Then It Was Bye-Bye Amerika

Printer-friendly versionSend to friendPDF version

After more than three weeks of trying to cover as much of the Bay Area as I could, I suddenly found that it was almost time for me to go.  The day after the concert was mostly spent packing.  I discovered that I have amassed a sizeable number of plastic and paper bags from my purchases, all of which I stuffed into my suitcases and into the balikbayan box we would be shipping to our parents (believe it or not the 100 lbs. baggage limit was not enough for my stuff!).  I don’t know why I wanted to keep all of them.  Baka it was the Pilipino turista in me.  Oh well.

For my last night in the U.S., my sister grilled some steaks – the best I’ve ever had in my life, I swear! before we headed off to La Pinata, where I had a deep mojito-fueled conversation with my brother-in-law.  Err, at least I prefer to remember it that way.  We then took a walk near the lake in Alameda where the newlyweds introduced me to Mohawk, their favorite duck that resides in those shores.  It was an easy, laid-back night, just like many other nights.  Except that it would be the last night I’d spend with my sister until next year at least…

The newlyweds drove me to the airport where we discovered that my bags barely beat the weight limit.  We just hung out, waiting for my flight.  I debated about getting another burger at Burger Joint because I wasn’t sure I should even attempt finishing a whole burger… then ended up getting a cheeseburger, figuring that if I was going to be naughty, I might as well go all out.  Haha

Then finally, they started walking me towards the boarding gates.  I told them that once I was on the other side of the glass wall, I wanted them to wave to me like crazy… I wanted the other passengers to know I had fans.  I think I didn’t notice that I was starting to tear up.  My sister beat me to the punch and started crying, which triggered my own bawling.  I told her that she shouldn’t cry because she’s going to come home to attend my wedding next year (I claim it!), but this just made her cry more; I joked that I hope she’s crying because she knows she’s going to miss me and not because she doesn’t believe I’m going to get married!

I had to give up my spot on the line because I realized I wasn’t really ready to say goodbye yet.  I realized I wasn’t exactly excited to go, leaving the two people I am legitimately a big sister to.  Eventually I had to walk away after a few more hugs…  I was still sniffing, trying so desperately not to cry… then an airport employee told me to take off my shoes before going through the security check.   Way to cut the drama short, huh?