I call her Ninang Erli, which I shouldn’t call her. She was my Lola after all, a sister of my Papa; my lolo. My family is no ordinary family in the society. We value very much familism. Reyes is a one big happy family. I call each and evrybody else, tito, tita, ninong, ninang, which is contradicting because some of them are the siblings of my Papa. But since I am the first born granddaughter in the family and my Mom is also the first granddaughter. My Mom got married young, and my Papa’s siblings were still quite young also. So, definitely they won’t agree if I call them Lolo and Lola.
I call her Ninang Erli, she was jolly, sophisticates, smart, thoughtful, helpful, kind, and a very beautiful lady. She always smile to everyone else. She was an older sister to my Papa. She owns a school which was in front of our house, in which where I studied pre-school. It was now a sucessful school, not as small as I remembered. She was a good handler rather a principal and directress. She was still strong at the age of 70, in which you will see no traces of aging. We never thought she would passed away this instant.
October 10, two days after my birthday. It was my celebration at my house in which my friends attended. Before my friends arrive, Ninong Allen, the only son of Ninang Erli and Ninong Alex, came at our house asking the number of a certain hospital which was around the vicinity. My Mom, Papa, and Nanay, got so panicked and went to her house. And so we are eating when they call for an ambulance. After several examinations and others, Ninang Erli got well and fine.
At first the findings was Aneurysm. But then it wasn’t. The next finding was Pneumonia. But then they say it wasn’t. Just the last week of November we find her strong and doing good. But her fever won’t go down. And so we sent her back to the hospital. She only lasted for a night. The next day she was sent to ICU (Intensive Care Unit) but then transfer again to CCU (Coronary Care Unit). November 28, we went to Chinense General Hospital to visit her. Tita Inday told us, she’s doing good. She’s responding to anyone who visits her.
I saw her with my own eyes that night. Looking so tired of those apparatus attach to her. Fighting so hard for her life so she can live. She was yellow at that time and some spots of red all over her body. She was restless. You hold her hand and she will move every now and then. I never thought I would see her in that situation.
December 1, I never thought it was her end. We all never thought this would happen. That in just a month we lost her. That night, I can’t sleep because they said she was revived. That day she went to dialysis and they put respirator. Eventhough, I was able to sleep, my sleep is so shallow. And when the phone rang, I got awakened and got sad by the meassage. She just waited for Dcember to come.
This don’t mark as a end of her life but a new beginning of her life in heaven. Her memories will linger in our hearts. You never let us disappoint with every visit in your house and in the hospital. You entetained us. Never showing us you are suffering from pain. You kept it on yourself. We thank you, for everything. I am happy meeting you in this lifetime. We all hope to meet you again. In another lifetime, perhaps.
Whenever we will hear your name, many thoughts and memories flooding our minds and our hearts. An honorable teacher, loving wife, caring mother, thoughtful sister and lola, jolly principal, kind in every aspect, and many more. Words are not enough to decribe you Dete. Goodbye, Ninang Erli, and thank you.
Life is indeed really short and unpredictable. You’ll never know what will happen tomorrow. My Ninang Erli wasn’t prepared. She has no one trained for the management of her school. So, live life to the fullest and try to manage everything as you can. Because we all have one end: death. But we have a life in heaven: eternal life.
