It's been years since I had my last real noche buena -- that tradition when the family would gather together at night and eat at the strike of 12 then exchange gifts, etc etc. Since my 2 sisters got married, it's been always just the 3 of us - me, my mom and my dad.
In the past years: we'd have dinner at home on Christmas eve, around 9pm, with my sister and her family instead (since we're just neighbors). Then my sister and her family will go and spend their noche buena with my bro-in-law's family. My dad will then sleep, while mama and I will watch TV until almost 12. By 12, I'd [be forced to] slice ham and/or keso de bola (papa REALLY loves that) plus whatever's left after dinner. Then I'll set the table in a fancier way, then wake up my dad to eat. Then we'll eat together for maybe 30 minutes, then finally go to bed. Seriously, by 1am, we three are already sound asleep! Just that, nothing spectacular. And I don't really hate it, nor love it. Noche Buena's just like a mandatory midnight snack for me. I've kinda outgrown the jitters. I guess it's like that when you're the youngest!
This year, I'll be spending it with mama and papa still, but in a hospital apparently. Yesterday, my mom and I were planning how it would be since the food definitely can't be like the usual (usual Christmas foods will just make papa drool - he's still eating via NGT or tube feeding). We also have to sacrifice a bit since there's no place for us to sleep - it's either we'll go home at around 1-2am or we'll sleep on chairs until the next day, depends on the availability of my tito who drives for us - he has his own noche buena to mind too.
Most likely we'd go for anything as long as mama and I are there together for dinner or midnight snack (whenever papa's awake). We'll have sliced baguette or biscuits, cream cheese and strawberries -- because mama and I would love that, papa won't care (no ham, no keso de bola, he certainly won't care! haha). Also because that would be easier to bring - I volunteered to prepare everything so mama doesn't have to tire herself. Mama will instead make lugaw for papa just so he can say he tasted something real for noche buena (or jelly. anything smooth - it's the only texture he can swallow).
...then I can say that this may not be the best Christmas, but ironically, the most extraordinary one! And I think what makes this extraordinary is not really the food and venue. But the fact that after all the hospital drama late this year, I'm still blessed to have a father this Christmas. :)
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P.S. All hopes are back! He can now spell words (using the mini A-Z board I made) because he still can't talk due to the tracheostomy tube attached to him. But his brain functions really well. Repeatedly he'd spell "HOPIA" - his fave merienda which he certainly can't have for now. Whenever I visit, he'd lip-sync "SAN KA GALING". When it's time for us to leave he'd say "SAN KAYO PUPUNTA", or "SAMA AKO". He can also now sit down, with back support!
Yesterday the nurse told me, his temper was quite bad one afternoon - perhaps out of boredom or anger for he can't get that long requested hopia. He was able whisper while he closed his trach tube. He said, "uuwi na ako, ang daming pangit dito!"
:-|
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