I went straight home after work yesterday, and arrived just in time for dinner. Usually I don't arrive home to have dinner with my family. On normal days, I stay in Greenbelt and eat dinner there or hang out with some friends I manage to run into. And even when I'm at home, I hardly eat with my family because I would still be sleeping, or eat early or late.

So anyway, it felt pretty surreal. For the first time in ages. There was my mom and dad, plus my aunt and my cousin. There was that simple joy of talking and joking around with them. And I actually caught my dad calling me "Apong," one of his pet names for me as a little girl. He hasn't called me that in years.

This morning I was sitting in the dining room having breakfast with my mom and aunt. Mom brought up the topic about my cousins in California and Washington, then I suddenly quipped if we could visit them. My mom and my aunt said that I could go if I want to, and I could take a day off from work to fix everything. Interesting.