A Fascinating Way to Start My Weekend

April 5, 2011

Despite of the plane ride mishap going to Cebu, I still had a great weekend.  Before I tell you what I did that weekend, let me begin by telling you how it started.  You see, my flight was scheduled at 640am and airlines have a 45-minute before departure time check-in rule.  Being a mother of two little kids, I had to ensure that they were still asleep, milk bottles were near and their daily needed stuff were ready for the span of days that I’m not with them before I go.  So I only got to leave the house at 530am.  And since there was a little rain, my husband needed to drive carefully so we arrived at the airport almost 6am and I got in the check-in line at exactly 6am only to find out that the check-in for my flight was closed already. 

There were about 5 people including me who did not get the chance to check-in for the flight asking if there is any possibility that we could get in but the check-in staff of that airline did not do anything about it and insisted that we take another flight.  Goodness, I was looking forward to attend this seminar in Cebu and these counter people were like robots who seem to be indifferent of the circumstances that these passengers were in trying their very best to wake up so early in the morning just to take that early flight and to think that the airplane for that flight had not arrived yet. 

For me, I wouldn’t have taken that early flight if I was just going to a vacation or not so important matter.  I have experienced before what it was like to take an early flight and you can do that if you are single or have grown children but for me who is a mother of two small children, it was more of a decision.  I wanted to attend the seminar in Cebu and I have to set a schedule wherein I only got to be away of not more than 2 nights as Louie, the younger son was still being breastfed.

So there I was contemplating of what to do, some passengers were already arranging to take the next flight from the same airlines but was scheduled at 2pm.  Another airline was offering an earlier flight by noon but their ticketing office was still closed and I did not have the amount of their flight yet and I only had enough pocket money with me.  My husband was still waiting by the parking lot so we talked and he told me to take the earlier flight from the other airlines even if it will charge higher, he was also furious with the airlines who did not consider checking me in.  He gave me some money and he had to leave as he will be working by 8am.  Thank God for supportive husbands. ;)

I went to the ticketing office of the airline and found a passenger waiting for the other airline’s office to open and she knew the ticket amount for the noon flight.  We both waited for that other ticketing office to open with her dad who was sending her off.  Her dad was discussing with an airport employee of how inconsiderate these check-in people were.  I found out they were from Iligan and woke up as early as 3am just to catch the early flight.  Their story was that they were already in line at the check-in counter but by 5:55am, these check-in counter people just closed the flight without asking if there are still passengers who need to check-in.  To think they were already in line to check-in was worse than my case.

I do not know what was the point of the airline company maybe for business purpose so they can earn money from the rebooking of tickets but they were really insensitive.  It does not mean when they offer cheap plane fares their customer service also become downgraded.  At the departure area, a passenger on a flight to Manila of that airline company asked to be boarded last as she had three little kids with her reprimanded the airline employee in front of everyone because the employee kept asking if she wanted to be boarded last.  The passenger got irritated and criticized her that she should implement high quality customer service as her performance for that was not so good.  And I had to say ha, payback time.

But all is well that ends well.  I booked the 12noon flight with the other airline and with the other passenger from Iligan.  This dad and daughter team was my companion in my waiting time for the next flight, we ate breakfast together and we found out we had common friends and Ms. Mitch, her nickname, was the same age as I was.  Her dad had to attend to some business matters and had to leave so Mitch and I talked about life to let the almost 4hour waiting time fly by.  I also called up the speaker of the seminar if I can still catch up and he was fine with it and he even told me not be stressed about it.  I was part of the staff for the seminar and had an assigned task to fulfill for the day.

When we arrived in Cebu by 1pm, Mitch waited for someone to fetch her and I went on my way to catch up with my seminar.  I am officially one of those who had experience in being left by a flight but I’m good.  And that was just the start of my weekend.

Time Apart

March 15, 2011

It’s the first time in our marriage that my husband went away for one week.  I thought that I’m not going to survive such long separation but for the first four days I was doing fine.  It was like as if my whole body was ready for it and my mind was making me busy with attending to my kids and doing some writing.  And I was thinking that maybe this separation time was great for us to also have our own individuality.  So off I went with my everyday tasks of doing the laundry, doing some cooking, writing a few articles and taking care of our two sons.  

Then the fifth day came and I was having a heavy heart.  Maybe because I’m missing my husband already or maybe I just don’t want to feel alone.  I went to buy some groceries and usually my husband would follow there after work so we could go home together but that day was different.  It was like as if the thought of him being away had already sunk in and I had to admit I can’t take it.  With so many miles in between me and my loved one was not for me.  

For those husbands and wives apart from each other because one has to work far or abroad, I have to say that I salute your courage to take such challenge.  But I realized that it’s not for me.  We both promised that if one goes out of the country or move somewhere then the family goes too, no matter what.  We do not want to experience ourselves the life of being not together.  

Oh it would be a nice thought to have high income with a spouse working abroad.  However, I would give up those comforts as long as we are intact.  I am willing to sacrifice some things just so I can be with my family.  I don’t want to dwell on thinking of what it would be like if we are distant from each other.  

This is my choice of life.  Life is short so I’m investing my time on family relationships.  I want to have a close family.  I’m not saying that families with a parent working away in a distance are not intact for some have healthy relationships even if they are not together.  All I’m saying is that I like the way things are going right now with my family being all here in one place.

So for those families with a member in another country to give a comfortable life back home, don’t despair.  You chose to have a life like that.  You are a willing participant to such a life.  Stand by your decision.  In the end, all the things you have let go to have a life of financial abundance for now may be worth it.  As for me, I’ll work my ass off where I am sitting so I can contribute to give a little ease of burden on my husband’s part as he is the family’s breadwinner and do as much as I can to spend time with my little kids who are growing very fast by the minute.