stateside retreat - part five

this is the last installment (finally) of my series of stories about my US trip.  this may be longer than usual, since it covers three days, including my trip and arrival back home.  as always, i do hope you enjoy reading it as much as i enjoy telling it. 

november 22-24, 2007 - thursday to saturday - "mixed emotions" - these three days felt like one big, long day for me.  i woke up early since we're supposed to attend thanksgiving mass at 9AM.  one thing that was constant in my head was that i was already leaving that night.  i don't know if i was excited, apprehensive, sad, or whatever.  subconsciously, my six-day vacation changed some things in me.  i didn't know how or why, but it was the first time i felt strange in such a long, long time.  i immediately took a shower upon getting up and i can already smell the turkey from the kitchen being cooked for tonight's celebration.  we had a light breakfast before heading off to church.  it was way colder than usual, as i shivered upon getting off the car and walking towards the church entrance.  we had brought some canned goods to be offered as per instructions by the priest this past sunday during mass.  when the mass started, the church was fully packed with people.  again, it was very solemn and meaningful, and i felt moved by the event.  after the mass, everybody was greeting each other "happy thanksgiving" so i naturally got caught up in the emotion and joined in.  hugs and handshakes were all around outside the church grounds even with the very cold temperature as both friend and stranger greeted each other on their way to their separate destinations.

thanksgiving holiday in the US is compared to holy week in the philippines where virtually everything shuts down.  very, very few cars were on the road and what i was used to seeing during the last couple of days was way different from today.  good thing denny's was open so we decided to have brunch there since we'll be busy preparing for tonight and not have time for lunch.  i got the breakfast platter consisting of scrambled eggs, bacon, two kinds of sausage, and muffins.  we went over the plans for tonight since the thanksgiving celebration will be held at one of my cousins' house in vacaville.  the plan was to be there by 6pm and have dinner at 7pm, then leave at around 9:30pm for the airport for my flight scheduled at 12:15am.  we got back home just before noon and my aunt immediately continued to work on the turkey, my mom with the fruit salad, while i went over my things one last time to check if everything is in place and ready to go.  my mom would occasionally help me with my stuff, especially with the handcarry luggage i'll be bringing, carefully deciding which items would be included so as not to look bulky.  princess dropped by (much to my forbidden delight) to see her aunt and get some stuff to bring to the party.  she was still unsure if she will make it on time for dinner, but will definitely follow.  she went over to me and gave me a tight hug, pecked a kiss on my cheek (incresing forbidden delight!) and wished me a safe trip back home right there and then, just in case she won't make it in time for me to still be at the party.  i reciprocated the act and said "thank you and i still hope to see you later at the party,"  to which she replied, "yeah, i hope i make it" and then left.  at least i got to say goodbye to her and froze that hug and kiss in my head while i watched tv, with all my things done.

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