just to keep us all in rush. We finally left the house late in the afternoon, but not after scolding her. Apparently, Marthe had some kind of premonition, or should I say just stubborness, because it was a perfect day for us to go to the new Trinoma mall in Quezon City. My mom's friend heard that on Saturday and Sunday evenings of December, there are performances in the roofdeck of the mall at about 6pm. We went to the roofdeck garden immediately and saw that they were setting up for a mass because it was the first evening of the 9-day Misa de Gallo novena masses in the Philippines. We ate a little snack in the garden before proceeding to the mass at 6. After the mass, the Philippine Montessori Center Ensemble, a group of 5-6 year olds, performed percussion instruments. They were very good, especially in the anklung, marimba and xylophone. After their performance, the mall launched its fireworks display, which lasted for about 30 minutes. It was a real treat!
- La Mesa Dam Ecopark: After so many attempts in the past, we finally managed to visit the La Mesa Ecopark in Quezon City near the end of December. It was a welcome break from the holiday rush, in both work and social duties.
5. Shers in Spain. My sister was granted her visa by the Spanish Embassy early in May and left for Alicante in mid-June. She stayed at my aunt's house in Javea for a couple of months and transferred to Madrid, where she's now staying with a Spanish family who promised to process her work permit so she can have better employment opportunities in the future. She has also made friends with many Filipinos who are active in church. Her being there is a great blessing to our family.
6. Being assigned to Security Products. Despite what transpired in my workplace this 2007, I feel that I was blessed to have been assigned to the editorial team of Security Products magazine. The former magazine I belonged to, Electronics, has grown in size again over the past few months and the Electronics team is now always swamped with work. I had been very overworked when I was in that magazine, which is something I can't say for SP. My transfer enabled me to have more time with my family.
7. My promotion. In late October, I was promoted to Assistant Production Editor, and was formally tasked to oversee the production of the magazine. I was hired by my company as Senior Copy Editor and had been holding the same position for more than three years. I think my promotion was timely and I believe I deserve it, after all the hardships I've gone through for work all these years -- not to mention the various illnesses I've acquired from simply being stressed.
8. Home-based work with regular salary. The company I work for is strict and seldom diverts from conventions. I was surprised when it allowed me to work from home after my surgery, editing articles and reports for only a few hours each day. Even with a flexible work schedule, I was given my regular salary. I know that the company owes me a lot in a way because I've also been dedicated in my work since I joined. But I think this gesture showed that the company trusts me, trusts that I will do a good job even when they can't see me. If only for that, I am grateful, because I needed the money and I couldn't afford not to earn while recuperating. This is the sad fate of my life but that's okay. It didn't really stop me from enjoying my two-month sick leave anyway. I still had plenty of rest and recreation, for somebody who has had her abdomen cut.
9. Winning the GS' 2007 Christmas party presentation contest. Last year, our department won second place in the 2006 Christmas party presentation, for our spoof of an everyday GS situation: employees hurdling the elevator trip (and all its queer passengers) to get to the office on time. This year, we won first prize for our beautiful chorale rendition of a Christmas medley, set in a small community of typical ordinary Filipinos. I'm actually proud of this presentation, especially since it had been bugged by problems from the very start: our original director backed out because her mother had to be rushed to the hospital and she had to watch over her for at least a week; only one person knew how to play the guitar and he hasn't been practicing for a long time now; most of us know a tune or two but are not really into choral singing; schedules were hectic so we had managed to practice as a complete group only once or twice; nobody was free to take care of props and technical aspects until two days before the contest; and many others. But winning erased all these.
10. My 21-inch flat screen TV. I won a Promac TV in the raffle. Now my portable DVD player -- that I won in the raffle last year -- has a partner. I watched the video of our Christmas party yesterday and I was shocked to see that somebody else had been picked for that prize, but she had gone home already so she forfeited it. My name was picked next, and I was at that time dressing up into my party attire, after our presentation. I didn't know I had to go out to receive the prize but my dance colleague, Gracie, knocked at the door twice to get me out quick. Thank you Gracie!
All in all, 2007 was a good enough year for me. Not great, but good. There had been plenty of trials, problems, fears. But I thank God for all the blessings. He has really been good to me and my family. I'm still surviving because of God. I hope all of you will, too.
Happy New Year again!
