Gaps, patches and in-betweens

Ilaw just celebrated her birthday and we spent the night at Mae Ngat Dam, about 1hour 30 minutes from CHiang Mai town proper. We swam, did kayak, lazed around, read our books, relaxed, drank (alcohol for me and kigao), we were exhausted when we came back. The day after, we were lazing around a few days before the new year, trying to do our usual movie marathon, when Diru squealed in delight in finding similarity with one of the characters in the movie we were watching: Ilaw! You're 11! She's 11 also!!! I looked at my eldest daughter. No, she can't be 11. We just spent her 9th birthday. At Mae Ngat Dam. She can't be 11. Eleven is the age I had my period. She can't be turning that age. That's not right. Then 7-11, the phrase that makes me cringe but had to bear for easier recall when asked, as the kids started calling themselves, slapped me right back to reality. Gosh. She is 11.

another of Diru's chronicles We went to hospital yesterday to calm Kigao's and our fear of any ailment because he was not feeling very well. But this blog is not about that. To cut the kigao story short, he was pronounced having no problem with his lungs, his heart is healthy - as were the findings a couple of years ago when he had the same symptoms. Anyways, the story is about Diru, our 7-year old daughter... As we walked inside the hospital, Diru and Ilaw looked around and tailed me on my way to register Kigao's name in the roster, while Kigao went straight to get the basic checks. DIRU (falling in step with me): Nanay, do we have to pay? NANAY (a bit distracted): yes, sweetheart. DIRU (Catching my hand): Awww, I wish we don't have to. So we sat down at the waiting area. DIRU: Nanay, (after struggling for quite awhile about what she wants to say, but in a sense this is what she said) when I own a hospital, the people don't have to pay. NANAY and ILAW: (still a bit...