Asking-Stance

I was invited to a reception by my friend, Velma Veloria. She's the first Filipina elected to a state legislature in the US. She worked on legislation for anti trafficking laws and WA became the first state to make trafficking illegal. Even retired, she continues to work closely with non profits to stop human trafficking, hence the reception for former Filipino congresswoman Risa Hontiveros, who is a house representative from an activist based political party in the Philippines. Risa has made it her life's work to pursue bills for the protection of women, their rights, reproductive rights, anti prostitution bills and gender balance bills. Basically a room full of women against trafficking humans.

Me: "Yeah mom, I think this will be a great opportunity to meet some amazing people from the PI. *Philippines Islands
Mom: "Is she Al Qaeda?"
Me: "Uh, no."
Mom: "Are you sure? You know they have a bunch of Muslims in that country. They all left after Bin Laden was killed and went to the PI, you can't be too careful."
Me: "Uh the reception is in Seattle. Even if she's Al Qaeda, I'm pretty sure they will not let her security detail in the country." (Note to self here: DON'T POKE A SLEEPING TIGER"
Mom: "Oh, so your not sure?"
Me: "Ma, I'm kidding. She works on women's right issues, human trafficking things like that. I don't think Al Qaeda has a feminist sector. In fact I'm pretty sure they don't."
Mom: "So your positive. And I don't suggest you tell her that your adopted. She may have the power to make you go back to the PI."
Me: "Uh, Seriously? I highly doubt that." (Note to self: Hmm...so is there something in my abduction...er I mean adoption that she's worried about?)

[For those that don't know, when my dad was in the PI as a pilot during the Vietnam War, my mom came with him to live off base with my older brother. She ran a house load of servant girls. There has always been a mystery of my origins, different and conflicting stories. It's like she went out shopping and came home with a baby. I do have papers that attest to them being interviewed by the Philippine Social Services and releasing me to them. On paper it looks legit. But it was war, there was a rescuing mentality (Operation Baby Lift) in the US and people were known for going around, talking parents out of their children.]

Mom: "Well if you think she's safe, maybe you can ask her if she knows of any Filipino babies that need parents. Ask for twins."
Me: "Ma, I cannot go into a reception for women against child trafficking and ask it anyone has babies for sale."
Mom. "It's not like they will pull one out of their pocket and you pay for it right there. They may know some poor Filipina girl who can't take care of her twins. And if they ask, they may get one for real cheap. They would know how to negotiate that sort of thing."
Me:" I'm not asking."
Mom: "I think you should. Promise me."
Me: "No"
Mom: "This could be your last chance! Ask. And don't for get to ask for twins."
Me: "No"
Mom" "Ask my child and you shall receive."
Me: "No."
Mom: "Ask young lady."
Me "No."
Mom: "Ask"
Me: "Fine. I'll think about it. Dinner's ready, got to go."

Of course I'm not going to ask. But cheeze whiz on a cracker, she just doesn't give up and doesn't get it. Let's forget about that fact that having the "I want your grand kids" and "You can still have a baby!! Evie's daughter just adopted one for $30,000. And the baby is just Hispanic!" conversation still puts a knife to my heart, she still think you can buy children like melons. Pick em up, turn them around, thump them soundly on the bottom and throw them in the cart. AND she doesn't get that you don't ask questions like that 1)EVER and 2) to a bunch of women against trafficking. Every time Filipinos gather, she feels I should show up like a newsie and start yelling, "Want yer baby here, want yer hot, chubby babies. Twins especially! Twice is nice!"

Grrr. Thankfully they will not be coming down for Memorial Day like they were planning. Otherwise I'd have to sit in the living room for 3 days and listen to her harping about buying babies. Of course with all their money, she has even offered us a loan. Yeah, no. We had one huge argument in my twenties about them lording their hoards of money over me and I walked away saying I won't take a red cent from them again. Which, I haven't, much to their chagrin. (And guess who they put in charge as executor of their estate?!?! ME!! ARGH! However, knowing my mom, they will have everything trussed up tightly in trust funds with a long list of concessions.) I'm trying to get over this hump in my life, not tunnel through it with a spoon for Pete's sake!

Anyway, on some levels it was amusing, on others it was hurtful but mostly is was just a swilling vat of colossal stupid, and oh joy, I just wanted to share it with you.