Now that we have just entered the New Year I want to share reflections of mine of the past and present.
First of all, to all of you who followed the blog of My Diaries (some of you who had read them before re-visiting them again) and enjoyed the journey to my (and our) lives in the early 60s, my heart-felt joy, really, that you took the journey with me. Some may view my sentimental visit to the past as a bore or even a negative thing but on a personal level, I see nothing wrong with remembering a good time of our young lives. I've had great times years later and someday I will write about them but some of the persons involved in my grown up life may not appreciate my sharing a portion of their lives with all and sundry. But, we shall see. If Truman Capote and Dominic Dunne did it, why can't I? All you have to do is change names. Hah! There's an idea....I will work on it.
This has been a great holiday because aside from hearing from all my dearest friends and family - I got surprises like a phone call from Spain from my only female cousin and another call from Arlette Teucher Jan who is visiting the Philippines. My little family and I had spent a lovely 2 weeks with her at her lovely home on the Costa Brava (appropriately named "Mabuhay") and she had invited me to come along with her to Manila but right now the job situation is tenuous and after 26 years at Polytechnic, I cannot be away from my job for any bit of time. But it was nice getting a call from her.
Another wonderful event going on in Manila soon that I am really sorry to miss is the wedding of Patricia Muniosguren to Anton Yulo. But I know that Pat or her mom, Lyn, will provide pictures so that us ex-pats who are stuck here in the COLD U.S. (at least New York is), can share this happy day which will take place on January 10.
And I don't have to mention names here but an old boyfriend just had a book published in Spain and a cousin of mine will be sending it to me soon. I am curious to read the book as the reviews so far in Spain have been favourable. It is a novel - fiction based on fact and since I was privy to his life for almost 8 years, I know that the fact part of the book is real. We shall see, and yes, I can be objective.
I got Christmas cards and e-mail cards from everyone near and dear to me and some surprises like a card from the wife of my only cousin on the Bowie side who died about 10 years ago. But since she is the only living relative on my dad's side of the family, it was especially nice to get a card from her telling me of her children and grandchildren.
The best gift I had this Christmas is getting time to spend with my dear granddaughter, Laura. She and I always have a good time together - we "click" much like my mother used to get along better with my daughter Frances than me. I guess it is always like that with grandmothers and their grandchildren. Laura unfortunately had a bit of a stomach bug while with me so for two days she was upchucking and dryheaving but being the little trooper that she is, she never complained and was still the sunny little girl she normally is. Though she will be 11 in March and little girl I will not be able to call her for very much longer.
So, everyone, I hope you all had a great holiday. Right now, we are experiencing one of the coldest days so far here in New York so all of you who are NOT here, count your blessings.
I will keep writing just to keep this blog "alive" and have enjoyed all your comments, so keep writing, if you like.
PS: I have a Kindle so I read voraciously and have Netflix so watch a lot of movies and rarely go to the movie theaters but treated myself to two of the popular movies out. Verdict:
- "It's Complicated" with Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin - enjoyed it, but its a bit of a fairy tale
- "Up In the Air" with George Clooney (who is yummy no matter what he does) - good movie but NOT a "feel good" movie. It's actually a bit depressing but I am a Clooney fan so he can do no wrong.
Movies I want to see - "An Education," "The Last Station," "New Moon," "Nine," and some others which I might wait till they are available on DVD (otherwise known as Netflix for me)
HAPPY NEW YEAR, again, and stay safe and sound.
About Me
- Lea
- Brooklyn, New York, United States
- I was born in a Japanese concentration camp in Los Baños, Laguna in 1944 and raised in Manila. I spent my grade school years in Maryknoll College and high school years at St. Paul's College of Manila. I spent most of my summer leisure time at the Army Navy Club of Manila. I married a nice American man in 1965 and moved to New York. In 1969, I left New York for Barcelona and lived there 8 years. I returned to the States in 1977 and lived there until 2011. I visit Manila and Barcelona as often as I can. I have a lovely daughter and granddaughter.My father, Hal Bowie, died in Manila in 1974, and my mother, who moved back to Barcelona after his death, died in 1995. I retired from Polytechnic University (now NYU-Poly)in 2011 after 27 years! After moving to Florida I returned to NY after 8 years and now am living again in my first home in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn.
