Random Ramblings

Not much going on here at the internet café. Six of us are using the computers but not one is a paying customer. The internet is down in all the cafés in town. It happens. There is only one internet provider in this area of the province. In fact, it is the only provider in most of the province, with the exception of “the city” (Cebu City).

I just took a walk with my grand niece, Shane. We walked to the convenience store for a pack of medium diapers. She was wet, so I didn’t carry her until we were on our way back to the shop: when she grew tired of walking and slowed down, I picked her up. Then we talked to the moon for a minute. She stares at the moon for a long time, as if it is something fascinating to see. I agree with that assessment.

One evening, about two months ago, she was out in the front yard with her mom, watching the moon. Shane extended her arm and opened and closed her hand, making a “come here” gesture to the moon, saying “Peso, moon. Peso, moon!” as if requesting the moon for money. I would never have thought of such a thing, myself. I like her ingenuity and it’s a no-lose situation. If a peso falls out of the sky, so be it; if not, nothing lost.

It’s times like this that make me wonder what she thinks. Does she really think the moon can give her a peso? And what ever inspired her, a 1 and one half year-old, to put peso and moon together in a request?

The same six of us, Jan Mark, Clyde, Stefhanie, Frederick and Gabriel, went for a late-afternoon swim. The water was clear and smooth and a perfect sea-green. Jumps and dives off the jetty filled the air with children’s laughter. Splashing, swimming, diving down for rocks and coral, and chasing fish and each other were all on the full agenda for fun.

Jan Mark and Clyde made a game out of picking up a huge chunk of dead coral from the bottom of the ocean, taking it to another location, dropping it, and swimming down to pick it up again. They are both very good swimmers and can stay under water much longer than I can.

All the kids, including Shane, just love the sea – the “dagat” in Cebuano. Each visit to the ocean is as fresh and new as the first; never taken for granted. My greatest joy is watching their never-ending pleasure. I am grateful for the opportunity to witness it, and be a part of it.