My #lockdown ended up being a life of discoveries.

Discovering my adult children and their partners are kinder, gentler, more compassionate and really know how to survive in a pandemic. All I did was say yes to what they offered: indoor plants, groceries, prepared lunches and bento boxes from very good places at affordable prices. I felt so pampered and pumped up by their love.

That goes also for my brave octogenarian neighbors, Bonnie and Larry who are just the best examples of kindness, weeding our front lawn, buying me croissants, and making apple tarte tartine.

The best discovery is to be supported by my hubby, not indulged, not pampered, supported by basics of life: harvesting lettuce, tomatoes, strawberries, baking sourdough bread, washing dishes and who did the groceries every 10 days and made power juice for the family.

Without a cleaning lady, I was physically exhausted with cleaning, laundry, cooking, baking. Good thing I had Koreanovelas to relax with at night.

Last night, I felt liberated. I could not sleep until I finished writing a piece. Thanks for encouraging me YB Chavez, my #earthsangels in writing, source of comedy – I managed to get beyond writer’s block.

My daily sources of inspiration came from Jesuit priest, Fr. James Martin, two priests of Holy Family Church in Artesia ( Fr. John Cordero and Fr. Joachim Ablanida), Fr. Joel Bugas in NM, Fr. Rodel G.Balagtas‘ phone calls and texts, Bishop Marc Trudeau and Pope Francis.

My source of facts and science came from Spectrum News, LA Times, New York Times, Washington Post and Governor Andrew Cuomo, a voice of logic, common sense, reason, empathy and commitment to public good, as Assemblymember Rob Bonta, Gov. Newsom, and Mayor Eric Garcetti.

I know we are not yet out of the pandemic but I just want to thank all that I could while I can. Thank you for supporting this Grandma.

Best part of this pandemic is how Hydee Ursolino and son created a website for me with so much love, inspiring me to write over 50 journal digital entries. This is truly a labor of love from mother, son, and cousin.

Check out this website: www.lotusrainier.com

Today’s unexpected gifts of frozen filet mignon and lobster tails came by Fedex. Oh my, I was just thinking of what to get for dinner and it came via FedEx.

Thank you God for my family, community and friends! Thank you to Mon David and Nicole David Yalong who braved the first week of pandemic to bring us oranges, Nonoy Alsaybar for the oranges last week, Ana Burog for the mangoes, dear friend C for our ube pandesal, pandesal, siopao, palabok; Don Martin Sagarbarria and Miko Zuñiga for sending ensaymadas and Thea Fernandez Martinez for taking care of my Yoli orders. I feel so loved by family and friends!! Salamat po!!