Some plans in our family happen so fast that you barely have time to process them.
My sister suddenly decided that it was time for Mom to visit the US again. This time, though, there was one big difference—Mom would be flying alone.
Honestly, I wasn’t as nervous as I was the first time. She already experienced flying home by herself before, so we knew she could do it. Of course, we’d still make things as easy as possible for her. My sister arranged the same special assistance service at the airport. Mom isn’t very familiar with airports, and I know she’d get stressed trying to figure out where her gate is. Having someone assist her from check-in to boarding gives all of us peace of mind.
The funny part is how quickly everything happened.
My sister simply said, “Mom will fly on this date.”
And just like that… tickets were booked.
She even chose a Valentine’s Day flight.
So Mom and I ended up celebrating Valentine’s Day together at the airport before saying our goodbyes. It felt a little bittersweet. Last year, we celebrated together before she left, and this year, we’re doing the exact same thing. The only difference is that when she lands, she’ll get to celebrate Valentine’s with my sister and the family over there.
It’s strange how airports become places of both excitement and sadness at the same time.
Before heading to the airport, we stopped by my uncle’s house. From there, we booked a ride going to the airport. Once Mom had checked in and everything was settled, I decided to go back home since I have no other place to go.
Originally, I thought I’d stay one more day in Manila. I wanted to make the most of the trip, but I realized I didn’t really know where to go or what to do. Instead of wandering around aimlessly, I decided to head home.
So I caught a bus and made my way back.
Sometimes, the quiet ride home gives you enough time to think.
Life has a funny way of moving so quickly. One moment you’re hearing about a plan, and the next you’re standing at the airport saying goodbye. It’s never easy watching someone leave, even when you know they’re heading somewhere filled with love.
But seeing Mom become more confident each time she travels makes me proud.
Maybe that’s the beautiful part of growing older.
The things that once seemed impossible slowly become things we can do on our own.