As if reading old blog posts was not enough, I found myself reading random pages from my old journals too. And then I found this one journal entry I wrote 2 years ago, on May 1, 2005. It was my Mom and Dad’s 31st anniversary then, and apparently, it was a few days after Dad was released from the hospital following his heart surgery.
Thirty one years of being together, whoa. I can only imagine their joy now that their love was able to survive a series of trials, and tears, and fears, and tests. Today was indeed a time to celebrate as their 31-year-old vow — the one which says, “for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health..” — was made real right before their and everyone else’s eyes.
Dad’s heart surgery (and our fear that we could lose him anytime) is surely a part of a plan grander than anything we could think of. Perhaps, God, the Great Author of love and romance, planned to make this year’s anniversary more memorable, sweeter even.
Someday, if God wills, I’ll get to make that vow too.. and perhaps, a time will come when God will make that vow real before my eyes as well.. And if that happens, I shall look back to Mommy and Daddy’s love story, knowing full well that God has been the One writing the script and orchestrating the plot.
Someday, I’ll have my own love story to tell too.
There goes your 21 year old Rhiz. (Eek!) A lot has changed since then, of course (I must have become bitter and cynical along the way hehe), but one cannot deny that in a world where breakups, and failed marriages, and broken families are staple, you still hope of a love story worth telling your grandchildren of.
One death was more than enough for a family to bear, what more 32 young lives to the whole State of Virginia — including thousands of dreams that came with each life.
It’s quite disturbing to know that the guy who was responsible for the, by far, worst mass killing in the whole of United States was a 23 year old Asian (my age), who, quite obviously, kept a lot of angst and confusion in his heart while he was still alive. More than hating him for what he did, I feel sorry that he had to live and end his life that way.
Like Xai, I’ve been thinking a lot about death lately, and how it should be more of a celebration (of life) rather than grieving for the loss. Xai said in her blog (and I quote coz I couldn’t have said it any better):
Come to think of it, life and death are two inseparable extremes. What bridges them is an eternally debated concept of a greater power [yes, greater than the big bang]. Death is reflective of the kind of life you lead. Similarly, life is an image on the kind of death you perceive.
Life is more than being the absence of death because for some people living means dying and dying is living. Point is, they’re so correlated, and you can’t have one without the other.
The tragic Virginia Tech Massacre is another lesson learned for all of us. While some are saying that the Columbine Massacre should have warned us already, and security should have been given more attention to, this recent tragedy is ultimately beyond our control. To celebrate life each day as if it’s our last, to say “I love you” to those we love while we still can, to make a difference in the lives of those people God sends our way, and to reach out to those who feel unloved — perhaps these are the real lessons to be learned from all of these.
On April 30, this blog will take part in the One Day Blog Silence, in honor of the victims of the Virginia Tech Tragedy. You might want to join too. All you have to do is spread the word about it and post the graphic on your blog on 30th April 2007. No words and no comments. Just respect, reflect and empathy.
Thanks, everyone. Reading your blogs brought me (and my family) enormous amount of comfort and joy. Thank you. I’m sure, somewhere up there, Dad’s smiling and reading your blogs too.
P.S. You posted something about my Daddy too but it’s not here? Let me know so I can send you some link love. ♥
Yesterday was my first day back in the office since Dad passed away, and I wasn’t feeling well. On top of the emotional struggles I was going through, I had tummy cramps (what I first thought was dysmenorrhea lang) and back aches that were so painful I started to worry.
Halfway through the day, I contacted a doctor-friend, told him how I was feeling, and asked him to prescribe me anything that would give me immediate relief. I was desperate.
“Take Feldene Flash, 1 tablet, dissolve under tongue. If pain persists, punta ka na sa ER,” he simply texted. And so, to the nearest drug store, I went.
Amazingly, ten minutes after taking Feldene Flash, the pain was gone. All of it. (That fast? That easy?)
I don’t know how it happened, and what Feldene Flash has that made the pain go away. I didn’t bother trying to find out either. What mattered was suddenly, the day was easier to bear.
Now if only there’s a medicine that could take away that other form of pain — the one that comes with change; and letting go of something you’re not ready to let go of yet; and missing someone you can’t anymore have – please, let me know.
It was a Monday, and as always, Mom and Dad drove my brother and I to ABS-CBN where he work, and to the apartment (in Ortigas) where I stay on weekdays, respectively.
I had my laptop on in the car that time, and was excitedly explaining to Dad how I can now access the net anywhere through Globe Visibility. I’m sure Dad didn’t understand a bit of what I was saying but he nodded as if he did, and teased me about how her little girl has turned into an “anti-social geek.” At some point he even joked, “Nak bili mo rin ako ng laptop,” and in my head I was already considering the possibility. Read the rest of this entry »
Once upon a time, there was me, waiting for "happily ever after" to happen. Hi, this is my life, mush and all. Don't say you weren't warned. ;) Can't get enough?
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Oh hai, intarnetz. It's been a while. Sooo luvin the time away from you. K now. Bye. :) 1 week ago
