Excuse me, I must ramble for a bit

It's interesting to contemplate the differences between East Asian languages and European ones. For example, in many European culture (I'm shootin' from the hip here, so feel free to correct me), the colloquial words for grandmother and grandfather are similar to the words for mother and father (as, indeed, grandmother and grandfather are). Baba, nana, grandma, etc. Here in Japan, the words for father and mother (tousan, kaasan) are fairly different from grandfather and grandmother (ojiisan, obaasan). In fact, those last two words can also mean just "old man" and "old woman."

In Filipino (Tagalog), father and mother are tatay and nanay, and grandfather and grandmother are Lolo and Lola.

I never knew my grandparents all that well. I met Dad's father a couple of times, but his mother died when I was very young. I have no recollection of meeting her, but photographic evidence shows that I did once, I think. As for my Mom's parents, Lolo and Lola Angeles visited Minnesota a couple of times when I was young, and I was able to visit with them (and Lolo Atendido, I think) in the Philippines once when I was six or seven.

It's been a while, but I do have fond memories of that trip. It was kind of amusing to see Mom called to attention by her mother, just like I was at home. It was even more interesting to see most of the people in the neighborhood according Lola Angeles that same respect. Turns out she was principal of one of the neighborhood schools for a long time, and almost everybody had been her student at one time or another. People would always be saying hello to her, offering her favors, etc. (once a driver gave her, and us, a free ride in a jeepney). She would sometimes assume the attitude of strict administrator, and her former students would be glad to see it.

When I moved to Japan, it was assumed by everybody, including me, that I'd be able to visit them in the Philippines once or twice while I was here. But, for some reason, I never found the time or the extra cash I needed to go. (Or I wasted the time and money I could have used for that.) I did try to call her once or twice, but that became a little difficult. Lola was starting to forget things sometimes, occasionally asking the same question three or four times within a couple of minutes. I did my best to talk to her, but it was difficult for me, and now it's been about two or three years since I've called.

Lola Angeles died this morning after a long illness. She had been in the hospital for a few days to be treated for pneumonia, and she had a stroke and passed away. Mom and Dad are booking a flight home this weekend, but what with school and work, Anna, George and I are unable to go. I regret that. I regret a lot of things.

But I am glad that I was able to tell her that I loved her. I should have said it more.