Goodbye Maita

We were touring the Aquarium Museum yesterday when Cora, one of my closest friends in Chicago, called up. When I heard her voice I felt something wasn't right. First, she never calls me in daytime and weekday. Second, it was not a lively hello. I was hoping she and boyfriend Shawn broke up and nothing else but she never ever cried for such reason in her life. "Hi Cors, what's up?"

I was stunned and speechless for a moment but Cora's sobbing voice is loud and clear to my ears. And honestly, I refused to believe so I asked her again hoping that the noise and the reception just made the breaking news erratic. "Wala na ate ko." And there it was. For the first time in my life I heard Cora cry. I never saw her cry even tears of joy. Cora's surrendering to her helpless emotion is just making me weak thus making me equally vulnerable. I was really really sad for her. She won't be able to make it to her sister's funeral. I don't know how to console my friend.

Flashback: Before my Lolo Dolfo died, he was asking me to visit him before I leave for the US. I was too busy doing our stuffs so I said I can see him anytime. I would even spend a week vacation in their house before I leave. It was New Year time and I was in Mindanao when he passed away. I wasn't there to see him for the last time. I didn't even have the power to get there and say sorry. For an emotional person like me, crying is the easiest way out.

Maita is Cora's only sister. They were the best of friends and for 3 years of not seeing each other phone calls and instant messenger became the best instruments for them to keep in touch with each other. I met Maita once and I could say she is a jolly person but fearless. A quality that I admire to few individuals who have it. She has been around the globe as well working in a prestigious passenger cruise ship in the East Coast. Before she quit her job, she got pregnant and gave birth to a healthy baby boy in the Philippines.

Baby James would never feel the motherly embrace of the one who brought him to the world. But it's not enough reason to pity the poor child. One loss has given him a lot more people to love and take care of him.

I visited the Friendster site of Maita and her shout out is as positive as her outlook in life: "I am grateful that in the springtime of my life there were those who planted flowers of love in my heart instead of thistles."

Maybe then before the start of her open heart surgery, she leave the outcome to the Lord and everyone else in the family were confident that she can make it with God's help but the Lord just can't wait for Maita to join Him. I will always picture the happy face of Maita in this speaking soul:

Go on and close the curtains
cause all we need is candle light
You and me and a bottle of wine
going to hold you tonight
Well we know I'm going away
and how I wish, I wish it weren't so
So take this wine and drink with me
let's delay our misery

Save tonight
and fight the break of dawn
Come tomorrow
tomorrow I'll be gone

Save tonight
and fight the break of dawn
Come tomorrow
tomorrow I'll be gone

There's a log on the fire
and it burns like me for you
Tomorrow comes with one desire
to take me away it's true
It ain't easy to say goodbye
darling please don't start to cry
Cause girl you know I've got to go, oh
Lord I wish it wasn't so

Save tonight
and fight the break of dawn
Come tomorrow
tomorrow I'll be gone

Save tonight
and fight the break of dawn
Come tomorrow
tomorrow I'll be gone

Tomorrow comes to take me away
I wish that I, that I could stay
Girl you know I've got to go, oh
Lord I wish it wasn't so

Save tonight
and fight the break of dawn
Come tomorrow
tomorrow I'll be gone

Save tonight
and fight the break of dawn
Come tomorrow
tomorrow I'll be gone

Save tonight
and fight the break of dawn
Come tomorrow
tomorrow I'll be gone

Save tonight
and fight the break of dawn
Come tomorrow
tomorrow I'll be gone
tomorrow I'll be gone
tomorrow I'll be gone
tomorrow I'll be gone
tomorrow I'll be gone


Take our prayers with you Maita. Coz wherever you are right now sure is a lot more peaceful and happier.