most of the time, I forget that attending obligatory family gatherings can be nice. Even therapeutic. Aside from the normal catching up on each other's lives, there's the funny anecdotes and bloopers from family members/relatives. And of course the abundance of food. This year, my tita was not able to cook her famous home-made lasagna recipe (which is actually the first menu to disappear on the table). She said that due to her hectic schedule, she was not able to buy some of the necessary ingredients on time, which meant the supermarkets ran out of stock. But she compensated by cooking the ever-present spaghetti this season, among other things of course. Mind you, this is not just your regular pinoy spaghetti served in most households. Her pasta recipes are always to die for. This year, the pasta she used was bought all the way from Italy itself, the time when she, her husband and my pretty cousin went to Europe a few months back. She bought it at this 'pasta factory' somewhere in Venice. I actually saw their pictures from their Europe trip. I still can't believe they were able to get inside the Louvre and saw the Mona Lisa. I gasped when I saw the photo of Marie Antoinette's bedroom up close, and of course, King Louise IV's room. The extravagance, the opulence, the grandeur. The chandeliers were real crystals! Anyway, I digress. I generally don't enjoy these family gatherings because some relatives ask too many personal questions-- such as how much you're earning so far. Or if you're moving up the corporate ladder, if at all. I squirm in my seat if the questions are about my personal relationships. I normally don't discuss them, unless it's a matter of urgency. However, I was able to survive this holiday season. I actually enjoyed myself. I felt relieved and exultant even. Happy Solstice!
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