whirlwind weekend part 2
list of things that happened this past weekend through Tuesday...
Friday night - Rehearsal for Saturday show. What can I say... lots of repeat repeat repeat. Correction, correction, correction.
Saturday
Day - Rehearsal and performance, Asian Art Museum, Royal Magui Wedding Ceremony
The Samsung Hall at the Asian Art was transformed into a royal Magui court (I have photos to upload). I couldn't believe my eyes when I got there that morning. It was so colorful! The performance went well, despite how we didn't rehearse the entire show with the full cast 'til that morning. Ed & Tina and their little one came to watch. It was really nice of them to come! Finally saw Faisal perform Sagayan in full regalia. We were speechless. He was flying everywhere! So light on his feet, so graceful, he moved effortlessly. The music was so captivating. Ner's Asik was mesmerizing. She's an absolutely beautiful dancer. The hall is packed! The staff at the Asian said they've never had such a turnout of people before. I was so nervous, I wanted to do the dance justice. I think we succeeded. We were received very well.
Night - Check in at Sheraton Burlingame (R surprises me with a weekend getaway sans kids...) Just what I needed after the day's rehearsal and performance. The registration desk sends us to our room, on 13th floor. Lucky 13! We get in, and there are already bags and clothes strewn about. OOPS! We head back to the registration desk, they realize their mistake. There are no rooms left, but... There is a room available on the 15 floor, the "Club Level". We get the upgrade compliments of the hotel. We need our room keycard to just get on the 15th floor! There is complimentary wine and cheese in the evening, and breakfast in the morning in the Club room, overlooking the Bay. Pretty! How romantic! We feel so lucky, the universe is taking care of us. We keep ourselves open to its gifts. Spread the love!
We relax in the club lounge, our wine glass always filled. Before we get too relaxed, we go back to our room to get ready for Liza's Surprise birthday party (in SF). It was absolutely wonderful to see everyone after so long! I had a terrific time. Too bad I missed Liza's passing out, though.
We drive back to Burlingame for a theme dance party. We danced the night away and had a fantastic time. We feel like adults, intoxicated with love and sensuality. We decided that it would be a night for us, and we will focus on each other. I do my happy dance many times (think Ed Grimley, yes, I must say!) We have champagne and wine and let the good times flow! (and of course we didn't get much sleep!)
Sunday - Monday
10am-2pm Rehearsal and Training with the Magui
We learn two new dances (new to me anyway) - one dance for the "ladies in waiting" (sintikan), the other a dance reserved for royalty (silong sa ganding), specifically the princesses. They teach us the difference in body mechanics... blue bloods never dance like ladies in waiting... there is reserve, dignity, and utmost grace. Wonderful intricate hand movements. We train and rehearse straight through. No lunch... just repeat, repeat, repeat, correction, correction, correction. The mood is very light, after yesterday's successful performance. We all laugh when Faisal corrects the attitude of our bodies... dance like you are royalty.. not like you are a beggar. I am exhausted but exhilirated. I love the challenge of learning new movements, dissecting the technique and then executing it. Faisal gives us a wonderful compliment at the end of the rehearsal... he says watching us execute some of the movements reminded him of his dancers back in Maguindanao. I feel so honored, relieved... i'm not demolishing the dances, and sore - my right leg and my lower back are crying for help!
2:30pm - Monday 4pm - Immediately after rehearsal, I am on the road to Langlois, Oregon to visit R's grandfather, the patriarch on his Mother's side. He is 103 years old, and this year, he is getting sicker everyday. We pile the monkeys into the car with Uncle F. It's a lovely ride up higway 101 - the redwoods, the ocean, the gray clouds on the horizon framing the setting sun, imbuing an orange pink glow on the landscape. At some points, it looks like we are driving into a Maxwell Parrish painting. We get to Oregon close to midnight. We stay in Bonnie and Jerry's house. That morning, Grandpa seems very pleased to see us. He talks to R for almost 45 minutes, the longest he's been able to talk in a while says Grandma. We visit with some uncles and aunts, and they play some jazz standards (they are a very musical family). After coffee and cake we head back home. Grandpa says he is very happy to see that R "has his family back." The last time Grandpa saw R was Christmas last year, when we thought our marriage was over, during what we call "the dark times".
I think of what Henry Miller once said, "Every moment is a golden one for him who has the vision to recognize it as such.
4pm - Back on the road. I drive the first half, and get my first ever driving violation... I get caught in one of the speed traps in Gold Beach, going 47 on a 30 mph zone. Curses!! I try not to let it bother me. What can I do? I discovered I was going too fast going up the hill and slowed down, but the Oregon HP already had me tagged. There are worse things that can happen. I make a mental note to watch my leadfoot from now on.
Tuesday
We arrive home at 2:30am, Tuesday, catch a few hours sleep before the sun comes up and it's time to take the trio to school and head to work. At work I am barely functional. R's event this week is the United Nations Environment Week. He is also on AutoPilot.
6:30pm-9:30pm
I attend the Magui Dance Workshop (it's weeklong, i've missed the first day). I feel fatigued and excited. I don't know how I did it, but I even managed to remember what i've learned. We review Sintikan and Sagayan (which was taught Monday night), and are taught Malong (male & female parts). I thoroughly enjoy myself learning Malong even though they trained us in this already for the past performance. Faisal gives a talk about how the various ways to wear a Malong and Tubao indicates one's place and role in Magui society. We learn about the caste like system in their society, broken into - the commoners, the noble, the elite, and the royalty, how each group wears a specific kind of malong. He discusses homosexuality in Magui society (it's not accepted at all), and the culture shock he and the others experienced walking down Castro. There are a good number of attendees, and we are all a captive audience to everything Faisal and Siao teaches us.
9:55pm
I arrive home, exhausted, ready to crash. I think fondly of what a relief it will be to get a good night's solid sleep after 3 nights of merrymaking or traveling. I enter the house, hmmm, no one's home, but the door to the upstairs studio is open, the trio must be up there with R, watching TV. The phone rings, it's my mother in law, still in Oregon caring for Grandpa. "I called to see how Isa is", she says. I am baffled. Well, I just got home, no one's here, why is Mom in Oregon calling about Isa in SF? Then Uncle T comes down from the studio. Where are the kids I ask? Upstairs, he says. Where's R, I ask. "He's in the hospital", says T. "WHAT!!!!!" I yell. "Isa may have broken her leg, he took her to the emergency room", he continues. I still have mom on the phone, "I've been trying to reach R to see how she is", she explains. I'll have to call you back Mom, I say. I'll see what's going on.
I get R on the phone. He is hungry and sleepy and waiting for the pediatrician. I'll bring you and Isa sandwiches. I drive over to St. Lukes, only a few blocks away. On my way in the emergency room someone says something to me. It's my brother, he brought Isa ice cream and wanted to see if he can help. I tell him i'll let him know. I get inside and find Isa and R. Apparently, little Raffy knocked over a coffee table which hit her knee very badly, causing her extreme pain and rendering her unable to move. She seemed in good spirit though, eating her Haagen Daz.
So I play the waiting game with her (R steps outside to eat... he looks ready to collapse from fatigue). I sit with her, and feel whatever energy I had left slowly drain. I lean on the chair, making mental notes of who to call to watch Isa tomorrow. I'm about to fall asleep when the doctor comes in. Isa tells him what happened, we all look at the Xrays. Luckily no broken bones, no fractures. Might be trauma to the joint, she can go home with crutches, bandage the knee, ice it and elevate it, but she can go to school the next day if she'd like. (She wanted to go to school.. "there's a bake sale!" she cries, "I was going to bring brownies!!" "honey", I say, " think your classmates will understand if you don't have the brownies tomorrow". They send us home with instructions, crutches, bandages.
My brother and I remember the time when we were kids, same age as Isa and Raffy, and how he sprained my arm once while we were playing, and I howled and cried and needed bandages and he was thinking, "hey it's not my fault you stuck your arm out". Funny how life can play the same scenes over and over. Isa's ok, Raffy doesn't think he did anything wrong, but he feels slightly guilty (he offered to go to the emergency room as I was leaving the house).
R & I are plain exhausted. I help Isa into pajamas, and she sleeps on the couch (there's no way she could climb up to her top bunk bed). I get into bed and tell R, "Boy, I wonder what tomorrow has in store for us. I don't think I can take this much excitement anymore." I think of another Henry Miller quote, "Chaos is the score upon which reality is written."
And we both pass out.
Friday night - Rehearsal for Saturday show. What can I say... lots of repeat repeat repeat. Correction, correction, correction.
Saturday
Day - Rehearsal and performance, Asian Art Museum, Royal Magui Wedding Ceremony
The Samsung Hall at the Asian Art was transformed into a royal Magui court (I have photos to upload). I couldn't believe my eyes when I got there that morning. It was so colorful! The performance went well, despite how we didn't rehearse the entire show with the full cast 'til that morning. Ed & Tina and their little one came to watch. It was really nice of them to come! Finally saw Faisal perform Sagayan in full regalia. We were speechless. He was flying everywhere! So light on his feet, so graceful, he moved effortlessly. The music was so captivating. Ner's Asik was mesmerizing. She's an absolutely beautiful dancer. The hall is packed! The staff at the Asian said they've never had such a turnout of people before. I was so nervous, I wanted to do the dance justice. I think we succeeded. We were received very well.
Night - Check in at Sheraton Burlingame (R surprises me with a weekend getaway sans kids...) Just what I needed after the day's rehearsal and performance. The registration desk sends us to our room, on 13th floor. Lucky 13! We get in, and there are already bags and clothes strewn about. OOPS! We head back to the registration desk, they realize their mistake. There are no rooms left, but... There is a room available on the 15 floor, the "Club Level". We get the upgrade compliments of the hotel. We need our room keycard to just get on the 15th floor! There is complimentary wine and cheese in the evening, and breakfast in the morning in the Club room, overlooking the Bay. Pretty! How romantic! We feel so lucky, the universe is taking care of us. We keep ourselves open to its gifts. Spread the love!
We relax in the club lounge, our wine glass always filled. Before we get too relaxed, we go back to our room to get ready for Liza's Surprise birthday party (in SF). It was absolutely wonderful to see everyone after so long! I had a terrific time. Too bad I missed Liza's passing out, though.
We drive back to Burlingame for a theme dance party. We danced the night away and had a fantastic time. We feel like adults, intoxicated with love and sensuality. We decided that it would be a night for us, and we will focus on each other. I do my happy dance many times (think Ed Grimley, yes, I must say!) We have champagne and wine and let the good times flow! (and of course we didn't get much sleep!)
Sunday - Monday
10am-2pm Rehearsal and Training with the Magui
We learn two new dances (new to me anyway) - one dance for the "ladies in waiting" (sintikan), the other a dance reserved for royalty (silong sa ganding), specifically the princesses. They teach us the difference in body mechanics... blue bloods never dance like ladies in waiting... there is reserve, dignity, and utmost grace. Wonderful intricate hand movements. We train and rehearse straight through. No lunch... just repeat, repeat, repeat, correction, correction, correction. The mood is very light, after yesterday's successful performance. We all laugh when Faisal corrects the attitude of our bodies... dance like you are royalty.. not like you are a beggar. I am exhausted but exhilirated. I love the challenge of learning new movements, dissecting the technique and then executing it. Faisal gives us a wonderful compliment at the end of the rehearsal... he says watching us execute some of the movements reminded him of his dancers back in Maguindanao. I feel so honored, relieved... i'm not demolishing the dances, and sore - my right leg and my lower back are crying for help!
2:30pm - Monday 4pm - Immediately after rehearsal, I am on the road to Langlois, Oregon to visit R's grandfather, the patriarch on his Mother's side. He is 103 years old, and this year, he is getting sicker everyday. We pile the monkeys into the car with Uncle F. It's a lovely ride up higway 101 - the redwoods, the ocean, the gray clouds on the horizon framing the setting sun, imbuing an orange pink glow on the landscape. At some points, it looks like we are driving into a Maxwell Parrish painting. We get to Oregon close to midnight. We stay in Bonnie and Jerry's house. That morning, Grandpa seems very pleased to see us. He talks to R for almost 45 minutes, the longest he's been able to talk in a while says Grandma. We visit with some uncles and aunts, and they play some jazz standards (they are a very musical family). After coffee and cake we head back home. Grandpa says he is very happy to see that R "has his family back." The last time Grandpa saw R was Christmas last year, when we thought our marriage was over, during what we call "the dark times".
I think of what Henry Miller once said, "Every moment is a golden one for him who has the vision to recognize it as such.
4pm - Back on the road. I drive the first half, and get my first ever driving violation... I get caught in one of the speed traps in Gold Beach, going 47 on a 30 mph zone. Curses!! I try not to let it bother me. What can I do? I discovered I was going too fast going up the hill and slowed down, but the Oregon HP already had me tagged. There are worse things that can happen. I make a mental note to watch my leadfoot from now on.
Tuesday
We arrive home at 2:30am, Tuesday, catch a few hours sleep before the sun comes up and it's time to take the trio to school and head to work. At work I am barely functional. R's event this week is the United Nations Environment Week. He is also on AutoPilot.
6:30pm-9:30pm
I attend the Magui Dance Workshop (it's weeklong, i've missed the first day). I feel fatigued and excited. I don't know how I did it, but I even managed to remember what i've learned. We review Sintikan and Sagayan (which was taught Monday night), and are taught Malong (male & female parts). I thoroughly enjoy myself learning Malong even though they trained us in this already for the past performance. Faisal gives a talk about how the various ways to wear a Malong and Tubao indicates one's place and role in Magui society. We learn about the caste like system in their society, broken into - the commoners, the noble, the elite, and the royalty, how each group wears a specific kind of malong. He discusses homosexuality in Magui society (it's not accepted at all), and the culture shock he and the others experienced walking down Castro. There are a good number of attendees, and we are all a captive audience to everything Faisal and Siao teaches us.
9:55pm
I arrive home, exhausted, ready to crash. I think fondly of what a relief it will be to get a good night's solid sleep after 3 nights of merrymaking or traveling. I enter the house, hmmm, no one's home, but the door to the upstairs studio is open, the trio must be up there with R, watching TV. The phone rings, it's my mother in law, still in Oregon caring for Grandpa. "I called to see how Isa is", she says. I am baffled. Well, I just got home, no one's here, why is Mom in Oregon calling about Isa in SF? Then Uncle T comes down from the studio. Where are the kids I ask? Upstairs, he says. Where's R, I ask. "He's in the hospital", says T. "WHAT!!!!!" I yell. "Isa may have broken her leg, he took her to the emergency room", he continues. I still have mom on the phone, "I've been trying to reach R to see how she is", she explains. I'll have to call you back Mom, I say. I'll see what's going on.
I get R on the phone. He is hungry and sleepy and waiting for the pediatrician. I'll bring you and Isa sandwiches. I drive over to St. Lukes, only a few blocks away. On my way in the emergency room someone says something to me. It's my brother, he brought Isa ice cream and wanted to see if he can help. I tell him i'll let him know. I get inside and find Isa and R. Apparently, little Raffy knocked over a coffee table which hit her knee very badly, causing her extreme pain and rendering her unable to move. She seemed in good spirit though, eating her Haagen Daz.
So I play the waiting game with her (R steps outside to eat... he looks ready to collapse from fatigue). I sit with her, and feel whatever energy I had left slowly drain. I lean on the chair, making mental notes of who to call to watch Isa tomorrow. I'm about to fall asleep when the doctor comes in. Isa tells him what happened, we all look at the Xrays. Luckily no broken bones, no fractures. Might be trauma to the joint, she can go home with crutches, bandage the knee, ice it and elevate it, but she can go to school the next day if she'd like. (She wanted to go to school.. "there's a bake sale!" she cries, "I was going to bring brownies!!" "honey", I say, " think your classmates will understand if you don't have the brownies tomorrow". They send us home with instructions, crutches, bandages.
My brother and I remember the time when we were kids, same age as Isa and Raffy, and how he sprained my arm once while we were playing, and I howled and cried and needed bandages and he was thinking, "hey it's not my fault you stuck your arm out". Funny how life can play the same scenes over and over. Isa's ok, Raffy doesn't think he did anything wrong, but he feels slightly guilty (he offered to go to the emergency room as I was leaving the house).
R & I are plain exhausted. I help Isa into pajamas, and she sleeps on the couch (there's no way she could climb up to her top bunk bed). I get into bed and tell R, "Boy, I wonder what tomorrow has in store for us. I don't think I can take this much excitement anymore." I think of another Henry Miller quote, "Chaos is the score upon which reality is written."
And we both pass out.
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