the choices we make

coming from a funeral, mom asked where we want to go for the customary pagpag [shake off].

(philippine superstition has it that you're not supposed to go straight home from a wake / funeral.  you stop someplace else to shake off unpleasant energies / spirits before going home.)

dad:  'me, anywhere...  you be the ones to choose...'

mom:  'how 'bout <bakeshop>?'

me:  'ok...  i love their turtle pie...'

mom asks brother:  'is <bakeshop> ok with you?'

brother:  'anywhere's fine with me...'

nearing the place, dad goes:  'if there, we still have to make a u-turn, <blah-blah-blah>...  not there...'

brother stops the vehicle and asks whether we'd prefer the restaurant we just passed...

mom and i say ok.

brother backs up the vehicle a few meters.

my dad sees the parking lot and goes:  'there are no people there...  not there...'

brother:  'where do you want?'

dad:  'me, anywhere...  ask mom...'

mom does not answer.

me:  'she has chosen twice...  you didn't like her choices...  just ask <brother>...'

brother:  'how 'bout <chicken house>?  you like that?'

mom's fine with it.

i'm fine with it.

dad:  'but we can't park at the mall, right?  [the vehicle won't  clear the vertical limit.]'

brother:  'i can park outside...'

dad:  'better to eat where we can park...'

mom goes:  'you like <barbecue house>, right?  you want there?'

dad:  'okay.'

and that's where we went.

; p