Tita Flor and TIto Ben

I had the pleasure of seeing my Tita Flor and Tito Ben two weeks ago. They came to visit to my mom and Dad, who are both interred in St. James the Great Parish within the village. Tita Flor and my mom have been best friends since their dentistry school days. I know that Tita Flor was my mom’s favorite person. During the pandemic, they would do a video call every week.   I can sympathize with how heartbroken Tita Flor must have been when Mom died three years ago.

I find it remarkable that Tita Flor and Tito Ben, at 90 years old, could still travel from Los Angeles to Manila. However, they are not as strong as they once were. When I saw them, Tito Ben looked rather frail, and Tita Flor needed a cane. What I admire about them is that they still have a good memory of the little things. They also have no issues with their short-term memory. They visited last year as well, so I was surprised that they came again this year. I feel sad at the thought that this might be their last visit unless they have someone to accompany them. I have known Tita Flor and Tito Ben to be very independent because of their long stay in the US. They always do everything by themselves. Perhaps that is one reason why they are physically and mentally fit. It would be a blessing if they could visit us again. It is always nice to listen to their stories from the old days when they and my mom were young.