*NYU film school, 1995, I was bunking in with friends in midtown manhattan, spent weekends at my sister Amy's home in bronxville and my Mom had just gone back to Manila after a major knee operation. She was in her 70's, I was starting my life as a filmmaker when she wrote me this...
I received your letter a few days ago, and enjoyed every line of it. I thank the Lord for all the graces he has showered, and is showering on you. You are truly blessed by him, and I know you will correspond by pleasing Him in all your actions. I hope and pray that with his guidance, you will make good in all your projects and come home with flying colors to start a more rewarding and peaceful life.
It was a real delight to hear your voices on the phone. Thanks for giving me a real treat and thanks to Cleo for making me laugh a lot. She is such a dear and I can't forget how kind she was to me. (Cleo was my pamangkin's Jamaican nanny). What a pity that Nikki was sleeping at that time. I would have loved to hear her talk. Next time please try to catch me when she is there. (nikki is my youngest pamangkin).
I am very happy to hear that you and Amy are getting along fine, and that she and the kids go with you to church. Thank the Lord and let us pray that she may find comfort and wisdom in his presence. (Amy was my elder sister) God takes care and never abandons those who seek his aid and direction. This I have learned and confirmed from experience. Tell her I also include her in my prayers for peace and tranquility.
I am glad to hear from you how kind and decent your roommates are (even if my sister amy had a house in the suburbs, i stayed in the city. I, however, had to constantly reassure my mom that my roommates were decent) and how you are enjoying your present surroundings and that your health has improved. I praise the Lord. Be specially careful during the coming cold months.
You are lucky indeed because you have the educational, cultural, and health centers so easily available and yet be able to visit Amy within a short train ride.
As for me, I am stronger now and my knees give me no problem at all. I do my morning exercises and take a 20-30 min. walk 4x a week.
But my weight has hardly gone up. I plan to see the doctor abt. this. I eat a lot and yet…Anyway maybe it's better for my knees. Just the same, i'll see a doctor about my weight.
I have called my friends from Ateneo English and History Dept. and told them i'm available for tutoring and translation classes have started today. I hope i shall get favorable results. Do pray for me on this. (in her 70's and just unstoppable).
Tito Ton and Lita left last week for Madrid for Laura's wedding. I am so excited about it, and so is everybody here. The newly weds and their parents will then come to Manila to visit the in-laws.
Mrs. Montano and I talked on the phone recently. (mrs. montano is the mother of DJ my then boyfriend whom I had split up with in order to focus on film school, so you can guess how "uh-oh" I'm getting at this point!) We had a lovely conversation. She is indeed a nice and charming person. Invited me for dinner sometime soon. She sends u her warm regards and praised you so much (whew).
My friend in Madrid and I are still writing each other, altho for some time after my arrival (from New York) I was too lazy to reply (Mama had a thesis partner back in her days at the universidad complutense de madrid, a castilian gentleman named Anghel. They had lost touch after she came back to manila in the 50's. she became too busy being a wife, a mother and a professor at the UP. 30 years after, when she was widowed, they found each other again and started corresponding through mail.) But we are now back to exchanging letters regularly. His letters are such a delight to read and make me happy with his wit and style. I learn a lot from him, plus the fact that I feel I'm appreciated. (in their old age, they found solace and inspiration in each other's letters and planned to meet in Madrid again someday. unfortunately, they were never able to but "the letters suffice" according to Mama).
I wrote Amy to ask if I had some balance from money sent to her for my operation, and to send me the same for the repair of the house. I calculate it will cost me a lot of money for eaves, roof, ceiling, rotten posts, terrace roofing, paining, etc. Please follow this up for me, but in a very nice, discreet way, ha? Do catch her in a nice mood, ha?
We are quite comfortable in the house , Rico, Becky, and Myself. Rico seems happy in his job and becky seems to like the new arrangement. I am quite comfortable with Inday a new maid (The same Inday is the mother of all the wonderful children we take care of to this day).
There - I hope you are satisfied with this rambling letter - you asked for it. Do answer right away, even with a not-so-long letter. I know you are busy. I pray that you be enlightened and guided in all your projects and continue being healthy and happy with those around you.
Love & kisses - God Bless u!
