MY ROAD OF HOPE…HOOTTIE!

House to school…school to house…my daily routine in my school life.

The minute I reached our house, I got out of the car, rushed in and ran up the stairs quietly to my room in the attic. Everyday, from school, after I put down my stuff, I went straight to my window to look at my favorite view. I would stare at this view…miles and miles away in the mountainside. In my young teenage years, my day would never be complete without looking at that beautiful and refreshing sight.

It was a road going up the mountainside towards the city, filled with cars and all kinds of vehicles. That was the most beautiful sight for me then. That was the road that gave me happiness, after a long day at school. I called it ‘My Road of Hope.’ I was always hoping that my Brother would be in one of the buses that passed by that road, coming home.

There were no cellphones yet or any communications whatsoever between me and our eldest Brother if he was coming home. All I knew was that he was riding on a bus that pass through that road, imagining that I will clearly see him as I wave at him no matter the distance was. Whenever I see a bus going up that road, a smile is glued on my face. He always comes home every month from his school 6 hours away from our city, and that was one of my happiest moments that I will cherish in a million lifetime…because…our family would be complete when he arrives. Whenever we were complete as a family, we would gather around our dining table updating family members about our activities and accomplishments…just sharing stories and laughing and teasing one another. We would go to church on Sundays, again, as a family, with matching clothes. Yes!!! Daddy and Mommy would wear their couple custom made Sunday fashion…and my 3 brothers and I wear the same outfits Daddy and Mommy bought…I remember our Adidas jogging suits!!! I wore the red one, and my brothers had blue, green and yellow. That was what we wore on my Birthday Mass. My last birthday that we were complete as a family. Gosh! A joyous and unforgettable birthday ever…to be kept in my treasure chest… my childhood destined memories.

I will never forget the day my Brother arrived in July, 2 days before my birthday, I was still looking out of my attic window, waiting for a bus to appear in the mountainside road. Suddenly, I heard heavy footsteps ascending the stairs, but I was too focused not to miss a single bus on My Road of Hope.

“I’m home!!!” … I heard his voice and I just screamed and ran towards him and hugged him like I always did. With his super duper happy tone, he said, “Come let’s go down, I have a surprise for you!” I ran as fast as I could behind him, that I almost missed a step going down the stairs, and my Brother was there holding me tight.

As I looked at my surprise, I stopped and I suddenly sat on a squat position and unbelievably, I didn’t say a word! I lost my tongue. I just couldn’t talk. I was just so happy! There was silence…until I whispered “Is that an Owl?”…while clinging unto my Brother’s arm. It was my very first time to see an Owl up close.

“What would you like to name your Baby Owl?” my Brother asked.

“We rescued this baby owl in one of our Mountain Climbing events. We brought the baby to the Vet and we have to change his wound dressing until he totally gets well. When he is a little bit older, we can bring him back to the mountains to reunite with his family,” he added. Still unable to speak and in tears, I hugged my Brother so tight and he said,” Happy Birthday!”

I was out of words just staring at my surprise in tears, feeling that I really had to stay with Baby owl. All I did was to watch him and think of a name.

“That’s it! From now on, your name is Hoottie.” He made a slight hooting, soft-distinct sound as if giving me a heads up that he liked his name. As I was looking at Hoottie, I suddenly got up my chair, ran fast towards my room, the attic, and took the pocketbook I was engrossed with, a Perry Mason three in one book. Without wasting time, I ran back to Hoottie and read to him.

After an hour of reading my book, my Mommy came to me and said dinner is ready. That was the only time I left Hoottie.

“Stay here Hoottie, I’ll just grab a bite and I’ll be back, ok?” Hoottie looked at me like he understood every word I said.

“Mommy, can I sleep with Hoottie?” I asked my Mom at the dinner table. She smiled at me and said, “you can just say goodnight to Hoottie after dinner and check him out when you wake up in the morning.” I did exactly what Mommy told me.

The day Hoottie arrived, unknowingly, changed my daily routine.

Even when I was in school, I would think about Hoottie. I felt so excited to see him right after school. I realized then, that Hoottie became my Road of Hope.

Taking care of Hoottie felt like my Brother was always beside me…that…our family was always complete. I knew Hoottie will not stay with me forever, but the thought that he was cared for and he had a family, is enough for me. I am an animal pet lover ever since I was a child, and Hoottie was then a part of my life. I knew he will be going back to the mountains someday, and the moments he was with our family will be treasured… Another cherished memory in my chestbox-check!

My Brother could not be by my side always, making our family complete, but he brought Hoottie home to us, an assurance that he is with us. A promise, that he will be home again soon!!!

Thank you My Road of Hope…Hoottie…our Baby Owl!

After 2 decades, guess what!!!

Hootie is back!

My 6 year old daughter Veronica brought back Hoottie in our home.

She drew a barn owl, (the picture of an owl above), her masterpiece. It’s a work of art! My firstborn really drew it freehand style and colored it perfectly. I was overwhelmed and I knew that it was Hoottie! My memories of Hoottie in my childhood days came back to life in a drawing.

I showed Hoottie’s portrait to everyone in the family and they remembered him. I told my daughter about Hoottie’s adventure with us and she was excited and all ears listening with her little Sister Victoria. I can never imagine that our barn owl would come back to our new home…I sure am positive that this is no coincidence. It was bound to happen…My Road of Hope will keep coming back maybe to all the next generations in all forms, unexpectedly. I’m pretty sure that My Road of Hope…Hoottie… will always be part of our lives…bringing Hope to our growing family!

Till we meet again Hoottie! Surprise me and my family anytime again soon!