We went out yesterday

Dear Mama,

    The kids and I went out yesterday to celebrate your birthday. We just had dinner, Mama. Like we have done in the past Fridays. We met at Marquee Mall where they attended the birthday party of their niece. I went there after paying the electric bill. 

    The birthday party they attended to was rather late, that's why we had our dinner rather late, Mama. We were not able to buy a birthday cake, Mama. I'm sorry. We'll buy tomorrow so we can sing happy birthday for you.

    Yesterday was the last Friday we'll be going out, Mama. Ralph will start in his new job on Monday. He will be on graveyard shift, that's why we cannot go out anymore. Unless he'll take his dinner at the mall and then he'll proceed to work afterwards, while we go home.

    I guess that will be all for now, Mama. Please pray for me. Please pray for my peace.

    I miss you, Mama.

    I love you.

                                                                                                            Daddy

Happy birthday, Mama!

Dear Mama,

    It will be your birthday tomorrow. You will be 58 years old tomorrow, Mama. I still have no plans. I'm sorry, Mama.

    Our children will attending a birthday party tomorrow. It seems they want me to meet them somewhere. They said they won't stay long at the party, Mama. It's a children's party and they don't want to stay long. They just can't say no to their cousin.

    I'm still not sure what to do, Mama. I'm really sorry. It's like I'm dragging my feet again everyday just to survive. I don't even know I am able to continue everyday. 

    I'm sorry. I should not be writing in this tone. It's your birthday tomorrow. This should be a happy letter.

    I miss you, Mama. I wish I can hold your hands and embrace you now.

    I love you, Mama.

    Happy birthday!

                                                                                                        Daddy

Breaking apart

Dear Mama,

    It fills like my anxiety is consuming me again. I'm sorry, Mama. I really do not like writing letters in this tone, but I have no one to talk to. I've been feeling anxious since yesterday. It's our neighbors again. I don't even know if I should feel this way.

    I'm really sorry, Mama. Maybe I should stop now.

    I'm sorry.

                                                                                                        Daddy

Friday

Dear Mama,

    We came home tonight at around 8:30 p.m., the kids and I. It's Friday and we went to the mall, Mama. We had our dinner there, courtesy of Ralph. And then we had coffee, courtesy of Edgar. It's sort of something we had been doing for the last couple of Fridays, Mama.

    It wasn't really intentional, Mama. Sometimes I would send them a message in our group chat that I won't go straight home after work. I'd say I'd to SM Clark or Nepo Mall in Angeles, since it's Friday and I can do the laundry tomorrow morning. And then they would meet me wherever I might be.

    Next Friday will be your birthday, Mama. Although the kids and I might not be able to celebrate because they will attending the birthday of their niece who has the same birthday as you, Mama. You and your granddaughter share the same birthday, Mama. I'm not sure though if we're going to go out to celebrate on Saturday, Mama. 

    That will be all for now, Mama. I hope I can come up with something so we can celebrate your birthday next week.

    I miss you, Mama.

    I love you.

                                                                                                        Daddy 

Finally!

Dear Mama,

    Finally! Ralph received a job offer! After more than a month of sending applications and attending interviews left and right, Ralph finally received a job offer, Mama. It was the one I mentioned in my previous letter. They already got the necessary number of character reference replies, which was the requirement for Ralph's confirmation. He'll be starting on December 2nd, Mama.

    As for me, I won't be getting anything this year. Unfortunately, it's too late for me to look for another job. I don't want to start again. I'll just wait for my retirement.

    Edgar did not go to work today. He was not feeling well. He was tired when he came home last night. He had a slight fever, Mama. He's okay now. He's already preparing our dinner.

    Angel is out now. She went out at around 6:00 p.m. Hopefully she'll be home soon. It's almost dinnertime. 

    That's all the update for now, Mama. Please continue guiding and praying for our children.

    I miss you, Mama.

    I love you.

                                                                                                                Daddy

Sunday update

Dear Mama,

    It's Sunday afternoon now. We had our lunch earlier. Of course, it was prepared by Edgar. It was pork and squash stewed in coconut milk, Mama. It was delicious.

    Pampanga is already under storm signal no. 3, Mama. Although there isn't much rain now, but the weather is gloomy. Edgar is preparing to leave. I hope there won't be any strong rains later. Angel is sleeping now, while Ralph is in his room.

    Ralph already received a job offer, Mama. Thank you for praying for him. He's just waiting for one more confirmation, which he hopes to get by this coming week, and he will start on the 2nd of December. The only thing is that it will be onsite, Mama. It's also on graveyard shift, which he is already used to, anyway.

    As for me, nothing's new, Mama. Still in my job, not much happening. I'm just waiting for my retirement age. I don't see any opportunity anytime soon. I've also stopped attending Toastmasters. I can't remember if I've already mentioned that in my previous letters. I guess I'm really getting old, Mama.

    I guess, that will all for now, Mama. I wish you were here. I really miss you, Mama.

    I love you.

                                                                                            Daddy

Alone on a Saturday

Dear Mama,

    I'm alone at home right now, and it's 10 a.m. Our children just left to attend the baptism of their niece, Mylene's daughter, in Friendship. They'll be back home maybe later this afternoon.

    I planned a lot of things to do for today like cleaning and tidying up the house. But right now, I feel lazy, and I haven't done anything. Yes, Mama. I'm procrastinating again.

    I got a lot of things on my mind right now, Mama. I'm overwhelmed. I don't how we'll be able to recover financially. Ralph is still not hired yet. Also, Angel doesn't have a job yet, and she's not actively looking for any, unfortunately.

    I'm lost, Mama.

    I wish you were here.

                                                                                                        Daddy

Edgar's kitchen adventures

Dear Mama,

    Our son Edgar is really taking up after you in the kitchen. He has really taken over the kitchen from me, Mama. In fact, every time he is not around, I don't even know what to do in the kitchen anymore.

    Today, for our lunch, Edgar cooked sisig. It's his first time to cook sisig, Mama. It wasn't bad, to think he lacked some ingredients, like liver. But it was okay. He prepared sisig because last night I was asking if we can buy any decent sisig here in Marisol. So, he just bought some pork and other ingredients when we went grocery shopping this morning.

    For our dinner, he prepared crispy enoki mushroom, Mama. Aside from the luncheon meat and pipino salad he prepared. He has a lot dishes he can prepare already, Mama. Like kare-kare, lomi, palabok, and more. He is really expanding his kitchen knowledge, Mama.

    He really took after you, Mama.

    Meanwhile, Ralph is still waiting for that job that would finally hire him. He is getting a lot of interviews left and right, but nothing materialized yet. Hopefully, this week something good will happen.

    Angel is still looking for a job, Mama. She hasn't applied to anything yet. Aside from iQor, from where she's waiting for a call, which did come until now. She applied more than 2 weeks ago.

    Anyway, that will be all for now, Mama. Please continue guiding us.

    I miss you, Mama.

    I love you.

                                                                                                    Daddy