My mama’s been gone for over twelve years now, but I can still honor her memory by respecting all the other hard-working moms still with us. I wanted to do something special for the mothers at Hideaway Bar, so I had Joy solicit their suggestions for the Sunday feeding. The unanimous vote was for Jollibee.

I rarely do the Jollibee thing because it’s a bit of a pain in the ass. It’s across the river in Santo Tomas, which is in the opposite direction of Hideaway. And once you get your order, it’s not really feasible to lug all those bags of goodness to the far side of Barretto, so you need to grab a trike. And on Sundays in that direction, traffic is a bitch. But how do you decline the wishes of a mother on her day? I’m not THAT kind of mother fucker.

When the grub was finally ready, I had some good luck when a trike dropped off a passenger just as I walked outside. He also did a good job navigating traffic and got me to Hideaway without incident.

The bounty:

Anyway, it was a special treat to treat the Hideaway moms to food and beverage on their special day. It’s a hard life for them, but they keep on keepin’ on for their kids. It’s what mothers do.

I did my nightcap at Cheap Charlies. First time I’d been there in a couple of weeks, and the gals at least pretended that they’d missed me.

We were talking about Mother’s Day, and Nerissa asked me if I remembered my mom’s favorite song. I didn’t but told her my nephew and his Filipina wife performed Upward Over The Mountain at her funeral. I was touched that she got up and had it added to the music queue. It always brings tears to my eyes when I hear it now.

Mother, don't worry. I killed the last snake that lived in the creek bed
Mother, don't worry. I've got some money I saved for the weekend
Mother, remember being so stern with that girl who was with me?
Mother, remember the blink of an eye when I breathed through your body?

So may the sunrise bring hope where it once was forgotten
Sons are like birds flying upwards over the mountain

Mother, I made it up from the bruise on the floor of this prison
Mother, I lost it all of the fear of the Lord I was given
Mother, forget me now that the creek drank the cradle you sang to
Mother, forgive me I sold your car for the shoes that I gave you

So may the sunrise bring hope where it once was forgotten
Sons can be birds taken broken up to the mountain

Mother, don't worry. I've got a coat and some friends on the corner
Mother, don't worry. She's got a garden we're planting together
Mother, remember the night that the dog had her pups in the pantry?
Blood on the floor and the fleas on their paws,
And you cried 'til the morning.

So may the sunrise bring hope where it once was forgotten
Sons are like birds flying always over the mountain