My grandmother died a little over an hour ago at 4pm.  I called my mom in UAE.  It had to be me to tell my mother that her mother passed.  It’s not a really great feeling.  I choked as I heard my mother pause and started sobbing.  I remember her telling me that my dad is dead back in 1999 and I knew she was in a daze yet hurt when she told me that.  I don’t think anybody wants to be the bearer of the grim reaper’s news.  

I called my aunt and she was sniffling and sobbing.  My cousin was crying on the phone.  I thought of my grandfather.  He must be devastated.  He was.  I was told he inconsolable.

She has been sick for quite some time.  That woman has had a hard life.  Growing up dirt poor with numerous children in a life I can only watch in a Lino Brocka film.

When I was young I was fascinated by her long white hair and her tired eyes.  She looked too exhausted to be an enkantada yet she seemed to be gliding.

The last time I saw and spoke to Lola was last December, after Christmas.  Here are some of the last shots I took of her:

Mom is showing my grandparents a photo of my sister’s wedding.

I took this shot of my grandparents nonplussed by the party and were contently watching TV:

Good-bye, Lola.  May you finally know rest and peace.