Sexy, Innocent Child-Woman

Bati na kami

To everyone who dropped me a line, extended their support, and offered their advice about how to handle my misunderstanding with my nun-friend, thank you so much. (You know who you are.) Bati na kami.

Sr. MM2 called on the night of Friday the 24th. I was with my other nun-friends (from the congregation I frequently visit) at that time because Sr. Dinah renewed her vows that day and we had dinner at the motherhouse right after. I had turned off my cellphone right before the ceremony and didn't remember to turn it back on right away, so I didn't get Sr. MM2's message till I got home. In her message, she mentioned that she wanted to apologize for what happened last Thursday night. She explained that she was having a bad day then because she had just found out that her flight got cancelled and that she now had to get a transient visa in advance in order to make a stopover in London (apparently, the Immigration people just imposed stricter rules for Nigerians). Of course, I didn't know about all these sudden changes the night I went to her apartment. At any rate, she claimed that because she was having a bad day, she didn't know what she was thinking/doing. She wanted to meet up with me in person "for reconciliation," as she put it, because she didn't want me to bear a grudge toward her. Sr. MM2 also asked me if I could go to her apartment to pick up the jacket of Sr. Carol, since Sr. Carol had left her jacket there when Sr. MM2 invited us over last June 19th (the morning after I stayed up all night to pack her things).

I waited for more than 24 hours before I decided to call Sr. MM2 back because I still felt awkward about the whole thing. Anyway, when I finally called her last night, she reiterated her message. She added that whenever she acts "crazy" for one reason or another, it means she's having a bad day and she doesn't know what she is thinking. Personally, I believe there is still something to be said about her being demanding and stubborn. But I can't change her and I have to accept her as she is, so if that's her side of the story, so be it. At least I know how to deal with her now. This will come in handy, since she's coming back in April for medical check-ups and she'll be staying with the congregation I frequently visit. Anyway, despite my initial awkwardness and predominantly monosyllabic ("Yes"/"No") answers, I accepted her apology. I also said sorry for walking out on her, if it offended her. I explained that I walked out because our discussion was getting really fruitless and I would have set something mean if I hadn't walked away. She just listened to me when I explained my side and I'm thankful for that.

It turned out I didn't need to pick up Sr. Carol's jacket anymore. Sr. MM2 couldn't wait for me to return her call, so she just decided to call Sr. Carol that morning, and Sr. Carol dropped by her place promptly. So I didn't have a reason to go to Sr. MM2's place anymore. She asked me when she'd see me before she leaves (her flight was rescheduled to July 3rd), and I told her I couldn't promise anything because I really have a lot of work to catch up on this week and I'm visiting my nun-friends and my good friend Elizabeth in Michigan this weekend. So I just gave her my e-mail address and mailing address, and she promised to keep in touch. Sr. MM2 also thanked me for helping her pack and clean up and for my role in her life. I thanked her, too.

So bati na kami. I know from experience that it can be challenging to deal with older nuns, especially when they're so set in their ways and they get overly defensive and unreasonable when someone challenges them. (As I joked to Sr. Dinah, mahirap magpalaki ng matandang madre.) So I'm just relieved that Sr. MM2 and I are friends again, and that we reconciled soon enough.

found herself @ 3:33 PM