The last conversation I had with Lola (grandma in our dialect) went something like this “for shame, I have a boyfriend and you don’t!” this was spoken in Visayan which made it sound a lot funnier. Lola always made sure that she had her hair combed before picture taking and had a full on smile. At the age of 90 she still wore a bathing suit and joked about meeting guys.Lola Cheding, as she was fondly called, passed away two weeks ago at the age of 92, she has 10 children (whom she named alphabetically from A-J) and has numerous grands and great grands. In the past months, our family back home said that she had been in bed and could hardly open her eyes. The Lola I remember would walk up a flight of stairs and had great eyesight. She could spot us from her house to the plaza and would yell if we were hanging out with the wrong crew, she was feisty too. When we visited her, she would unload her imported chocolates and goodies so we could enjoy a special treat (most of the time they were expired, but who cares, it made us feel loved). Whenever she stayed with us in the city (Philippines) or visited Saipan, she always worried about her grandchildren in the province and made mom find out if they were doing okay without her. I especially loved her stories about the Japanese era and how she was a guy magnet.
It’s hard being far away from home in times like these but I know she lived a full life and was where she wanted to be…surrounded and remembered by people she loved and people who loved her.
We will miss you dearly Lola.
