My mother is a seventy-eight year old woman suffering from gout. She would have these sudden attacks of pain in her feet and hands. They would swell and she will have a slight fever and can't sleep at night because of the pain. That's where she is today. I had to bring her water to drink in bed. She asked for coffee and biscuits. Luckily, we have a toilet in her room. That's very convenient. When the quarantine period began, she remarked that nothing would change. She had been unable to attend christmas parties and reunions with family and relatives. She is looking forward to skype and video calls from my brother and sister abroad.
My Huawei phone won't charge. My Asus laptop is ready downstairs. When Lino called the video showed him playing the barber in their bathroom. He is cutting Joy's hair his wife. At first I thought I was looking at a still from the film "The Ring". Joy's gold hair is wet and combed down. Mina's messenger screen showed her in the kitchen preparing dinner. Mom enjoyed the conversations but the occasional disengagements due to loss of signal made her anxious. They all greet her on Mother's Day. Of course there are other mothers in this conference call, but Mom is Mother.
Mother's day is May 10th, 57 days from community quarantine. Most people have been trying to normalize each day since. Eating ice cream, taho and the breezy afternoon merienda to name a few. Seventeen years ago my father died to the day, while the country was going to the polls. People dying while the country elects a president. Quite normal to Filipinos. There are more than 10,700 cases of the corona virus in the Philippines. At least 700 has died officially of the virus in the country.
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