I Knew I was Back Home in SF When-

• Coming home from the airport, I saw no more jeepneys, buses, motorcycles, tricycles and whatever other vehicles driving recklessly with no signals when changing lanes, no car horns tooting, no road rage, etc., etc., etc.!
• There were no more pedestrians crossing the streets every which way!
• I saw my name badge to work hanging on the hallway door knowing vacation's over
• I had no more rice for breakfast, lunch, dinner, including meriendas, and now, it's cereal or oatmeal for breakfast
• I saw my packet of cocoa tablets the cook gave me so I could do my own hot chocolate and/or champorado

Endringggg!! Where's my champorado??

• Before coming out of the house, I was instinctively looking for my boots!
• My luggage was unpacked halfway; correction, not even a third done - oops!
• I saw the computers and knew I could blog again! - Here I am!
• Above all, I knew I could not hug my Mother again, nor sleep with her, nor cover her with blanket to make sure she was always warm, nor brush her hair, nor give her a massage, nor eat with her, drink coca-cola with her, (her favorite so sometimes I join her with "Cheers!"), chat with her, joke with her, play the piano for her and so on and so on, and realized that all I could do for now is to call her overseas every so often just to hear her voice again until my next trip home... I miss my Mom!