Roxanne's Closet

Tell Me Where It Hurts
By: Roxanne Estrellado - Limjoco

I’ve never been a whiner. Let me rephrase that, I’ve never been a whiner when I am sick or in pain. I think I got that from my parents who up to this day, would not complain about being under the weather. My Papa would often attribute his being sick to lack of playing golf. It is either because they have a high tolerance for pain or they’re afraid of doctors. I think it’s the latter.

So I grew up paying no mind to any illness or pain. I could go to school even with a fever. Cough and colds were as normal as having a bad hair day. Scrapes and bruises were actually more big a deal when I was young. Isn’t it funny how your parents would scold you after seeing you with a big boo-boo on your knee? Nadapa ka na nga, pagagalitan ka pa. My Papa would often say, “Paano ka pa sasali sa Miss Universe niyan???” Paano nga ba? Haay!

By the time I reached college, I was unbreakable. I don’t think I ever got sick. I only absented myself when I got the Chicken Pox or if it was SM 101. I was indestructible. I once fell down the stairs at Euphoria. I quickly got up and just waited for my friends at the lobby. The physical pain was gone in 60 seconds but the embarrassment lasted for years!

But now that I’m older, sickness and pain are slowly starting to appear more often that I would want to. I can now have fever lasting for weeks! Cough and colds could last for a month! I fell down the stairs again during assembly in my previous school. Boy the physical pain was excruciating! Never mind the embarrassment of sliding down the stairs using my arms, chest, thighs, knees, shins and feet as a sled in front of the whole student body.

Tet’s family is exactly the opposite of mine. Sick people are treated like babies. Food and medicine will be served to you. There would be round the clock concern and care from everyone. You would think this would stop here but no, they would even bring you to the doctor themselves. I think they got this from Lola Sally. She loved going to the doctors. She loved checking into hospitals which turned into venues for family parties.

Ram and Sam got the best of both worlds. None of them are whiners but they do like going to the doctor for check-ups. Red, on the other hand, got the worst! He is not only a scaredy-cat when it comes to hospitals and doctors. But he is such a whiner! Here is an excerpt from his day of pain:

Red: My body hurts!

Mama: Really? Let me give you a hug. (hugs Red)

Red: Oww!!! Don’t hug me too tight. You’re hurting my spleen!

Mama: Sorry. (hugs Red from the back)

Red: Oww! My scapula!!!

Mama: Huwat??? What the heck is a scapula?

Red: I have no idea but it hurts!