Online, I thought she is as old as my mom. Truly. That explains why I always addressed her as Ma’am or Madame and never by her name.
However, the first time I met her in Michigan barely a week ago, I have decided to call her just Miss Carlota.
Carlota is a Filipina graphic designer/illustrator in Michigan. I came to know few things about her through our Bisdak [Bisayang Dako] community online – a group blog for Bisdak bloggers [and non-bloggers too]. When I announced my short trip to Michigan via a post, this lady responded as fast as a lightning bolt. We corresponded. We exchanged emails. We gave out phone numbers.
I had to apologize to Carlota. It was so incautious of me to let her wait for more than an hour at a parking lot. I didn’t intend to be so very Pinoy and use the accustomed “Filipino time” when we always come to an appointment an hour late. Mark, another Filipino who promised to give me a ride, was caught in an eleventh hour deadline and had no option but to extend his working hours.
Carlota traveled tens of miles just to meet me. I thought, if I had to make her wait so long, she might become violently angry and run amok on the parking lot, shouting “where the hell is Eric!” Then she would take a knife and hostage someone. LOL. Kidding aside, I really thought she would lose her patience, leave and never ever see me again.
But Carlota survived a grueling ordeal of waiting. Thank God! And thanks to her! Had she not persisted, I would have not realized that calling her Madame Carlota online is a bit offensive. Seeing her the very first time with a polka-dot-a-little-tight top made me admire how gorgeous she was. Gee, she’s so much more than what her online pictures say. Did I hug her? I think so. Even Mark [oh no, he’s married] liked her.
Carlota is composed and very professional. She knows how to carry a good conversation with bits of laughters here and there. Over a Thai dinner, she shared stories about blogging and tips on how to be real successful in monetizing the blogs. As predicated, the lady is talented and has many things to offer.
We had fun in quite a short meeting. We bid goodbye but not without taking few more pictures at the parking lot.
From now on, I will address her as Miss Carlota. It is just right for such a young and gorgeous lady.
