In four hours, the Philippine Airlines flight from the Philippines will arrive at the Incheon International Airport. With my parents.
They will be here as "bakasyonistas" for four days. Regardless of whether my husband is coming back or not, they are going home on Friday. Daddy will have to work, of course. My mother? She can't stand being a mother and a grandmother 
. She has been so used to minding only herself and daddy after my brother and I graduated from college and went on to: me, Manila purposely to study Law; my brother, to become a seaman.
Of our individual goals, my brother is way more successful than I am. He has the drive, the vision and the character to aim high and achieve it. Unlike most seamen, he is not bothered by his next employment after his vacation. On the contrary, he always asks his company (or agency) to extend his vacation. This time, he got his wish again and he is home for four months. He happily informed me that he will be teaching in John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation (where he graduated). He took the course required so he can teach during his last vacation. He has been second mate for the last two years (?) already and has bought two houses (just small). I am a very proud sister (Eunice exclaimed in one of our chats, "Who could have thought he would be this responsible?").
Back to the grandparents. I am sure my father will be a doting grandfather to LeRuof. He has always been very good with children. Almost all children in our family are very fond of my father. My cousins call him Daddy, too. When we were on vacation last holidays, LeRuof enjoyed his grandfather. I'm sure he would have been more attached to him if Daddy didn't spend so much time digging for hidden treasure 
. This time, I am sure there are no hidden treasures that could divide Daddy's attention.
My mother is great with LeRuof. I've seen how she comfortably carried, bathed and dressed LeRuof when he was a newborn. Knowing my mother, that came as a surprise to me. She laughed out loud with LeRuof during our vacations in Iloilo. Arriving from somewhere, I would enter the house and hear their laughter from my room. I know how happy she was with LeRuof. Everyone in our family know that she is not the most patient and most calm woman, but when it comes to LeRuof (and Dianne, my 10-year old cousin), she can stretch her patience for miles. Physically, Mommy is no longer that strong that's why she can't take care of LeRuof alone (we were lucky to have a very amiable Leonie, whom LeRuof likes so much, during our whole stay in Iloilo).
I have been disappointed by the delay of their coming over, especially mommy's who I fervently hoped would be here when we transferred apartment which coincided with Manuel's long business trips. But Mommy comes when she wants to, if she wants to. Anyway, it has always been my fault to hope.
But, I am very positive that they will both enjoy their stay here. They are together! What could be better than that? They have LeRuof. Who could resist their grandson (their only apo)? Best of all, their only purpose for coming over is purely vacation. Me hoping for Mommy to stay longer to help me out is wishful thinking. With sincerity, I know they deserve a good vacation. We will give them that.
