iba na ang may miles

Since 2006, I have crossed the Pacific Ocean eleven times. It is no jet set lifestyle. Any travel I do is out of necessity...for my own sanity.
Air Canada is very happy with me.
I, on the other hand, was not very happy being cramped in economy each and every time.
But, things took a different turn on my last trip.
I remember Ma saying before, "Why pay extra for First Class? When the plane crashes, everyone has the same fate regardless of class."
Well, Ma, Executive First Class is fine, indeed. Worth every penny...had I paid for it. With all the global criscrossing, I earned my hefty share of miles and the upgrade.
Fully laid out on my own "bed", a warmed plate for every meal, limitless wine, being waited on hand and foot, were merely a few of the perks I enjoyed.
Travel has taken on a new level and I could easily get used to it.
It's a good thing, I have a couple of more upgrades up on my sleeve.
Iba na ang may miles! :)

my girl

It is my fourth day back in the country. I relish being mom again. As I am still quite jet lagged (read: waking up at 2 or 3 am), I have more than ample time to prepare for Maxine's morning start off before her school bus picks her up. As she eats her breakfast, I brush her thick hair and tame it as much as I can. We do this in silence. Our bonding time together.
This morning though, Jun and I took her to school. For the first time, after much cajoling, she has agreed to use the wheeled back pack I bought for her some months ago. It seems that she avoided to use it because a 4th grader like her does not use a wheeled bag... that is reserved for kindergarten and lower grade pupils who wow each other with their colorfully decorated/ designed rolling bauls. She is an ate na. However, she has been complaining of how heavy her pack has been lately. The few days I have been back, I see how famished she seems to be when she eats and mystified at where all the food goes. I figure though it all gets expended as she goes to and fro bearing her burden of a bag, like a sherpa really. And so today was the bag's first outing. I got the bag from the back seat with full intention of bringing Maxine to her second floor classroom. When we were at the gate, she turned to me and said, "Dito na lang, Ma."
I remember my little girl wanting me to take her all the way to her homeroom.
Ouch.
"Maxine, this bag is so heavy, I will help you and take it up the stairs."
We reach the top of the flight of stairs to the second floor. She turned to me again and said,"Dito na lang, Ma. Ok na ako."
I felt a stab.
Back in the car, I tell Jun my little woeful tale.
I let out a sigh.
My daughter's growing up.