My aunt, my mum’s youngest sister, and other yaya of my nephew‘s (as you know, I hold the first Yaya title), arrived today. She’s one aunt who’s fun to have around. We probably hit it off because we’re both the youngest, but I can never be sure.

All I know is that my heart goes delightfully haywire when jokes and sarcasm explode with loud limitless laughs coming from, where else, our mouths, unmindful of whoever is snoring during that time of the day.

I’m excited to have company, to have an extra set of eyes to chase around baby J’s fast-crawling legs and far-reaching arms that drop the vase from the table, to have the chance for idle time just to hoist my legs up a bit on the couch and watch “New Girl” with little interruption, to complain about the cold with, to chat about the folks left behind in Manila, to gossip and engage in small yaya-and-yaya talks, and to go to Rome with this weekend (yes, we’re going!).

I think I am halfway through this trip. In a little over a month from now, I will be heading back to where I (supposed to) belong.

But the thrill is just starting.

Christmas will never be the same for me as we’ll be setting off very soon on a continent-wide roadtrip, at least to as many countries as possible within 10 days, in a van, with six other people, a baby, and on a shoestring.

Europe is waiting for me.

For now, I’m babysitting.

Waiting, however inconvenient, is necessary.

*This is part of a 68-Day Travel Diary called Reflections of a Nearly Thirty. Read the full Reflections Series here.