FLIPSIDE

by Nelia Dingcong Bernabe
February 1, 2012
It was a simple phone call from my older daughter that triggered the shift in my mind-set. “Mom, see if you can find the book, When They Zig, You Zag by Siimon Reynolds,” she tells me.
“Huh? When you what you what now?” I asked her. Never heard of the book. Never heard of Siimon Reynolds (double “i” on the name) either. But that abruptly changed. Continue reading →

by Nelia Dingcong Bernabe
January 16, 2012
I watched my husband grin from ear to ear as he walked out of Staples Center in Los Angeles on Christmas Day after watching his first ever NBA game. In the land of purple and gold, he fit right in. He was with his people and he looked like he just struck gold. Continue reading →

by Nelia Dingcong Bernabe
January 1, 2012
James and I are hanging out in Starbucks, waiting for our daughter’s oil change at a dealership across the street to be done. What better way to kill time than to be here where the bold aromatic deliciousness of coffee tickles your nostrils and sends you to a happy place? Continue reading →

by Nelia Dingcong Bernabe
December 1, 2012
Around here we often say it’s not Christmas until there’s snow on the ground. Year after year, we look forward to the white fluffy stuff hoping to be mesmerized by its appearance as we look out the window the following morning. Nothing beats the feeling of watching snowflakes fall, knowing that a white Christmas is inevitable. It’s simply magical! Continue reading →

by Nelia Dingcong Bernabe
December 1, 2012
As we transition over to the holiday of gift giving and spreading cheers, my gratitude countdown does not stop simply because Thanksgiving 2012 came and went. It’s been a few weeks, I know, but last month was election month and that sapped all my energy out. The anticipation was killing me and by the time Election Day came, I could not wait for it to be over. I was tired and ready to move on. Continue reading →

by Nelia Dingcong Bernabe
November 16, 2012
The silence is deafening. There’s nary a peep, a twitch, nor a sigh. Nothing. Instead I hear silence, deafening silence that runs through the core of my body like a dagger to my chest. Why so quiet, peeps? In the voice of my African American friend Mich (she’s really real), “Where you at? Where you at, fool?” Continue reading →

by Nelia Dingcong Bernabe
November 1, 2012
I remember like it was just yesterday. It was the first day of grad school and walking into a classroom at this Big Ten University in Evanston, Illinois many moons ago made me think, “If aliens landed on earth, this must be how they felt!” Panic-stricken, I briskly walked over to an empty seat at the back of the room hoping that nobody saw me. Wishful thinking! Continue reading →

by Nelia Dingcong Bernabe
February 14, 2011
For a while now, I’ve watched this lady push the wheelchair every day. She does it with so much love and care that it makes me take a double look at my life and reassess my purpose every time I see her do it. Continue reading →

by Nelia Dingcong Bernabe
January 31, 2011
So, did you watch President Obama’s State of the Union address last Tuesday? What did you think? Did you walk away from it reassured or did the sinking feeling that you’ve stoically kept in place for a while now spiral into the abyss? Continue reading →

by Nelia Dingcong Bernabe
January 21, 2011
Two weeks later, we are still talking about the tragedy in Tucson. The aftermath of the carnage yielded six deaths and 13 injuries including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords who is in serious condition with the extent of her injuries still unknown. Continue reading →