My Tara, My Camelot

Unit 201 Mercedes I Condominium Annapolis Street, San Juan. That was our home for ten years. 1994 to 2004. Our tiny little shelter, our refuge (160 sqm, 2 br, 3t&b, 1mr). And oh those years, my age of innocence! I was talking to both of them earlier, and all we remember are crazy funny times, good times. all innocence and exuberance. It was our Camelot. Nikki, from age 6 to 16 and Luis from age 3 to 13!! The best years of their childhood. So many different stages of their growing up years which all three of us thoroughly enjoyed - mostly by ourselves. As Luis said when he was little -- 'our one SMALL happy family'. And the best years of my adulthood too! (nevermind the age range). I had just immersed myself in my fab merchandising job at Rustan's (was with the original cosmetics team - Rhoda Campos and Maribel Paterno as my peers and Malyne Fernandez as our boss - it was just the four of us handling that giant of a growing department), was travelling to Singapore and Malaysia in 95 and 96, was totally done with Guil (in 1992) and the boyfriend I had after him (TMG as my kids refer to him. or The Mon Guy). And for 10 years took a respite from heartaches and men. no boyfriend, no dates. Just Nikki, Luis and my job. Oh sure the last two years 03 and 04 were not without their dramas in terms of some men-matters, ah, but nothing my heart couldn't manage given time and my unwavering faith in Him up there (who has been with me ALL through these years mind you). Of course 2004 onwards is an entirely different matter now, and has presented so many challenges for me - as a parent, as a career person, and as a woman seeking - and hurt by - love.
But I digress. I mentioned Mercedes (ok, the pronunciation depends on who you're talking to. It's Mer-zey-diz for the sosyaleras and just plain Mer-se-des for the rest of the world). It was another lump-in-the-throat occasion for me when we decided to pay our last our very LAST visit to Mercedes the other day to take pictures. Mom (after one giant altercation - again, nevermind the details, will reserve for another journal..has to do with her forgetfullness) asked us to take pictures as Mercedes would soon be gone. Mercedes my Tara, my Camelot. It was finally SOLD last week. And so, here is Mercedes...it is totally bare now of course, but our spirits, our memories are still there. Our laughter, I think, got left behind in those walls. At least mine did.