Homeward Bound

I remembered when I was 7 years old growing up at the mountain province of Baguio in the Philippines. Since I lived there for 3 years, I was very familiar with the city and the passenger jeepney route. I remembered how to get to my school and the major tourist spots. You could say that at 7 years old I was a well travelled person.

I guess, it was bound to happen, when my Mom and I was visiting the city to do some shopping, that I got separated from her. We were crossing the crosswalk and I remembered reaching up for my Mom's hand. When I reached the other side, I looked up and, lo and behold, it was not my Mom's hand I was holding. I started to look around for my Mom, but I could not find her. I thought that she might be looking for me and she might be worried so I decided to go home on my own.

I first went to see if a friend who drove one of the jeepney was at the jeepney terminal to get a ride home. My Mom could always pay him later when we catched a ride on his jeepney to school. When I did not saw him, I decided to walk home. My house was near the city, but it seems a long ways off for my small legs to walk all the way home. For the life of me, I was never scared and knowing the way home it was just another day on the road. I was halfway home and just passed the hospital when a car suddenly stopped ahead of me and my Mom jumped out of the passenger side. My Mom was crying while hugging and kissing me. She asked where I went after I got separated from her and got lost. I told her that I was never lost and that I knew the way home. I told her if she did not find me that I would see her at the house.

I guess, after that episode that my Mom would rarely let myself or my three sisters from her sight while we were growing up. We are always a touch away. Even now, I can still see how my Mom keeps an eye on her grandkids when they are around her house or when they travel with them. I grew up knowing that I can always find my way home and knowing that my parents will always find me if I got lost again.