The rooster and the scent of my youth

Sampaguita (Arabian Jasmine)

The excitement of having a tiny front space and a little backyard energized Brack to plant shrubs, vines, and semi-dwarf fruit trees. Amongst the firsts he planted were a couple of “Sampaguita,” (Arabian Jasmine) I got from Lowes. Sampaguita is the Philippines' national flower and one of the three plants/trees dearest to my heart, the other two were Rosal (Ever Blooming Gardenia) and Ylang-ylang. The first two existed at my grandparent's yard while two or three Ylang-ylang huge trees shaded my godmother's backyard which is adjacent to my grandparent's backyard.

These trees and its flowers hold innocent and happy memories of my youth. In grade school, I used to pick Sampaguita, make leis, and together with Rosal flowers sell them to neighbors for some change I used for school money the following day. There were times I'm lucky to pick Ylang-ylang by the fence and sell it too. Rosal was my grandfather's favorite. He worked wonders with its leaves, my grandfather played good music with it. I recalled he became a finalist at this contest but lost to someone who played music using a saw.

How I missed those days living with my grandparents. I would never forget it, in fact I want to relive them, if I can.

Now that I'm living in the Valley, somehow I am re-experiencing those moments. The lush vegetation, the mountains, the breeze of air in early evenings – reminiscent of the scent of air in my hometown. The rooster that crows at dawn, no one can imagine the happiness it brings me to hear them again after missing it for 11 years.

Rosal (Ever Blooming Gardenia)

In our backyard, I wondered why the builder would highlight this small unattractive plant with Malibu light. A few months later, tears fell from my eyes when Brack called me and showed me it has flowers. It is a Rosal. I sat and leaned forward to smell the flowers. Immediately, the memories went back, thoughts of my grandfather and everything else.

I told my teenagers the story of the flowers and my school money. A past I regret they didn't have the chance to experience. Treasures of real happiness no high-tech gadgets today could bring.

The Mini-Plum Tree

Peaches

Weeks back I picked mini plums from our backyard...today peaches.

Mortgage and Ladders

After withdrawing from two offers to purchase, we finally closed escrow on my birthday and shortly settled in this humble Mediterranean-inspired home in Sylmar, a district in Los Angeles they call the rough diamond of the Valley.

Though not really superstitious, I appreciated that the main entrance faces sunrise in the mornings and the rooms properly located as in feng shui. Aside from being new, Brack and I were enticed with the calming breeze of wind and the lively sound of chirping birds during our first two visits to this community – thus, on third visit which happened to be our 19^th wedding anniversary, we submitted the offer and immediately opened escrow.

Here in the US, people who buy homes for the first time are called “first time home owners.” Since this is not the first we own, because we also maintain one back home, I'd rather call us “first time mortgage holders,” for behind the pride of ownership, lies beneath, a long mortgage commitment. An agreement big and long-enough to strengthen our commitment to stay together until the debt is paid, so they say.

Along with the mortgage, we now have in our possession 4 ladders of different heights and uses. Something we never had before, not a necessity when we were renting. The ladders helps us handle the day to day activities inside and outside our high-ceiling abode. One “two-step”ladder for walk-in closet which doubles as a kitchen ladder. Another “two-step” ladder for cleaning our cars.

A “six-step” ladder for changing bulbs of the recessed lighting, in case they get busted, and to access the attic. And finally, a “twelve-step” ladder for cleaning the chandelier, the windows, and later for pruning the trees which may come many years from now because Brack just planted them.

Owning a home, or a mortgage, tremendously reduced our disposable income. It's a coincidence we own too many a-ladder because each step of those ladders represent the escalating expenses we must learn to manage, breaking even the joy of ownership.

The ladders then are our tools, a means of rising, a reminder that we should continue reaching out and upwards to meet our goals. I wonder how other first-time home owners are adjusting...they own ladders too, for sure.