The Family-I-Came-From is "kalokers" (a term I got from Leela, thanks!)
When my dad just died in the ICU .. my mom was crying like heck...nakakatakot kasi baka sya naman magka heart failure. Dad, Dad! Sabi mo sabay tayo!
Ako: Ma! hindi puede mag pa schedule sa ganyan!
(Achi rolled her eyes at me... siguro wanted to slap me too)
Tapos, a few minutes later, she cries out:
Dad! Antayin mo ako, aayusin ko lang ang mga anak natin (isip ko agad, mga sons mo lang, kami daughters maayos)
Ako: Ma! Sabi mo kanina gusto mo sumabay. Ngayon kelangan mag antay si Dad. Make up your mind!
(Achi moved closer, as if to slap me so I moved away.)
Tapos ewan ko ba. After the cremation, ayaw lumabas ng house for 2 weeks unless she goes to Church. Tapos, goes out shopping na walang kamatayan.
A sister who always goes with her (ako no time, no tiaga) says she buys loads of black clothes.. tops, pants, dresses... etc. Bra ask ko, dami din? Panty na black dami din?
Tapos, when we go abroad.. I went to the US for a week .. buy her daw black clothes. goodness! Sige sabi ko, tutal you will wear black for 10 years. LOL ... dyan thumbs up si Achi. Grabe.
Tapos sabi ni Mother another time: maka 10 years more lang ako, .. eh okay na.
Ako: 10 years? Eh gusto mo na nga sabayan si Dad right there sa ICU tapos ngayon apply ka for 10 years... ano yon US visa?
(Achi rolled her eyes again at me)
Once we all had a Mass and dinner at my house.
Naku, eto si Mother, she has a new additional yaya .. ang main task eh hawakan that bag containing the urn of my Dad.
Ako: hindi ba nahihilo si Dad sa kakalipat lipat mo?
Mom: Ah basta, gusto ko eh. Okay lang yan sa kanya.
Ako: Really? He told you okay lang mahilo sya?
Tapos eto, after the mass, eh di magulo kasi dinner. Kalokers nga kami kaya maingay.
Tapos, linipat ko the urn -- ewan ko who, pinatong sa ibabaw ng baby grand. Kasi linigpit na the consola ginamit for the mass.
Linipat ko doon sa formal dining na consola. Parang hindi nabubulabog kasi kami lahat nasa garden.
Nang oras na umuwi si Mom... naku! panic! asan si Dad! Asan si Dad?!
Sabi ni hubby: Eto pala madaling pagkitahan eh. Kidnapin mo lang si Dad... walang laban, walang pakain, walang escape. Talagang i-ransom ni Mom yan.
Well, hand-over ko naman agad si Dad -- kasi panic na si Mom. The week after, bago na ang yaya holding the urn when she moves it... Sabi ko mabuti pa kabitan mo nang bodyguard yang urn na yan sa kalipat lipat kadala dala mo kung saan saan.
O di ba kalokers kami?