Christmas is everyone's party season, it's true since the reason we celebrate it is cause for much rejoicing. :D and i love Christmas, who doesn't? Our family (on my dad's side), well we're a fun bunch. We're quite good at celebrating Christmas, our noche buena lasts 'til dawn and our laughter, never ending! Christmas is our party season where we all get to see each other again and rejoice together for Christ is born.
But this year, our noche buena was far from our traditional party. On the 24th, we had a little get together in the St. Lukes because our dear lola was confined there. We brought food and we did a little something that made Christmas meaningful for all of us, each family (went in the room by batch) and greeted lola a merry Christmas and thanked her for everything that she had done. She couldn't respond, she was already in a coma by then but we knew she could hear us. A little before 12 most of us went home and had our mini traditional thing. When we were relaxed enough to party a bit, drink a bit and sing a bit, our tita called from the hospital informing us that lola passed away. That was 2:30 in the morning of Christmas day. A lot of us rushed to the hospital, and well by 5 in the morning of the 25th some of us were in Loyola Memorial Chapel. We picked the clothes, picked the casket and picked the chapel. After a very long sleepless christmas eve, by 11:30am everything was fixed.
If you think about it, it's a morbid heart-breaking experience. But it was probably one of the best Christmas celebrations of lola. She is no longer stuck on any hospital equipment, she can now rest in eternal peace and quiet, she went on to a better place, to a greater place. She went to reunion with God and with loved ones like lolo and tito art who have gone ahead. And here on earth, she has received much love and heard everything she needed to hear from all of us.
I just arrived a few minutes ago from Loyola, where lola's wake is being held. And Christmas day has just ended. But my beloved lola's life will always be with us, it is a memory we all will deeply treasure. She is the glue that binds our whole family tight. I thank her for exemplifying unconditional love for all of us, we were all favorites and she will always be our number one. And every Christmas, we know that we'll still have to celebrate together, 'cause that's what she wanted. Christmas is indeed a reunion, a time of rejoicing and thanking God not only for Jesus being born but for giving us people we will always be grateful for.
Beyond tears right now i still am happy, 'cause I was blessed enough to be close to a great person. Thank you lola. I love you very much. Merry Christmas.
