In The Spring Of 2018

Such a rare occasion to drive my Mom around
Through blowing snow and hail in the Midwest
And give her a taste, literally, of fresh snow in abundance.

Now it’s time for goodbyes again
As all the goodbyes I’ve said since 17,
So she snaps a picture of me scraping ice, as a souvenir!

She must be thinking:
Look at my middle-aged firstborn
Who never complained about making the beds
And keeping the family bedroom neat
When her tiny hands could hardly hold a broom
When her short arms could hardly reach the stove
When her tiny frame could hardly carry her little siblings
Not that there was no help or nannies,
But she had to be self-reliant, self-sufficient, don’t you think?
For she was not a princess, never born as one.
Never to be one!
For look at her!
Not a pretty girl with skin that was fair,
With crooked teeth that better stayed hidden.
She had to be independent and learn to live
With or without a man who might even leave like a thief!

Indeed, this girl has learned to fend for herself since 17,
Thanks to her trainer-mother, the Commander-in-Chief!
Able to paint a house and a tanker trailer,
Change oil or tires if she had to
And take herself across continents,
Battling language and cultural barriers
Surviving racism and discrimination
As much as winters that were dark and long,
And Mount Pinatubo’s eruption,
Hails and rainstorms, floods and earthquakes,
All by herself, her angels, and the prayers she’d made.
As God has planned…
MLJ/March2019

Sweet Jean of Mine

I never knew you were Peggy Jean until your obituary.
Remembering the good times, I shed happy tears
And smiled at the fact that you went in your sleep.
(You know, the same fate for myself I only wish.)

I can’t help but wonder why so soon though.
Heaven must be needing creative hands as yours
To adorn the skies and welcome newcomers like you.
Heaven must be needing an angelic voice as yours
For storytelling is a favorite pastime eons ago.
Heaven must be needing an infectious smile as yours
And make everything brighter where angels go.

Rest in peace, sweet Jean of mine.
Jamison/20/07/2018

Angels Come Down in Summer

Why do angels come down in summer
Like eagles swooping down from heaven,
Snatching a woman in her sleep,
A toddler floating in a pool,
An infant and a dog in a hot car,
A family of four in a van,
(Crushed by a truck in the wrong lane.
Was the driver hypnotized by a mirage?)
And a man under a train?
(Did he fall into a swoon under the torturous sun?)
And off they go with their preys,
Tightly clutched in their merciless talons,
Souls to offer to their gods
And save from this parched land.
Jamison/20/07/2018

Indigenous knowledge

Live in harmony with Mother Earth and all living things. And I'll add, live in harmony with or be in control of non-living things instead of being a slave to them. No need to argue with Siri or fight with your robot vacuum (because it gave you a surprise haircut as you lay drunk on the carpet). Peace, y'all! (The haircut story is my tweaked version of an old piece of news.)Jamison/18/07/2018

How far back can you remember?

I remember my grandma putting me in a sling on her back whenever we went to town. As a toddler riding a jeepney with Grandma, I'd be taken by female passengers and put on their laps. And as soon as I had language, Grandma told me Bible stories every night. My memory bank still has my Grandma's laughter, singing voice and original prayers (that were so long for my tiny ears that I usually fell asleep before they were over), and the sight of my grandfather's strong hands, chopping wood and thatching Nipa leaf roofing. Grandpa also took pictures in B/W and sepia, using his box camera, and doing the prints in his makeshift darkroom. How grateful am I for having these religious, hardworking and talented grandparents! Jamison/20/07/2018

To all parents out there

In case no one has thanked you or shown you appreciation of all that you do each day as parents, here's a reminder that you're doing an awesome job (and teachers like me appreciate all that you do for your children, especially if they come with good hygiene and manners and school readiness; otherwise, we still love them and we love them twice as much as the rest... ).

I've just recalled how my Mom trained us when we were young: (1) every child had a schedule to do the dishes (2) bedtime meant bedtime; no excuses! (3) TV had to be off at 9:00 pm at the latest (4) after-school time was for rest and snacks, a bit of educational TV like Sesame Street, and a bit of cartoons... TV addiction and loafing around were prohibited! I wonder how our kids are growing these days? Companies are complaining about everything from tardiness to slacking!

On Child Caregivers and Teachers

Some people are amazed as what child caregivers and teachers can do with 20 children or more. They give thumbs up and yell, "You're doing a great job!" when they see these adults and kids in tow in public, such as during field trips. Others are speechless and stare in awe at the line of quiet and well-behaved children -- like they were under a spell. These women must be witches!

Speaking of witches. I think I can be a voice-over actor on the side... I did the witch's laughter with my young ones one time, and they all froze wide-eyed. LOL! (Must've made them think twice before misbehaving as I might be capable of using voodoo dolls. Ha!)
Jamison/18/07/2018

RIP Kofi Annan... If it's quite a challenge to be the head of one nation, what more if one's the head of 193 nations?