Growing up, my family never went on vacations, in part because we had neither the time nor the means to do so. I was always envious of the family vacations my friends would go on, even the "terrible" ones. As I got older, I promised myself that once I had the means, I'd take my family on a vacation every year because the time and memories we have with one another is both finite and precious. Aside from relaxing and spending time together, one of the other advantages of traveling with one another are the lucid moments when my mom is able to open up about the past. While driving on the dirt road en route to Iwahig Firefly and Mangrove Wildlife Park, mom started to reminisce about her childhood and how she used to catch fireflies as a child. As she started talking about Cambodia again, we somehow wound up on the topic of our time in Chonburi at Phanat Nikhom Refugee Camp. She talked about our journey there, about my sister being kidnapped and held for ransom, and the choice she made to not give either of us up during the journey. I know these topics are painful for her, but these are the moments I cherish, the rare opportunities to see into a painful past that's shrouded by PTSD and because I was too young to remember myself. This is what I'm thankful for this #Thanksgiving. #windowsintothepast (at Philippines)
