His homecoming is DEFINITELY a SPECIAL EVENT!

Dodong and I are already talking about his next homecoming. I know he is still here, yet it seems as if I am sending him off! Hehehehe

For now, he still can't pinpoint when exactly he will be coming home next year since there are a lot of factors that come into play with this decision. Aside from the fact that, of course, work load is a crucial factor, which includes asking permission from the powers that be at work.

Here are the non-work top factors for consideration in scheduling homecomings…

Special Occasions with "Normal people" (i.e. family, friends, colleagues)

One of the reasons Dodong came home is to attend his high school classmate's wedding, which we did go to last weekend in Tagaytay. If I remember correctly, the earlier homecoming this year was also scheduled (or maybe it was just a coincidence?) during another friend's wedding. The abundance of weddings of friends in 2010 is actually creating quite a dilemma. Tsk tsk tsk.

Of course, Christmas is the biggest homecoming occasion for OFWs like him. This is the biggest Pinoy gathering of family and friends. So he has to really fight with the hundreds (oh, okay maybe I'm exaggerting) of OFWs in his office to get a vacation leave. This month's homecoming is I guess also a Christmas one. Though he won't be here. Christmas is a few days away anyway.

Special Couple Occasions

Another special occasion we are looking at is our Anniversary. We haven't been able to spend 2 anniversaries together. So next year, our 8th year anniversary, I am hoping Dodong would be home.

Dentist – Doctor appointments

Though he is covered by health insurance in the desert, Dodong makes it a point to time homecomings when he is in need of dental-medical attention. For the past homecomings, he makes it a point to visit the dentist for the regular oral prophylaxis (is this the correct spelling?). Luckily, a very good friend of mine is his dentist. Hehehe! Friendly prices are an added bonus when undergoing procedures. Hihihi!

Travel documentation updates

Dodong also went home to renew his passport. A good thing for OFWs is that they have a special privilege when renewing passports. They don't have to go all the way to the DFA. Instead, they have a special queue in the POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration) for faster processing since OFWs have limited time during vacations.

Investment documentation updates

Dodong recently took the plunge in investing his hard earned money in some . So he is taking the time to fix all his papers while he is here. Of course, so that the cash keeps on growing and growing Yey for him!

What other factors does your better half take into consideration when coming home?

Love the distance,

Inday I. Nagintay

Homecoming = Love

Dodong’s flight arrived at 1030PM. His family picked him up from the airport, which is usually the case. I always waited for my knight in shining dusty desert armor from home (which was only a mere 5minutes away from his).

I had a bit of stuff lined up that evening to keep me busy instead of staring into space and counting down every second: I had a class at AIM (I am currently — for the Nth time — taking Anton Diaz’s Maven Secrets class for Internet Marketing and Professional Blogging) and a spontaneous powwow with my girls from my PSI Heroic class. So I got home a bit later than planned.

After the packed evening, I waited for Dodong, high emotional and very, very anxious. And then he called. He was in front of our house.

FINALLY FINALLY! He home for real after exactly 7 months and 18 days. Little did I know it was perhaps the most dramatic homecoming for us.

Here are the 5 defining moments of his homecoming…

First look

I opened our gate to see Dodong standing there with a bag of Dubai pasalubong for my family. The first look was actually just a blur as I rushed to hug him…

First hug

It felt like the longest hug ever. We were just holding each other for like 10 minutes. My emotional floodgates just burst with tears of joy and disbelief. I felt that everything was just surreal…

First exchange of words

Then Dodong uttered the first words: “Is this for real?” I tightened my embrace to make his feel the reality of the moment. I then said: “Yes baby, this is real.”

First hand hold

I wiped the tears streaming down my cheeks and then stared into his eyes. We took both of our hands and interlocked our fingers, not wanting to let go at all.

First Kiss

Oh wow! How to describe it…I am at a loss for words. For one, it felt as if I didn’t know how to kiss at all. Hahahaha! I did not have any practice for 7 months and 18 days. It was just wonderful! Utter bliss! It was the sweetest kiss that I’ve had in the 7 years and 5 months that we’ve been together.

I am definitely in heaven right now. Thank you Lord (and Emirates!) for Dodong’s safe flight home. I am eternally grateful for him being with me now.

Do you share the same experience when he comes home?

Love the distance,

Inday I. Nagintay

No more lonely sunsets for me for the next 2 weeks!

FINALLY! Today is the day Dodong is coming home tonight! I am so giddy, anxious and waaahhh panicky all rolled into one!

When he comes home, I want to make sure I am at my best (even if he has seen me at my worstest look ever). Of course, after a long period of absence, you just want to have him experience the you that he fell in love with and continues to fall in love with everyday.

Here are 3 simple things I did to prepare for the homecoming today…

Wear his favorite clothes on me

I know for a fact that Dodong loves pink and white on me. so I made it a point to wear one of my pink tops

Spray on his favorite perfume

Dodong's fallen in love with this scent (picture from Philosophy)

I'm really a fan of sweet scents. And I'm so glad Dodong loves my favorite perfume. So after taking a shower, I made sure I spritzed on this on my wrists.

Brushed my teeth!

Of course, to get ready for the shower of kisses that I'd be receiving later I want me breath to be minty fresh Teeheehee! 'Nuff said!

What else do you do to prepare for his homecoming?

Love the distance,

Inday I. Nagintay