Dearest Chi-chi

 Do you remember the story behind this picture?

We were about to go home when someone yelled, "Wait! We haven’t taken photos!" So, we hastily looked for a place to pose. Normita’s man was a few paces behind us, so we had no one to hand our cameras to. In a moment of blondness, I grabbed the security guard gabbing away at a corner. I gave him my camera and told him, "Can you please take our picture?"

"Syor mam," he said. I showed him which button to press while all of you hooted and laughed. "Sus, anginon pa gyud ang sikyu!" Mimi ribbed. But the man was confident he knew how to handle my equipment. He cued us, "Wan, two, three… i-smayl!"

We smiled, only to burst out laughing when we realized instead of taking our picture, the guard had turned the camera off. The poor guy was flustered. He signaled that he will try again. "Wan, two, three…" His fingers strayed towards the big "off" button again.

"Noy!" we shrieked, only that time, the joke was on us. He had gotten it right; nd there we were frozen in a moment of pure hilarity - arms and legs akimbo, tonsils showing.

I grin whenever I look at this picture, Chi, because it reminds me how beautiful that night had been and what a truly wonderful person you are. I hope you feel the web of love and support the girls are sending your way. We do not for a single moment entertain the thought of failure. With a name like Maria, how can you fail? Think of the women with the same name. One birthed Jesus, and another made the hills leap to life with the sound of music.

So you see, you can make it in NZ, woman, because you’re strong and brave and fiercely intelligent and there are scads and scads of people who believe you can. Their faith in you will give you strength when yours weakens, and their outpouring of love will give you the courage to forge ahead, no matter what lies ahead.

You are loved. You’ve been missed, and now, it’s time you kick some ass in NZ. Show them girls who eat sardines have balls - serious balls. They’ve hearts sturdier and more stalwart than tin cans and they don’t take no for an answer.