This is the shortest weekend I'll have in LB in quite a while. Arrived this morning with what is already my foolproof travel day and time (Sunday, 6 am), swooped down coffee already waiting for me and a quick chat with Tatay before Nanay arrives from the market. As is the custom, he will ask me if I have any colored clothing up for the laundry cycle and as always, it'll be the jeans I'm wearing, the same pair of jeans worn when I left early in the week. (Let us not try to imagine the layer of dust, grime, sweat and whatever already at home on it.)

When Nanay arrives, I waste no time in dishing out the events of the previous week, never mind if I already relayed most of the information over the phone which, chances are, she promptly forgot as soon as we said our good nights. She will let out her lilting laugh, express shock over people she only knows by name, and give her emphatic opinions on issues both mine and others.

Tomorrow is Monday and everybody will try to get their bearings throughout the morning. So will I, an unusual event for me since my Monday is Tuesday, but I have an afternoon class and I have to meet Ruth for an early lunch to fix them recommendation letters. Finally. Two down, one more to go.

Oh happy week!