Fruits in Tupi

I had nothing planned on Holy Thursday. The plan was to do nothing, except meditate, pray, and soak in the solitude and peace that holidays impose on willing, world-weary creatures. 

But I remembered that the five-year old washing machine at home recently broke down. Neneng who visits a couple of times a week to do the laundry and general cleaning said, "Daw guba na gid. Pero napuslan gid siya. Nagdugay, hindi parehas sang iban. Nami ni nga brand." Everyone at home realized we had to buy a new one. But the mall was closed; the website confirmed it. Another mall was open, though. Nanay asked if she could come with me. She'd like to buy something, nothing in particular—the hobby of the retired. I had to see patients to see in Gensan anyway.  

So we bonded in the mall. We expected a bigger crowd, but it was the regular people we saw. There were noisy, happy children with their doting mothers; miserable children with their phones (the dangers of the smartphone! Their parents should read Jonathan Haidt!); harried customers paying for their last-minute groceries (the mall would close on Good Friday); families eating in restaurants. We did not buy a washing machine. The selection was limited. 

Nanay slept through the whole ride but was awakened when I slowed down and parked along the highway, where the fruit stands were. She had been asking me to buy fruit but I always forgot. While she surveyed the fruit stalls, I took pictures. 

This old house looked charming. I love the windows. 

Papaya. The family's favorite is the red solo variety, best served when it's chilled. Manong eats it to cure his hyperacidity, Nanay her constipation.

Singkamas. 

Durian: heavenly. 

Still more papaya and avocado. 

And that was it for our Holy Thursday. 

Something to meditate on: 

Colossians 1:13–14, 19–22 (NKJV)
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins….For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.