IGME Files

   Mama, my mother, prefigures
in my life more than anyone I can think of. 
We are in a love-hate
relationship thing, she and I being both under the sign of Scorpio –
an exciting combination of ego-complementing-ego-fighting in the
household. Mostly the latter.  I terribly miss her lang siguro,
she’s in Tagaytay for yet another seminar I guess.  My mom is turning
59 this year and she’s the most active and workaholic person I know.  A
major chunk of her work at the Bureau of Alternative Learning System at
Department of Education (DepEd) requires travelling, and more
travelling.  She has been from the northernmost tip to the southernmost
end of the Philippines, from Aparri to Tawi-tawi.  I am waiting for the
day when she gets promoted as Chief of the department, a position she
so rightfully-deserved for her more than 30 years of service. 

     Anyway, an epiphany about Mama happened
of all places — in Disneyland, Anaheim.  I was with my Mama and Papa,
my first in Disneyland; and they, their second time.  The Mama I
saw in Disneyland was different from what I saw at the house who’s
domineering, strong-willed, provider, and all the strong qualities I
have of her.  In Disneyland, she was the trouper.  She and I
easily bonded and rode the rides together, unwittingly leaving Papa on
some rides.  The first ride we rode was "Grizzly River Run," the the
lame circling, rising and falling motions, soaked-wet.  Piece of cake
for me.    Our second ride (with Papa) was the favorite of Mama.  It’s
called "Soaring Over California."   You’re waist-strapped on a board
and you’ll be soared over a moving screen of images.  The illusion was
as if you feel you’re flying so fast over a vast of images.  It’s great
though. 

     I was beginning to get sweaty palms because I
know we would encounter gravity-defying rides after.  I have fear of
heights. That meant facing that fear head-on sooner than expected.  But
that vanished when Mama did
want to take the rides again (where she took the rides 3 months ago),
and with me.  In making the decision whether to ride or not, you don’t
even have time to tinker about it.  When your companion wants to, you
are forced to join the fun, else you’ll be left behind.  So, I
"enthusiastically" joined her in that ONE, BIG Freefall Drop, where I
felt my insides were turned over suddenly. 

     Moreover, I
had to tackle yet another staple in theme parks — the dreaded
roller-coaster. I was never a fan of roller coaster.  I have only
ridden three of those in my life, and they didn’t have the loops.
Anyways, here in Disneyland, they have "California Screaming," where
part of the attraction was gliding the 360-degree loop around Mickey
Mouse’s large outline.  The picture below was the aftermath of the said
ride, with Mama showing
composure (for the camera? heheh) and me, exhilaration.  I should have
really enjoyed it for I wanted to do it again but coudn’t, were it not
for the incredible queue. 

     Now, going on a loop was not even in my list of 100 things to do before I die, but thanks to Mama, I should add it in my list and checked it off right away.

     After all that’s been said and done, I think we are going to mark this off as one of icing on the cake.  I feel that Mama and
I are being thrown away against each other it seems, but we
unbelievably keep on holding on to each other.  And enjoying the ride
as well.                               

Originally written on March 27, 2008:  http://paraiggy.multiply.com/