Tita Mely's birthday party

While the siblings were still together, plans for Tita Mely's birthday party were underway. She didn't want a celebration because the family is in the period of mourning. When I dropped by for dinner with them, I said that it wouldn't exactly be a party or a celebration. Since it was her birthday, she was just going to declare a rest day from cooking; that's why dinner would be outside. Nothing fancy. Just dinner.

One birthday party day: When I got to the restaurant, Lam Hung (another favorite Chinese restaurant of mine), the whole family was there; the priest was there; family friends were there. And most importantly, Tita Mely was enjoying her birthday dinner. 


The birthday dinner was, for me, a reminder of close family ties: a tight family that is together in sad times and in happier ones.

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