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| MARINDUQUENOS OF THE EASTERN SEABOARD OF AMERICA ANDREW PLACE EAST BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY |
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| ... sojourn A lot of delivery trucks are on the road already, Steve whispered in a choking voice. Thelma seemed to got the message and swung to the right lane. I seconded by saying, "just keep your distance from the truck Thel". I put my eyeglasses on to have a better view of what's ahead of us - also helping and guiding Thelma with the construction cones lined-up on the dark road. When it all cleared up, I heard a sudden sound of the engine accelerating to a nerve wracking speed. The Expedition was doing its thing with Thelma behind the wheel. I was not breathing at this point, but nobody knew it. It was cold, but I was sweating. I can hear my heartbeats. It was dark, but I can see clearly ahead. I have to. The truck again was wading gracefully with the traffic cones lined up and looked like a luminous giant snake. But she did it so beautifully that Alma went asleep soundly. She probably felt the rocking motion which put her to sleep like a baby. Thelma was confidently driving now - after half an hour. She's talking, she's telling jokes and stories about her professional experiences being a Realtor. I sensed Steve settled down. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. Yes, my eyes were closed but I was still very much awake ... all the time. FOG, FOG We stopped for gas and relieved our-selves. Took a breather for 30 minutes or so. This was before Valparaiso, Indiana, somewhere. Steve took over the wheel. This would be the final leg of our journey. I was still in front on the passenger side. Thelma felt accom-plished and rested at the seat behind us. With Tata Steve driving, it was a smooth ride even though it was foggy and bit slippery. |
| We passed Valparaiso at around 3:30 am. I was going to call Dr. Rudy Jao on Steve's cell phone but changed my mind. It was still very early in the morning. I heard doctors work long hours in the hospital and taking care of their patience. CHICAGO HERE WE COME We arrived in foggy Chicago at around 5:30am. I was still wide awake. We passed by Rico Ricohermoso's place and turned back and drove out of the block and found an open deli some miles away. Steve parked in the store's parking lot. Al and I went inside the store and bought coffees to warm up ourselves a little bit. We still have plenty of food: siopaos, chicken sandwiches, candies, etc. I don't know our exact location so I asked one guy coming out of the store where Wheeling (Illinois) was. He said it's about 30 miles from where we were. I intend to call Joey Rejano but I don't have his Tel. number. We were supposed to go to Steve's relatives who's having a party later on Saturday evening but we can't see the road signs. Visibility was very, very poor. I don't think Steve know how to go to his cousin's place at that foggy condition. Bes Sulit, a classmate of mine in high school, came to my mind, but just the same, I don't have his number. Al Molato jumped into the scene and said he's going to call Lucy Logatoc Rubio. He did. Lucy's daughter answered the phone. Al identified himself - "hello, this is Tito Al. Do you know Tito Bes Sulit's telephone number? (Al knew that Bes's house is closer than Lucy's). She looked for the telephone directory and found Bes's number. She wasn't sure though of the area code. But that was not really a problem. |
| GOT IT I have now the number that can save us from disorientation in this foggy/windy city. I got connected the first try. Salve, the most gracious, well mannered woman I've ever known (at this early morning call) answered the phone and I i.d. myself right away. Aaah, eeh. I tried to start a good "openning remarks" but the damn words got in the way. Ah.. Eh.. We just arrived from New Jersey, I finally started and explained to her the purpose of my call. We are at 1st Street and Fairview Avenue - somewhere, as Steve was dictating to me. Salve at this point was trying to analyze our situation and so she decided to wake up (poor) Bes. Hello! uttered Bes. I immediately recognized his voice. I responded, Pare, si Rey Muhi ito. "Oh, Rey nasaan ka?" answered Bes in a confused way, I think. I explained first our situation and then gave him our location. "You're not too far from us", he said. He invited us and gave me the direction going to their house. This time, the morning sun was trying to make its way out of the thick clouds. We easily got to Bes and Salve's beautiful place. The front lights were lit (an indication that they welcomed us). Salve and Bes invited us in. I felt releived. We were in Naperville, Illinois. They offered us coffee, orange juice, cake, and best of all - a refuge. We talked about our wonderful trip for a while and the New Jerseyans went to sleep (except me) until 11:30 am. I just lied down and stretched flat on my back but still awake. We went to Rico's house at around 12pm for the meeting he hosted. We accomplished a lot of things most importantly regarding our plan to hold another Medical Mission to Marinduque. We all went to the wedding reception after the meeting and met quiet a few kabayans there from Gasan. Gasan has a especial place in my heart because my mother and grandmother were from that beautiful town. /By Rey J. Muhi |
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