... and now there were two

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The reality that the holiday season has ended has come at last. Fireworks have been spent, the Christmas gifts have been opened, and the holiday food have all been eaten. The Epiphany is over a few days ago, and devotees of the Black Nazarene are currently now in Quiapo, Manila risking life and limb to touch the statue while its is being transported back to the church from Luneta Park. 

Anna and I have said good bye once again to the balikbayans in our family; the first time was the hardest, but the second time isn't less sad. Life goes back to what has been "normal" in the last four years. Everyone will be back to his/her daily routine by Monday.

Their leaving reminds me of the final chapters in "The Return of the King" (J.R.R. Tolkien): one by one, members of the Fellowship returned home. In the end, only the hobbits were left to go back to the Shire.

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