I came, I saw, I Conquered

I was brought up in a town in Bulacan where November 1 is really something big. All Saint's Day is marked with a lot of food in the table, new clothes, lengthy and fat candles and flowers that are intricately arranged in the tomb of my ancestors. Everyone was there as early as 7 am, have a hearty lunch at home and retire at about 8 pm. We would meet our old friends, school chums and sort of renew ties with old acquaintances. We all seem to grow up so fast during the last 5 years. Only the "oldies" (my mom, aunts and uncles) stay in the cemetery. While I was still sleeping till 12 noon, because of my annual Malate revelry every All Hallows Eve, my cousins are just at home with their kids taking advantage of the holiday.
This year, I planned to do the same (oh, except the Malate Halloween Party, it’s boring anyway). I will just stay at home and not bother to go to our family crypt. The sight of a wake, tombs, catacombs, urn, funeral, wreath and everything dealing with death just freaks me out after my long vacation at the hospital from June till August. My cousins found that as a very clever excuse, but honestly, I do freak out. I’m afraid I’ll just read my name in one of the epitaphs. And just being in that family crypt where I’m supposed to be interred if I died gives the creeps.
So there I was lounging at home busying myself with the Skywalkers, Yoda and Obi Wan Kenobi and figuring out how the Evil Galactic Empire would end. During lunchtime, I was so alone, while they were having a field day at the All Saint’s Day picnic. I told myself I should conquer my own fear. So when my cousin Au went back to the cemetery I joined her and went there. I was so quiet while staring at the candles and my eyes became misty. Finally, I conquered Death, and I could say that I could face him anytime he comes.
P.S. I was wearing a new shirt that time and I reinvented my look (just keeping up with the tradition hehe).