ALPOTICISMS

Maybe it's the introvert in me that is really hating this day. Or the heat. Or my sleeplessness. Or a combination of both.

Where do we draw the line of being an introvert and an antisocial?

So I planned to have a relaxing weekend at home to celebrate Mother's Day. Probably sleep most of the weekend like I usually do. I think for call center people like me, sleeping the weekend off is the norm, with our messed up to almost non-existing circadian rhythm. And the still ongoing, unbearable heat coupled with the widespread Metro Manila outage last week meant that I had been on zombie autopilot for most of my work week. 

I've been looking forward to this weekend since I wanted to do a Meryl Streep marathon - something I've thought of doing for a long time. I had Sophie's Choice and Kramer vs. Kramer on queue and it's probably a toss-up between Doubt and The Iron Lady for my third choice. But the former two are definitely a must-see this weekend for me. I admit that I'm not a movie afficionado who has seen all Streep's work, but I loved her performance in The Devil Wears Prada. And after a Google conquest, you get to learn all her accolades and her filmography through the years. This ultimately led to my curiosity as to what is in her that made her get those 17 Oscar nods - two of her wins being the inspirations of my first two film choices.

And after Sophie's Choice, I finally understand the brilliance that is Meryl Streep. And it makes me hungry for her even more. Add this to the fact that the Holocaust has always been a subject that's close to my heart. So I promised myself that I'd be seeing more of her in many more weekends to come.

But enough of that. I'm here to rant about how I'm hating this day. Not because it's Mother's Day but because I hate being around a lot of people. And no amount of Meryl Streep can change that.

My eldest sister decided to have one of her typical on-the-spur-of-the-moment things by having the family go to Jed's Island for Mother's Day. I really didn't want to go but my eldest nephew, whose parents are abroad, didn't have anyone to accompany him. So to my dismay, my countless no's to my sister really didn't have anything against the pleadings of my nephew. Had no choice but to tag along. I guess it's the second degree paternal instinct in me that can't say no, especially when my nephews and niece are involved. So guess who's uncle of the year?

Here is how my Sunday went:

Sleepless after waking up at 5 in the morning. 

Plans for more Meryl this weekend, ruined. 

Getting lost on the road. 

No Wi-Fi. I repeat, no Wi-Fi.

Sunday morning Mother's Day. 

Armies of families.

Hordes of screaming kids.

And being outside this god forsaken heat. Yes, let's not forget about the heat.