tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222888672024-02-20T17:52:01.000-08:00broken recordStop me if you've heard this before...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger256125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22288867.post-44901685579291438402021-04-09T07:58:00.024-07:002021-04-10T09:50:01.293-07:00Eulogy for Harry Kit<p> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“You may be
laughing on the outside. But inside, you’re crying.”</span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Harry wrote
that line in a card he gave to me. I somehow remember it was a Christmas card. Or
was it a birthday card? Doesn’t matter now, really. The year was probably 1985.
We were in sixth grade, and back then every so often, us friends would hand out
cards to one another just because. And since I received that card, I never forgot
that line. And though <span style="display: none; mso-hide: all;">ough th</span>I could
not remember exactly what occasion the card was for, ever since I read it, that
line meant the world to me.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I was going
through a rough patch at the time. It was some two years after that one quiet night, when we suddenly realized
we were driving my mom to the airport, then only to be heard
from again very very sporadically for the next six to seven years. I still remember Barry
Manilow crooning “Memory” on the radio, while we were being driven back home
from the airport. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also remember the car
window with streaming scenes of empty late night streets lined with warmly lit
lampposts inter-changing with the image of my mom’s eyeliner running down her
cheeks, while she handed me a bit of money for my upcoming birthday and saying
goodbye. The realities and details about her life away from us were a hazy,
indistinct impressionist painting probably done by a drunken Monet. They still
are.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">While in
school, sometime between episodes of playing the class clown, there was at least one incident when out of nowhere, and for no apparent reason or trigger, my then twelve or thirteen year-old self had my
face in my knees shaking in tears.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">When Harry
sent me that card, I knew at least that someone saw. That someone knew. Someone
understood, and was not coy about letting me know. Harry had always been a
friend for laughs and games. But at that tender age, that card, that line, told
me he was going to be a proverbial shoulder I would always know I could lean
on.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And i did so on and off for almost four decades.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">--------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
So this is how it feels to lose an old friend.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I had seen
many people in the generation prior to mine losing friends. My dad in
particular lost his best friend last 2007. But that guy my dad met much much
later in his life compared to mine. My dad was probably in his very late thirties by then. But
Harry, Dick, me, and the rest of the guys met when we were all of ten to eleven years
old. At a time when the world was a simpler, kinder, and more innocent place. At a time when we didn’t know
better. But we knew the rules to cops and robbers, other games, TV shows, and
that was enough.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">One
time, while walking through a mall, Harry, Dick, and I saw three old
men animatedly chattering over a fastfood table. Dick pointed at them
and half-jokingly said: "Guys, i see our future..."</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"If we're lucky," I laughingly said. "And that would not be a bad way to grow old"</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I guess now we will be imagining that future with one less old man animatedly chattering away. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I am
wondering now how our friendly gatherings will feel, knowing that there is an
absence that will never again be filled, a place at the table that will ever remain
vacant, one glass that will no longer be raised in a toast. One less chuckle at a
bad old joke, one less playful push when we slap each other from laughter, one
less smile in our photographs. We will let the void remain in his honor. At our
age now, friends like Harry will never be found again.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But those
imaginary gatherings will have to wait. These circumstances now are so sad and different.
We could not get together to properly send Harry off, to celebrate his life. We are
now left trading shallow jokes and old stories about Harry in a cold impersonal
internet chat room to comfort ourselves, and somehow honor him in our own
irreverent way.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">His devoted
wife, Cynthia is currently in quarantine, and Harry himself is still frozen in
the hospital morgue while waiting his turn in what seems to be an endless line
to the crematory.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Damn this
virus.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Harry will
always be to me the sensible guy. Funny, but practical. Always had an eye out
for a better deal. He had to grow up before the rest of us did. And maybe because
of certain circumstances in his younger life, he seemed to be on edge, but not
snappy. At least never to us his friends, his brothers.<br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">If Boss Kit, as we had come to affectionately call him
these past few years, felt like giving serious advice, it always made sense because he always thought
things through. And if you really listened, you will see that he was
right.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He always
kept on about wanting to leave more behind for his family. Only now do I realize
that those friendly rants and laments of his now seem morbidly, sadly, and
almost eerily prescient. But Harry and Cynthia raised two amazing kids. We practically
saw them grow up right before our eyes, and one of them even worked with me. Now
grown-up kids who have taken good care of themselves, and have always revered
their parents. I have always told him that the ultimate sign of success of a
person, of a parent, is measured by their children. And by that measure, he was
a champion. And while he never felt that he would leave enough for his
children, the children he did leave behind is an inheritance and legacy to the
world with a value that will only grow as time goes on.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He also left
behind a loving wife, who is thankfully stronger than people give her credit for.
Wherever Harry is now, we know that he has nothing to worry about at all. Ultimately,
he left more than enough.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“You may be
laughing on the outside. But inside, you’re crying.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Boss Kit,
those words above which you sent almost four decades ago rang so true then. And
now, with you leaving us all so prematurely, permanently, they ring true once
more. So should the guys get together again hopefully sooner than later, we
will properly celebrate you, our friendship, our brotherhood. We will share old
jokes, and even older stories of you. And we will laugh and cheer in your memory.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And as we
remember you, we will be laughing on the outside, but inside, every so often,
we will also be crying.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">You will be missed, brother. Godspeed.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />Harry Kit</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">January 6, 1973 ~ April 7, 2021 </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDh-p0XEP9hT_Hk_yXOHpwWXtWUPC6OpfYA2FPVNSRh05z_9iOEUMiFZN9K_Z5YPlZ8lbUUiEX5hZMz5hyphenhyphenkgrqE78o4FSWb0OVFqly3qbY9iGav_1nDpZ6aBSx7ecU0ZTuGz7RRw/s960/harry.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDh-p0XEP9hT_Hk_yXOHpwWXtWUPC6OpfYA2FPVNSRh05z_9iOEUMiFZN9K_Z5YPlZ8lbUUiEX5hZMz5hyphenhyphenkgrqE78o4FSWb0OVFqly3qbY9iGav_1nDpZ6aBSx7ecU0ZTuGz7RRw/w372-h279/harry.jpg" width="372" /></a></div><p></p>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22288867.post-70225587147004766992020-08-16T07:02:00.010-07:002020-08-16T23:30:10.194-07:00Letters to Marge & Maddie: Chapter 54 (Hello from my quiet little corner...)<p> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
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</p><p class="MsoNormal">Hi, guys.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As I begin writing this now, August 16, 2020, I mark the 17<sup>th</sup>
night that I am alone here at our house in Baguio.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Hello, Maddie. At this point, Mommy
actually already told Achie Marge lots of grown-up things about the family.
Sorry, but there’s a huge difference about what you will get or understand between 7 years old and 12. So eventually,
you will be told the stories, too.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So yes, I am up here, and you guys are down there. And I am
kind of sad, kind of lonely. But trying to be as happily distracted as
possible. Right now, Im toggling between a nice sci-fi movie called Arrival,
and little knick knacks I find on Youtube, from nice saxophone videos, to a few
videos of a local singer named Morissette Amon. By the time you read this, I’m
not sure whether or not she will still be making music. But thank heavens for
the internet, her performances should still be accessible one way or another.
You guys should check her out. By now, you guys have prayed with me on video
call, said good night, and hopefully drifting off in some nice colorful dreams.
Your mom just sent me screenshots of her and her friends on a video group chat.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgry6FJcGIVpv0fwd_RAnfj_j_P7XQ8V80ALPmj8mYKHNFCUHy-KVktdm1jeMm6KPyzHkdiNj-76rSF9ApFYF3RJr52WGa3Aw-QsyWxjEMWkvZochwwyXXKyx6-xALlz-G_PRiS9A/s480/118008410_642802579711641_2405615264588208376_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="480" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgry6FJcGIVpv0fwd_RAnfj_j_P7XQ8V80ALPmj8mYKHNFCUHy-KVktdm1jeMm6KPyzHkdiNj-76rSF9ApFYF3RJr52WGa3Aw-QsyWxjEMWkvZochwwyXXKyx6-xALlz-G_PRiS9A/w320-h167/118008410_642802579711641_2405615264588208376_n.jpg" title="my little corner up here" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I meant to write about far more interesting things tonight
like life, and how we perceive its length, its value and some such. The movie
Arrival sort of tackles that, too. Which is why I stopped watching, and
starting writing this entry. And then I proceeded to search about average life spans of
animals. Hoping to find some connection between how lives can be meaningful
regardless of how long or how short. Like how butterflies generally live an average of two weeks.<br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">No. Thankfully, no one in our little family is dying right
now. At least not that we know of. But I just found myself thinking about it.
Partly because of the movie I started (which I’ve seen numerous times before),
and because of all the crazy stuff happening in the world right now.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So many people getting sick and dying. Yes, many due to
Covid-19, and others probably due to complications aggravated by isolation, lack
of access to fresh air and sunlight, or probably dozens and maybe even hundreds
of other factors. So many businesses struggling, or simply just closing down.
So many things that make us human getting lost on the waysides, because of the
struggle of mankind at large to simply survive.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This year, 2020 was supposed to be another great one for our
family. We had a trip to Spain booked and all, supposedly a trip to Bali with
the rest of the extended family, your mom and I had our 20<sup>th</sup>
anniversary trip to Japan also booked, and those were just the international
trips. Who only knows what else we could have come up with? <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Achie also had her grade school graduation first postponed,
then ultimately cancelled and moved into some group chat affair. Mommy wanted
to make more food ideas to sell, Shobe was going to study more violin and
ballet, and so many other things for all of us.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But… well, pretty much all the world’s plans all got put on hold.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Anyway, I will need to post this before I ramble on too much
further and end up totally failing to put this up at all.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">’catch you later.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Love,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dad</p>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22288867.post-58881795310527156842020-07-19T01:46:00.004-07:002020-08-16T23:25:16.876-07:00A Letter to Future Marge and Future Maddie: Chapter 53 (071920)Hello, Future Marge and Future Maddie,<br />
<br />
We are writing this here together, 12-year old Marge and I, while Maddie sits in a corner watching Youtube. It's 4:36PM, Mommy is taking a nap inside your bedroom. All snuggled up. Marge is beside me here using an ipad to trace over an old photo of me and Maddie taking a selfie from 2013.<br />
<br />
Marge will send it to me and i will share it here as a work in progress.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtsuVdkNF78YME9C6fXX-qrYVrJKVGpCSCUbvhCF3MeYL0hGRoa3hG0uMC0Z9fJblfJ_lDSkVlVaTzEIB83eF5EpmJHiO8rVCaw0EPuY4snt2DKrWysQFy97CjOI1joO7FvXtWrw/s1600/Untitled_Artwork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1366" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtsuVdkNF78YME9C6fXX-qrYVrJKVGpCSCUbvhCF3MeYL0hGRoa3hG0uMC0Z9fJblfJ_lDSkVlVaTzEIB83eF5EpmJHiO8rVCaw0EPuY4snt2DKrWysQFy97CjOI1joO7FvXtWrw/s200/Untitled_Artwork.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
Maddie is now here cuddling up. i am now in the middle of your two younger selves. But now Maddie has decided to run down to the kitchen to get some chips.<br />
<br />
It is a nice quiet Sunday. We spent the morning walking and playing amongst trees in John Hay, then ordered chicken from Jollibee while on the picnic table.<br /><br />Wait, now we are heading out to the garden for a garden picnic, and some board games.<br />
<br />
'catch you later.<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
<br />
DadUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22288867.post-15438080035587609312019-08-31T11:03:00.002-07:002020-08-16T23:22:29.091-07:00Letters to Marge & Maddie: Chapter 52 (Log of a strangely packed past few weeks that feel like a blur...)Dear Marge & Maddie,<br />
<br />
Hey hey hey... Welcome back.<br />
i'm just here to put down what has been a very very tiring past few weeks.<br />
<br />
Let's start with one's name suddenly being all over the news starting sometime in early August of 2019.<br />
This was followed in a few days by the results of your grandmother's MRI coming out (tests dated August 1), and the rest of the family finally realizing in plain black and white that your grandmother's brain really <b>is </b>starting to show its age a little sooner than most.<br />
<br />
This was followed a rather muted advance celebration of Ah-ma Mia's birthday on August 3rd, because most grandchildren still had school the week after. Thus, a Saturday celebration was decided upon to allow you grandkids to be up in Baguio with our birthday girl.<br />
<br />
More tests were required cum August 5, which was also the day that the term "vascular dementia" entered the family's vocabulary on a much more regular basis, as delivered by one of the city's most senior neurologists, Dr. Hernandez. Daddy drives up a day or two sooner than scheduled.<br />
<br />
This was followed by regular and very frequent visits to the hospital where Ah-ma Mia was confined in. She was thankfully discharged on August 7. Giving her a little over a day to enjoy a restaurant dinner on her birthday proper.<br />
<br />
Daddy finally drives down to Manila on Tuesday, August 13. Only to suddenly be told that he, along with the rest of the family need to appear in the prosecutor's office on Friday, August 15. But he has confirmed attendance for the surprised birthday party of your Uncle (and godfather) JJ (Johnny Yap), organized by your Uncle (and godfather) Jepet, which was to occur on the evening of August 15. Nonetheless, off to Baguio daddy went on Thursday (August 14) evening almost immediately after dinner with you guys. Then swooped back down to Manila right after appearing in court (sort of), making it in time for the birthday party at around 930pm or so.<br />
<br />
Daddy also had to attend the homecoming event of St. Peter the Apostle School, which expelled him last 1988. He attended, because he promised to finally see the one teacher who objected (in vain) to his expulsion. That being done, daddy left the homecoming with mommy. Then lo and behold, we were told that around 30 minutes after mommy and daddy left the event, the performing band's guitarist, Whiz Francis Reyes, who is one of daddy's happy acquaintances, apparently called our daddy's name on the mic, probably to invite him to jam on stage with the Dawn, one of the best bands of our era (and still is). i still have mixed feeling about missing that opportunity. On one hand, it would have been fun, and i'm confident enough with my music that many in the audience would have probably turned incredulously towards to stage wondering if i was lip-synching. Somehow, i believe i probably would not have turned the invitation down. Plus, it was in poor taste to refuse a fellow musician a jam. Especially someone of Francis Reyes's pedigree. On the other hand however, if i <b>did </b>go up on stage, people at the event might have accused me of being such a limelight hog. (Yes, you know who you are...)<br />
<br />
Then Sunday, August 18 late morning was also the party of your cousin Pia, Thankfully, that party ended rather earlier than usual.<br />
<br />
Daddy spending August 19 and 20 at the Ortigas office, then promptly drives back up to Baguio on the evening of the 20th. Only to be informed on the afternoon of the very next day by your Uncle (and godfather) Dominic that his dad had passed away a couple of hours before he messaged you. So daddy and your Uncle (and godfather) Dick discussed meeting up at the wake on Saturday, August 24 along with some of your other godfathers (namely Uncle Bogs, and Uncle Manly). So daddy, who was scheduled to drive back to Manila on Tuesday, August 27th, found himself driving down much sooner on morning of August 24th. But a few things had to be arranged and regarded back in Baguio, which found daddy back behind the wheel on Sunday morning (August 25th), with plans of driving back down on Tuesday noon. Hopefully, giving him time to spend dinner and chat with you and mommy. And in time to direct the first day of the photo shoot of Festival Mall, one of daddy's ad agency clients.<br />
<br />
Interlude:<br />
Your Uncle Philip has hatched a plan to quickly bring Ah-ma Mia to Taiwan to see a chiropractor, and probably a few other doctors. After everyone supposedly being gung-ho about it at first, we discover the following: Uncle Wilson's passport is currently at the Japanese embassy for visa processing. Thus, he will not be able to get the passport back in time for accompany Ah-ma Mia. Uncle Pom at first said, yes. Then again demurred. Which leaves daddy as the only son, who has not backed out (or is able) to accompany Ah-ma Mia. So off Uncle Philip goes booking tickets for Sunday, September 1, with a return flight on Wednesday the 4th.<br />
<br />
Back to the story...<br />
But while was getting ready to drive down on Tuesday noon (August 27th), he was then told that the family had to appear in court again the next day, Wednesday, August 28th. Oops, that crosses out the directing gig on Wednesday.<br />
But that's just one day. So perhaps 2 out of 3 shooting days wont be so bad. So daddy drives down on the afternoon of the 28th, immediately after appearing in court.<br />
<br />
Thursday, August 29th. Day 2 of the photo shoot that daddy is supposed to be directing. He wakes up early, getting ready to greet your Ah-ma Mia in Manila, because she has a dental appointment. And so daddy does. He greets Ah-ma Mia, then leaves her in mommy's able hands. Daddy now drives himself out to far-off Alabang, because Kuya Edgar was to be left behind to fetch you guys to and from school, as well as other possible things you guys needed to attend.<br />
<br />
Then, after shooting one scene, Daddy checks his phone. Mommy, who had Ah-ma Mia in her care, sent this: CALL URGENT. The message was almost half an hour ago. Holeeee.... Daddy calls, only to learn that Ah-ma Mia almost literally shoveled her late lunch into her mouth like there was no tomorrow, and found herself in some strange case of food shock (also uspected by doctors as symptomatic of the precursors of minor strokes, which Ah-ma Mia's have shown that she was apparently suffered from a couple of times past). She was taken to the Emergency Room for more tests and MRI scans. And that Daddy now has to bail from the shoot (again) because he was the only son in Manila, and must check on Ah-ma Mia. So daddy is back on the road. Two and a half hours later, Ah-Mia was in the house (ours), and refusing to stay for more tests, much less treatment.<br />
<br />
A full day's shoot happened at Festival Mall without much event last August 30.<br />
<br />
<br />
Saturday, August 31, saw us heading out to the Powerplant Mall in Rockwell Makati, where we met up with your Uncle Dominic. And it is now 2am, September 1, and i am flying out in around 16 hours.<br />
<br />
<br />
So how was that up there, huh?<br />
Still breathing? i know i barely am sometimes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="721" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHFklwjoQGuYhWc3QwMNu770k01D5kPlG62BgThl1JcRL5fSiymKRUe3RgyWXZ8BYeYHiwKmmNT3WZJnKuk4_cQuLEP3IIu-MLsdjBFE3fFgRos5qXE81HaE5BpFPCbbY-8Vcmg/s320/viber_image_2019-08-31_21-02-10.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uncle Dominic is the tall guy in white with the puffy face.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
'Catch you later.<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Dad<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22288867.post-45357918679526507432018-12-28T08:18:00.001-08:002019-01-07T05:58:28.595-08:00Letters to Marge & Maddie: Chapter 51 (Let Your Old Man Vent a Little This Year’s End)<br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>The age of forty five is a strange one. </b></span>Of course, any year can and will seem strange if one chooses to see it as such. It is not my birthday. But the past year saw me hit the 45 mark. So nonetheless, kindly indulge me.<br />
The creeping reality that has begun haunting me is that even the most reasonably healthy people usually live up to "only" their early 90s. And that is being quite generous. Even Iceland, which boasts the highest average life expectancy, clocks in an average of 87 years of age.<br />
<br />
So yes, this is as midlife as midlife can get. And maybe even a little past that.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>This is where one finds one's self at the proverbial tipping point, where the arrow of one's emotions invariably toggle to and fro between a sense of contentment and accomplishment at having gotten this far,</b></span> whether by luck, birthright, or both, to a swirling haze of frustration, regret, and melancholy. Brought about also by some random concoction of luck, circumstance, and probably more than a handful of decisions i would have decided differently if i knew then what i know now.<br />
<br />
Or maybe not.<br />
<br />
While there is the knowledge in the back of one's head that sooner than later, it would be time to start winding one's personal party down bit by bit, that is not what weighs down upon me. I miss the innocence. I miss the dreams that once seemed so easily reachable. I miss the brashness and optimism of my youth. I miss the promise of possibility simply because i was still too ignorant to know what lay ahead.<br />
<br />
I remember an old cartoon short that featured Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd. The latter was led out running over the edge of a cliff, but somehow did not fall down. Bugs warns Elmer of his pending doom by pointing down, and simply saying: "Gravity." To which Elmer just waves it off, while nonchalantly stating that he "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portrait_of_the_Artist_as_a_Young_Bunny" target="_blank">hasn't studied gwavity yet</a>."<br />
<br />
Knowledge does weigh upon one's dreams. The more you know, the more real things become, along with all the trappings that come with it. And thus, one grows up. <span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>And every morning is a wake up call to a reality we sometimes wish we can just sleep through.</b></span><br />
<br />
I miss not feeling weary from my failures, thinking foolishly that the best is yet to come, because... i was still young. But i live still, and the things i am working in and on still live. Some barely, some quite well. Again sometimes because of luck, circumstance, and whatever came of decisions made. Whichever way, they are what they are now, and tomorrow is still another day.<br />
<br />
But i am thankful. I am thankful for a life lived with a heart tempered by time, made stronger by scars, and most importantly, a heart now unafraid to bleed for those he wants to bleed for.<br />
<br />
I am thankful, because the proverbial glass has been half-full with many good things. And while many dreams remain half-baked, the oven is thankfully still warm. So we keep baking.<br />
<br />
I am thankful for friends near and far. You will be, too. But make sure you make time for them, just like they too will make time for you. Sometimes when you need them the most.<br />
<br />
I am thankful for our larger extended family, no matter how imperfect. When they are at their worst, they fuel me. When they are at their best, they make me believe in human redemption, and why <b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">dogs will always be one of the best judges of character.</span></b><br />
<br />
I am thankful, because i sit here tonight, quietly typing away at this piece over a week after i've gotten started at it. Thankful for this evening, which gave me time with you guys and your mom. Thankful for all the laughter tonight. The music we played on Marge's violin. The tunes Maddie screamed out to the iPad just to see the voice indicator move. The songs and passages i have been blaring out on my saxophones.<br />
<b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">I am thankful that i can glance at you three sleeping soundly all snuggled up, while i listen to your dreaming murmurs.</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Yes, this is as midlife as midlife can get.<br />And i am here with you.</b></span><br />
<br />
So despite of the things going on that seem to be hanging by a thread, despite the personalities and politics that surround my life, despite all the things i wish i am and am not, and still wish i will be, and all the things i have done and have not...<br />
<br />
I am thankful.<br />
And after tomorrow, it will be another year.<br />
Happy New Year. <br />
<br />
<br />
'Catch you later.<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
<br />
Dad<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22288867.post-18360054861140713122018-12-17T09:53:00.001-08:002018-12-17T09:53:15.398-08:00Letters to Marge & Maddie: Chapter 50 (2018 Has Been a Most Musical Year)Greetings, girls.<br />
<br />
My oh my, how you both have grown!<br />
Like i said in the title of this entry, 2018 has been a most musical year for us all.<br />
<br />
Sometime earlier this year, Maddie was found running off to the piano on her own, and pounding away vigorously. Marge continues her violins lessons, while somehow already tinkering melodies on the piano that she has learned by ear alone.<br />
<br />
We are not prodigies, sadly. But the love of music is evident, and as imperfect as it is, it shines bright in our home.<br />
<br />
And i am filled with joy in anticipation of what you two will bring soon.<br />
<br />
'Catch you guys later.<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
<br />
Dad<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22288867.post-7135247103017853402017-04-10T01:31:00.002-07:002017-04-10T01:31:17.422-07:00 Letters to Maddie: Chapter 49 (Keep Singing Your Heart Out)Hello, Maddie!<br />
<br />
Been quite a while i have not visited. I've explained why in a previous post.<br />
But anyways, this is amusing.<br />
<br />
Hi, Marge! Of course you can read this, too. :)<br />
But yes, i am directing this one more pointedly towards your sister.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OXH0fXWnqvg0djDJxO6SO6MI462OYjGUBk-FVr9WQshIdd8t4Fz-GWZZMVfLBz3xjtvNJqltsrbIezlI380qVG1FNHSygi1Q3EOz9kBzxWuwqmMMzeyYnv9OXXuNYfbIKlvEjg/s1600/viber+image2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OXH0fXWnqvg0djDJxO6SO6MI462OYjGUBk-FVr9WQshIdd8t4Fz-GWZZMVfLBz3xjtvNJqltsrbIezlI380qVG1FNHSygi1Q3EOz9kBzxWuwqmMMzeyYnv9OXXuNYfbIKlvEjg/s200/viber+image2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tight shot from aforementioned<br />beach house</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Because one morning on the way to your grandmother's beach house, Maddie just kept singing one or two songs over and over. Songs were by either Taylor Swift or Katy Perry. I'm not sure.<br />So, Maddie...<br />i was spying you through the rearview mirror, and caught you singing along, while alternately looking out the window and on the iPod. You had no care whatsoever whether or not we were listening, whether you were in tune (mostly yes), whether you got the words right (mostly no)... You were just having a little time of your life and loving music.<br />It was an absolute joy to witness.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DJ Maddie</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And i wish that you remain so for the rest of your life: uncaring for criticism, and simply living the moment.<br />Oftentimes, as people get older, they worry too much about what other people think and say. And many who do end up paralyzed with fear of shame and public opinion. I hope you never do.<br /><br />So yes, keep singing.<br /><br />'catch you both later.<br /><br /><br /><br />Love,<br /><br />Dad.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22288867.post-66327757727100833082016-07-08T20:11:00.001-07:002016-07-13T02:23:46.017-07:00Letters to Marge & Maddie: Chapter 48 (Well, hello there...)Good morning, my dear girls.<br />
<br />
When i started writing this, it's almost 10am here in Baguio on a gloomy, rainy, grey Saturday morning. i wake up with the usual slight groin discomfort which seems to be more commonplace lately. But your mom and i have our regular annual-bi-annual check-up coming up in a week or so. So hopefully, we will get the usual news that everything's normal as normal can be considering the circumstances.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8QUYFSfu09nap7iJUxhPSj3y9CMcLMPvWOIz8LGZRrK-V0UQMegbCahZBYYu4HHB_YVp4jFbKAt0u7lBe6L5synUJ4BeIY1bHr_xBqDypCoAWgMY1a7AvCMKCugkioxw70dejA/s1600/IMG_20160709_095518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8QUYFSfu09nap7iJUxhPSj3y9CMcLMPvWOIz8LGZRrK-V0UQMegbCahZBYYu4HHB_YVp4jFbKAt0u7lBe6L5synUJ4BeIY1bHr_xBqDypCoAWgMY1a7AvCMKCugkioxw70dejA/s200/IMG_20160709_095518.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To the left of this photograph is the
group of jars for my morning drink: coffee, brown sugar, and Milo. Those
are two boiled eggs which i suddenly decided i would like to have this
morning.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Now it's a quarter to 11 and i'm already at the store. i expect to hopefully finish by 11am to do some rounds and earn my keep, so to speak.<br />
<br />
i slept at a wee bit past 3am earlier today/last night because i had so much work to do, and i sort of ended the evening/early morning with fixing more of the literally thousands of photographs im going through for printing. Your mother is old-fashioned and still wants prints of our family and vacation photos. i'm not objecting at all. But it IS a lot of work.<br />
<br />
I was hoping to sleep in 'til about 9am to hopefully get around 6 hours of sleep at least. It is a Saturday after all, and your grandmother is supposedly on her merry way down to one of her beach houses. So since she's the main focus and reason of having to be at the store early, i guess i COULD sleep in a bit, right? But... as luck would have it, she rings me up at exactly 7:28am. Surprisingly, i also your grandfather on call-waiting during the tail-end of this phone call.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdRYqmwp2Ap40JnETiW9YqvPJO2LPkYyMOKUz_ddxLu2lay1o8a5JRGMXw1xnKg3fKLYbptjmZ4kjDXRRn1TzHi969coZTE0TTPn_TZFG6CQIzTqMDt7mJPrzgwZ3lJKvB9_JSA/s1600/IMG_20160709_095520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdRYqmwp2Ap40JnETiW9YqvPJO2LPkYyMOKUz_ddxLu2lay1o8a5JRGMXw1xnKg3fKLYbptjmZ4kjDXRRn1TzHi969coZTE0TTPn_TZFG6CQIzTqMDt7mJPrzgwZ3lJKvB9_JSA/s200/IMG_20160709_095520.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">me getting this blog post started.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz0atG1yuGAEtvMjBnZl1xtxKnzXBKwzmldEOOwDq-oaFA3xi8pqwt-w8dMz6HMdPl0lV0i6PvAdbpsTgi9kni0C6KXd9PEEwxIcVEoE1iXYsyDv7cvG4ZlakT1B9_nFtL-ZiLog/s1600/IMG_20160709_095811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz0atG1yuGAEtvMjBnZl1xtxKnzXBKwzmldEOOwDq-oaFA3xi8pqwt-w8dMz6HMdPl0lV0i6PvAdbpsTgi9kni0C6KXd9PEEwxIcVEoE1iXYsyDv7cvG4ZlakT1B9_nFtL-ZiLog/s200/IMG_20160709_095811.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this is what those eggs looked like before i ate them</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Your grandmother was calling to tell me that it was raining bad, and that i need not trouble myself with visiting her down there tonight for dinner, and that she would need one of the househelps to stay at her house since was dragging every one of her own helps down with her. And also to ask me (again) if i can take care of myself lunch-wise. (Update: your Uncle Wilson just called telling me they are going to country club for lunch and was inviting me. i hate going to the country club. Every so often i agree to the invitation, but today i happily declined.) <br />
<br />
Your grandfather was calling about a piece of property that her sister (your great aunt) is selling, and about who was buying it, how much it was worth, etc. etc... He also called to tell me that his prostate biopsy was going to be this coming Wednesday. He sounded all like his jolly self, but not quite. Hell, the word "biopsy" is scary for anyone. Hopefully, i wont be writing here again anytime soon about that. No news is good news, guys.<br />
<br />
Then the phone call barrage continues in the form of your very own mom who is bemoaning the basement water pumps which suddenly decided to conk out in unison. So your mom is stressed out with visions of a flooded basement, and she is calling me to tell me just because. Yep, just because.<br />
This was followed by a couple more phone calls from your mother again about things i have absolutely no power over. But anyways...<br />
<br />
Another couple of phone calls from your grandmother later, your mother calls again telling me that its 9am and that i should forget any notion of any further sleeping. So i do get up, and proceed to start off this gloomy weekend.<br />
<br />
Point of this story? Always take the phone calls from people you love. Many times, we don't feel like making that phone call. But at the very least, let's pick them up. Not because you we need them. But more importantly, because THEY might need US. And yes, your mom and i WILL call you from time to time. DO pick up.<br />
<br />
<br />
'Catch you later.<br />
<br />
Love you both so much.<br />
<br />
Dad<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No connection to the above story. Just a gratuitous family photo from our East Coast vacation. This was the Niagara Falls leg. But i guess you guys know that from the view of the background, right?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22288867.post-50797053561170512782015-07-02T08:44:00.000-07:002015-07-03T16:46:38.961-07:00Letters to Marge & Maddie: Chapter 47 (Happy Birthday to me... again)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Dear Marge and Maddie,</div>
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<br>
Hi, guys. By tomorrow (or today, or a few days ago,
depending on when i get to finish this post since I've been writing less and
much more slowly lately), I will be forty two years old. Yeah, <b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">happy birthday to
me. Again.</span></b></div>
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<br></div>
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And yes, thankfully, it has been quite happy by most
standards.</div>
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<br></div>
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But there's always something about birthdays in one's
forties that makes one dwell a little more on one's mortality than usual. It's in these years when one keeps bravely planning ahead while secretly
continuing to kindle the fires of old undying dreams, while also quietly
stopping to catch one's self in the mirror more and more often. Counting the
lines that run deeper and deeper every summer with a mixture of tired
resignation and more than a speck of mortal dread.</div>
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<br></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Or sometimes, one looks at one's own lines and sees traces of
a life so beautifully imperfect, yet glisteningly colorful and less bitter than sweet.</b></span></div>
<br>
That stuff they say about appreciating warmth after the
cold, and vice versa? No light without darkness, and other similar wisey stuff?
They're right. And that's what has helped make my life so wonderful. The ups and downs,
the moments of having and not, the periods of crazy compressed activity that
have made me more appreciative of the quiet moments of life. The fear of
loss, which made me hold on like my life depended on it. And depend on it it
did. <br>
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<br></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Can i ask the universe for more? Of course.</b></span> That's part of what life is about. The continuance of dreaming. One asks and works for what one asks for, while never forgetting to nurse quiet contentment all throughout. And here I ask for a long and healthy life for you both, and your mother. I ask that we will continue to be surrounded by more people who wish us well than ill. I ask that we continue to be put at the right place and right time to be right there when people need us. I ask for so much more. But most of all, i ask that we never lose the state of gratefulness for everything that fills the halls of our home.</div>
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<br>
And grateful i am right now as i write this. And so as last year, happy birthday to me indeed.<br>
<br>'Catch you later.</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br></div><div class="MsoPlainText">Love,<br>
<br>
Dad</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22288867.post-37731021435271412282015-02-01T03:26:00.001-08:002015-02-01T07:08:09.415-08:00Letters to Marge & Maddie: Chapter 46 (Happy. Birthday, Maddie!)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tIvri3dc8KrKOQ5wvShTWMo2mH2xBBhzv1YJ1aLeRvE0g1uDXc2UGtTbdMOtmIrAj_0IJOTTYDd-2KjHFFxUS6IJR6xAktARhvrIHiUb44OS2OJL_z3sji2PPexqhiMggjJrow/s1600/_MG_9653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tIvri3dc8KrKOQ5wvShTWMo2mH2xBBhzv1YJ1aLeRvE0g1uDXc2UGtTbdMOtmIrAj_0IJOTTYDd-2KjHFFxUS6IJR6xAktARhvrIHiUb44OS2OJL_z3sji2PPexqhiMggjJrow/s1600/_MG_9653.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a>Dear Marge and Maddie,</div>
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<br /></div>
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First of all, a belated happy second birthday, Maddie!</div>
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Your mom, sister and I wish and hope that you enjoyed all
that "Frozen" merchandise: "Frozen"cake, "Frozen" dolls, and other little "Frozen" stuff.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
</div>
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But anyway, more than the late birthday greeting, I'm writing to
you about something else. Around last October, your mom and I took you guys to
<b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">one of the most beautiful places on earth. It's called "El Nido."</span></b> You, Maddie
were only a year and eight months old at the time, while Big Sis Marge was a
little over six.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71LqtWZPadl6eu6hE_GHmOyxd0aYJKesj16xn1HXITPGUJqoUmMVr6-p3SyiRMWBMTJJRG4YoamEp_lDThR-6_5D8SQeI4ik8MD7prGtL6thMoK0DiV7z7vc-UHKlwBoU7P0Drw/s1600/_MG_8254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71LqtWZPadl6eu6hE_GHmOyxd0aYJKesj16xn1HXITPGUJqoUmMVr6-p3SyiRMWBMTJJRG4YoamEp_lDThR-6_5D8SQeI4ik8MD7prGtL6thMoK0DiV7z7vc-UHKlwBoU7P0Drw/s1600/_MG_8254.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;">We always get a lot of this whole "you-don't-bring-little-kids-out-on-vacations-and-out-of-town" thing.</span> They always say it isn't worth it, since they say that
you guys probably won't remember a thing about them. Science actually says that they're probably right. The
chances of you remembering any of that trip to El Nido is extremely unlikely.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
I've actually posted something like this not too long ago <span style="color: #6aa84f;"><a href="http://letterstomargeandmaddie.blogspot.com/2009/11/letters-to-marge-chapter-13-california.html" target="_blank">here</a></span>. </div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHjDpiyUEHo4-o5Yr8SkiTMA81X-o_hquwkHyJ7zIkee29Hacp_jngoVkk9RJkfhYKy7_HYpGM_Y09yqMGfyi_PvWCpHJ9u2_LQihvt0TEgd5Djh94QJJ1iL0LmYGhwokILD43Q/s1600/IMG_1167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHjDpiyUEHo4-o5Yr8SkiTMA81X-o_hquwkHyJ7zIkee29Hacp_jngoVkk9RJkfhYKy7_HYpGM_Y09yqMGfyi_PvWCpHJ9u2_LQihvt0TEgd5Djh94QJJ1iL0LmYGhwokILD43Q/s1600/IMG_1167.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
But you see this picture here? <span style="color: #6aa84f;">This is a happy Maddie
playing in the sea, frolicking in the sand, and having a
</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">generally </span>wonderful time.</span> Maybe they're right and you won't remember this. You won't
remember what the corals look like. Well, mostly since you didn't exactly go underwater
anyways. You probably won't remember how beautiful the beach was, or how sparkling to ocean
was. You probably won't remember the boat rides. You probably won't remember much or
probably anything at all. But...</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Maybe your mind won't remember, but somehow I'm sure that
no matter how old you will eventually get (and i hope you BOTH get to live to a reeeeeeeally ripe old age), somewhere in your heart, you will
remember there was that happy time at the beach. And that though you don't or won't
remember much detail, like what we ate, what you saw, or whatever, somehow I'm sure that in that
happily hopping heart of yours, <b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">the laughter that you had in those days will go on and on, and
those echoes will keep your heart healthy,</span></b> and will help you learn to love life a little
more.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
So by the time you read this you probably won't remember
any of that at all. Of course, there will always be the pictures. But your
mother and I, and probably your big sister will surely remember how happy we were watching you have all that fun.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
But most importantly we will all remember how happy we
were that we were all together.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
'Catch you later.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Love you,</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Dad<br />
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</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22288867.post-34411509774392538512015-01-06T08:28:00.001-08:002015-01-06T09:41:11.901-08:00Letters to Marge & Maddie: Chapter 45 (Happy. New Year, Ladies)<div>
Dearest Marge and Maddie,</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It was an exceptionally beautiful evening.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And the black velvet sky dusted with tiny crystal shards blanketed the world and sung soundless lullabies heard only with one's captivated eyes.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It was one such evening where your mother and i would sit around and discuss "this-and-thats." One such "this-and-that" was that another year was about to end and yet another beginning. I told her we would be hitting forty two in the coming year, and that <span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>i felt old. She said she didn't, and that age was merely a number.</b></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Your mother then asked why i felt old. And i said i felt so, because i feel that i've been having a good run at life. Not because my body felt rusty or creaky and so on. Although i have had my spells of that. But because life has been immeasurably kind to me and us. In fact, i said i enjoyed feeling slightly old. <span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>For me, feeling old also meant i carry with me all the beautiful years i've lived.</b></span> The colorful happy-crazy years i had growing up with my friends and even my brothers before youth ended, the challenging yet thoughtful years discovering myself, the beautiful years with your mother, the even more joyful years when you guys arrived, and many more coming along so far.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Yes, simply put, <b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">it has been a good life. A life i am thankful for.</span></b> So sometimes when you guys catch me i saying i feel old then smile, that's actually me thanking God for what a wonderful life i've been blessed with.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Decades from now, i wish you too will feel old the way i do.<br />
And yes, it's another year. Happy 2015, ladies. Let's all have a good one.<br />
</div>
<div>
'Catch you later.</div>
<div>
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<div>
Love,</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Dad</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22288867.post-11152451487659762792014-08-03T09:33:00.000-07:002014-12-13T21:35:43.667-08:00Letters to Maddie: Chapter 44 (Be Careful Out There!)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dearest Maddie,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last night, while on video call (a.k.a. Facetime) with you
girls, i heard you cry out. I was told you hit your head (again) and now have a
nasty bump beside your right eye.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Funnily, sadly, oddly... your mom, sister and i are not too
surprised. We definitely weren't happy you got hurt, but you've been so
restless, reckless and playful that getting physical injured seems to be a more
regular occurrence to you than to other little girls. Happened a lot less with
your sister. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By now, your mom and i have concluded that you are an
adventurous little girl. Brave, always on the go, and seem a lot more fearless
than most little girls your age. Okay, so we're sort of guessing and only have
your demure big sister as our prime case for comparison.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But hey, by the time you read this, i assume you're at an
age of excellent reading comprehension. So here goes: BE CAREFUL. If my
prognosis of you is right, you are going to be a brave, always on the go, and
fearless young lady. We love you to bits and pieces. And when the time comes
and we can no longer watch over you or just dab ice to make the pain go away, our
greatest fear is always your safety.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now i might be getting of myself here. But hey, parents are
by nature paranoid, and this is paranoia borne of love.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We love you running around and all. But please, be careful
wherever you are and no matter how big you might get.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Love,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dad</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJlNpImsn04BetE1Q2r-UVKFNS_uBsd4QuyMwIl2n7NDReLDe7dCwB-FX5i3WbRGDdf3XPf_-F6S040zIu_MdSlmYLCq0fzDUOGbsOZEEPY7OHFnTuoZgJp_ivCLZLjT-Y2LQI-A/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJlNpImsn04BetE1Q2r-UVKFNS_uBsd4QuyMwIl2n7NDReLDe7dCwB-FX5i3WbRGDdf3XPf_-F6S040zIu_MdSlmYLCq0fzDUOGbsOZEEPY7OHFnTuoZgJp_ivCLZLjT-Y2LQI-A/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22288867.post-10016371642642353692014-05-04T08:53:00.000-07:002015-01-06T08:28:11.244-08:00Letters to Marge & Maddie: Chapter 43 (Eulogy for Stolich)<br />
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Dear Marge and Maddie,</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
The label on this latest post could be misleading, because the bulk of it
will not be addressed to you guys per se. But this is a letter to Stolich,
arguably our family's longest-staying dog and four-legged family member, who
left us last April 9, 2014.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
And yes, it sucks to have to have two straight posts about deceased dogs. But read on, and let me share with you a few stories and beautiful
memories of someone we'll never forget.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Uhm, i must warn you... This might get a little long.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
* * * * * * * * </div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Dear Stolich,</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovsRnb3yrAZgS2aNDNbibyaWFi75o0g33oAOh-VDe0tAiZt-_a3R4CoxvgQe7XZphWDOzZWqQpCExpDCGK-0pbuQ2bdexLAD4NI9H5DyOBSY_u3S6Us0tFkGaYiSL9vEXpOF7PQ/s1600/8R_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovsRnb3yrAZgS2aNDNbibyaWFi75o0g33oAOh-VDe0tAiZt-_a3R4CoxvgQe7XZphWDOzZWqQpCExpDCGK-0pbuQ2bdexLAD4NI9H5DyOBSY_u3S6Us0tFkGaYiSL9vEXpOF7PQ/s1600/8R_2.jpg" height="160" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;">You were always in family photos</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Hey, buddy... I'm writing this now in the hopes that
with you trotting around somewhere out there across the <span style="color: #38761d;"><a href="http://www.rainbowbridge.com/" target="_blank">Rainbow Bridge</a></span>, you can
finally understand the written word. Although everyone who ever met you knows
you always seemed to understand what people mean anyways. You always were a smart dog.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>So before anything else, here's a confession: you weren't the first "Stolich."</b></span><br />
<br />
The first "Stolich" was also a poodle, but was owned solely by Malou, a.k.a. your mom, a.k.a. the wifey. Stolich "Sr." as we used to call him eventually, was a rather restless pure black toy poodle. He was fiercely loyal to Malou, acted like a brat to anyone else save her, and seemed eternally uncomfortable whenever his mistress wasn't around. So one day, while we visited Baguio at your grandmother's house, some stupid carpenter left the gate open, and Stolich "Sr." ran out and was run over to his death.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20aHT-YP5M3pN-3pVfUJnEXOFZhOoUyyfgjEZiYzwga7afjTMQpS9SMUrL1rBxYVrs8oSE-1fX2iqzAwqUo6vxZ9uqNarJaOqQeejnUnWYUelQhy0UKSecm4ox08zlgwmDLUuAw/s1600/IMG_0374.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20aHT-YP5M3pN-3pVfUJnEXOFZhOoUyyfgjEZiYzwga7afjTMQpS9SMUrL1rBxYVrs8oSE-1fX2iqzAwqUo6vxZ9uqNarJaOqQeejnUnWYUelQhy0UKSecm4ox08zlgwmDLUuAw/s1600/IMG_0374.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;">We always took you around</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Malou was despondent with grief. Stolich "Sr." then was only three y<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">ears </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">old, i think. So your grandmother gave me money and told me to find a replacement poodle. And i found you, Balthazar. Yup, your registration papers said "Balthazar." You were born in September of 1998. You were a black poodle, with nice gold frills and a nice golden underbelly. A most handsome chap you were. And in a moment totally lacking in imagination, we named you "Stolich." Not "Stolich Jr." Just "Stolich."</span><br />
<br />
You were promptly introduced to your companion, the beautiful golden apricot colored toy poodle, Soda, who Stolich Sr. stupidly ignored. He was probably gay. Anyways, you did what any guy would do when matched up with a babe. You made babies. You made the babies which filled our then childless household with the joy <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">of a veritable rainbow of happy, playful (and most of all, very intelligent) poodles. Different colors, too! But more on then some other time.</span><br />
<br />
You guys couldn't stop making babies. So two litters and one undersized singleton later, instead of neutering you, which we didn't want to do, we separated you and Soda. Malou and I werent married yet, so all the others remained with her, while you went home with me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBs1ih8omyMjn9rm8ePo8suZw2km061C6oBZfPLfshLjbN9Ss2t5shlJS1g0vhdq91n-9iSwEOBjWKOKHSxUACIhBHoNqWNG16pcrSOeYBor4cnDH_CV0BP28Rsn6zAxwfn1CcvQ/s1600/IMG_0516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBs1ih8omyMjn9rm8ePo8suZw2km061C6oBZfPLfshLjbN9Ss2t5shlJS1g0vhdq91n-9iSwEOBjWKOKHSxUACIhBHoNqWNG16pcrSOeYBor4cnDH_CV0BP28Rsn6zAxwfn1CcvQ/s1600/IMG_0516.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;">The lady to the left is Sahara showing you<br />deference</span> <span style="color: #38761d;">like everyone else does.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
A mere couple or so weeks later, i came home to be told that you ran off and got lost.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGv2vzuvNod53L_OHrv6_3wbPmQ5-OkbVTl8nnHTjIgyznkP4VRS0G70yvfs4V9N5niMig7IFh6UGd-dKyN5vYwRbdh6CIVwJuZA8CRyOx5IhPqEpkC-gBUYSGFZdtOpvJi86-NA/s1600/P1020995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGv2vzuvNod53L_OHrv6_3wbPmQ5-OkbVTl8nnHTjIgyznkP4VRS0G70yvfs4V9N5niMig7IFh6UGd-dKyN5vYwRbdh6CIVwJuZA8CRyOx5IhPqEpkC-gBUYSGFZdtOpvJi86-NA/s1600/P1020995.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Guy to the left is Teddy, he's your<br />grandson from a daug<span id="goog_1157502056"></span><span id="goog_1157502057"></span>hter of yours<br />we called "Mikey" who was adopted<br />by my aunt.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Malou was a mixture of sorrow, anger and pure pissed-off-ness when i informed her. While i was absolutely spaced out with sadness, worry and self-blame. We were about to be married in a month at that time, and even months after that, i never heard the end of it from Malou about how you got lost while in my care.<br />
<br />
Almost three years later, I received a phone call from my father saying that the driver of one of my uncles who held office in the compound where we lived spotted and picked up a dog that suspiciously looked like the dog i lost. Yes, the dog looked like you.<br />
<br />
I went home and found that... Yes, it WAS you! And i happily brought you home to Malou to our tiny apartment in San Juan. Since Malou and I were married, and there was no way to separate you and Soda, we did the unthinkable. We had you neutered. But not before Soda trembled in both fear and excitement upon seeing you again after so long. It was strange. I should have taken a video. Oh well...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Fun under the sun while mommy<br />washes the cars</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<br />
The most striking difference in your return was that you remembered the brief time you were under my care, and came back to us as not just our dog, but MY dog. Unlike the others, you stuck to me, followed me, and were only comforted by me. I treasured that newfound bond and proudly held you as mine, along with Bambi, the Labrador Retriever who i raised from a pup til she left for the bridge at twelve years old.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;">You hanging out with Baby Marge<br />and Mindy the Chihuahua</span></td></tr>
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You were treated differently from everyone by Malou and me, and deservingly so. Especially by me. Sometimes, i even brought you to work. I never brought any of the others to work with me. You followed me loyally and held your head high like the regal prince you were. Life was good. Eventually, we had Marge the baby. But you to me were always my son. My furry, four-legged son who leapt down from bed in the evenings to stand on hind legs and tap my lap with his paw so i could cradle you while i worked. We had many special, wordless moments, my dear son. <br />
<br />
Fast forward into the future... Malou and I were working on having who would become Maddie. You were over thirteen years old and blindness was setting in. Your eyes starting clouding up, and no amount of medication could delay what age was ravaging faster and faster. You started getting slower and more pensive, probably because of the blindness. And early last year, your legs were starting to buckle, but you could still leap up to the bed. You also started wheezing then.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZXduGpiTh8FgRQ3-hV5w8Is_ZWq7PsMblbXJ0huOvjM-E_8_ViNtziQZLJ1AC7f7JumDUnvhJe-p9Wl9AwSA65ycl0k-p6Eh8vLGu1l2e6GYc8-MI1HoSZFGo7wCdqgmJEBJzw/s1600/IMG_7097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZXduGpiTh8FgRQ3-hV5w8Is_ZWq7PsMblbXJ0huOvjM-E_8_ViNtziQZLJ1AC7f7JumDUnvhJe-p9Wl9AwSA65ycl0k-p6Eh8vLGu1l2e6GYc8-MI1HoSZFGo7wCdqgmJEBJzw/s1600/IMG_7097.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Just hanging</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We had started building the house across the street. The one we're living in when you went away. Pretty soon, you were almost totally blind, and had to give that endearingly demanding yelp/bark that you do whenever you needed to be brought to the bathroom for your thing, as well as a drink. Or if you knew i was in the room, and wanted to get picked up and cuddled like a puppy.<br />
<br />
But you still had a pretty decent appetite. In fact, you still had a decent appetite (although you had to be fed very patiently) all the way until the day we were told you absolutely refused to eat for the entire day. Malou said you had a little fever, and brought you to the hospital for a check up and had you confined. I was in Baguio then, and wasn't due to return for another day. But my gut was telling me that the time was coming, so i asked to go home and see you. I knew i had to.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1G_DWMykCNbpC5G9Y-ETxGr9D-YIJXzvgSGVOmkspH5IcYUQKFQhQPT9de-qgBqNeBNdXTeKYj7V9r-g3fTOLx5lM8MQgpiglSEi7fJa1rgu28Zp0yTtnBXmCcDL_tSNUpmou0w/s1600/IMG_4383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1G_DWMykCNbpC5G9Y-ETxGr9D-YIJXzvgSGVOmkspH5IcYUQKFQhQPT9de-qgBqNeBNdXTeKYj7V9r-g3fTOLx5lM8MQgpiglSEi7fJa1rgu28Zp0yTtnBXmCcDL_tSNUpmou0w/s1600/IMG_4383.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Your last New Year's photo<br />with mom and dad.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We went to see you in the morning, and brought you back home after we heard the doctor's prognosis. On the way home in car, you gave me a loud dose of that yelp/bark while i cradled you. As though you were saying goodbye. I held you tighter and told you "it's okay," that you deserved your rest, and that i love you. That quiet afternoon, in our home, you asked to be stood up for a pee one last time, and quietly gave your last breath.<br />
<br />
You were going be 16 years old this September.<br />
<br />
Although this entry is about to end, I won't stop thinking about you. And Malou and I will still talk about you until we grow old, and whenever we talk about the wonderful four-legged children we've been blessed with over time.<br />
<br />
Send our regards to the others over there at the Rainbow Bridge. To Soda, Marge the Poodle, Joey, JM, Jonie, Lucky, Jennifer, Bambi, Fluke, Jumbo, Tiny, and of course, Happy.<br />
Please tell them we miss them all. <br />
<br />
Now go on out there and play again like the carefree little puppy you hadn't been for the past year and a half. The little puppy you will always be in my heart. Thank you for the children and the time you shared with us.<br />
<br />
Goodbye, Stolich. Goodbye, my son.<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
<br />
Dad<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxFo5w2tK44_7VW9H4ObHuAY0anhmSSxhDuxBVF8g6_zvTzqmEIfRPJlEOLyGVsLQ52dsDp4wM3kS24KJAhfpZwciJeQV1e5xB2ufN8nEjOnV4uCwg5fxibu-twDHez0Mrst2hg/s1600/stolich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxFo5w2tK44_7VW9H4ObHuAY0anhmSSxhDuxBVF8g6_zvTzqmEIfRPJlEOLyGVsLQ52dsDp4wM3kS24KJAhfpZwciJeQV1e5xB2ufN8nEjOnV4uCwg5fxibu-twDHez0Mrst2hg/s1600/stolich.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22288867.post-44638839055473073392014-02-01T00:26:00.001-08:002014-04-11T21:11:52.917-07:00Letters to Marge & Maddie: Chapter 42 (Happy Memories)<div class="MsoPlainText">
Hello there girls.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
I'm here to tell you about Happy.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Not the dwarf, not the feeling, but the dog who happens
to be... well... both dwarfish and happy for that matter.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Happy was the first dog that we adopted when we found we
were pregnant with Big Sister Margaret. On one part, we couldn't resist
adopting another red poodle, while on the other part, we were hoping that if
Happy and Margaret grew up together they'd be best friends.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
When Happy came, there was a resident favorite. Her name
has Jennifer. also a poodle. And while Jennifer reigned queen and Stolich the
Patriarch stood as king of the pack (although they weren't exactly mates),
Happy was just running around being cute. Simply because he was. he really was.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Over three years, And a couple of dead poodles, one
poisoned Pomeranian, and one poisoned labrador retriever later, Happy started
acting up (in a good way). He knew as big as the pack was, he knew what he had to do.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
After Jennifer finally succumbed to renal failure
caused by a batch of contaminated dog food (which also claimed her other
siblings and mother), Stolich was obviously not just a favorite but also simply
respected as somebody who stood revered partly because he was unusually old and partly
also because, well he gave us over a dozen new puppies we treated and loved like
children before you guys came along. Surprisingly (and happily), at over
fifteen years old, he's still here. Healthy appetite, healthy attitude, bad to
no eyesight, poor hearing, but I think a pretty decent sense of smell that can
sniff me out whenever i'm back home with you guys.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
But more on Stolich in another post.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
What made Happy particularly special the past year and a
half was that while us humans tend to pick favorites among our pets, he wasn't
exactly chosen. He actually made himself the favorite by fighting to stand out
and making sure that he was closest to us to your mother closer than anybody
was. <b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Happy wiggled through door cracks just to find and be with your mom, </span></b>he would follow your mom
like red furry shadow wherever she went around the house. </div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Man was he devoted. He loved your mom, and your mom loved him so much. And even more and more each passing day.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Funny enough for a tiny little dog, Happy had one giant
sized ego. One day, this ego got itself into a fight with Loopy the big playful
beagle, who normally doesn't hurt other dogs. Heaven only knows what really
happened, but next thing we knew, Loopy did a number on Happy and no amount of
prayers can help stitch together a handsome toy poodle with a fractured skull.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
It happened on the actual day when Baby Sister Maddie hit
her first birthday. <b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Your mother and I were devastated.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
After losing so many dogs... well, more like four-legged
children, to a batch of contaminated dog food (read above about Jennifer. Or read <a href="http://golangco.blogspot.com/2010/01/eulogy-for-jennifer-goodbye-to-baby.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #93c47d;">here</span></a>.), we
thought Happy was safe from that after all, and would hang around for a long
long time. Probably until you guys grew up. But life always has a funny way of
surprising us sometimes. although sometimes it just isn't funny.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
It's been a little less than a week when we got news that
he really couldn't hang on. I'm still grieving. So is your mother. <b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Happy is
worth grieving for and remembering. </span></b>When i get home, i will head to the vet and
pick up Happy's cremated remains. I plan to sprinkle a pinch of his ashes in
the garden as tribute.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
I'm writing this entry so you girls will remember Happy.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
I know your mother and I always will.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPK1vTPRHr8pA385K40VUlEwk1eHjL0g9zgGhR9lQXAgE7hfYH5gTpanbRggP1Z98Pz5EhxO9spETmvaR_Qzpx11Ym4iyI0Ghdx66OJKWsd9gXbVZYjQQjoEwtZdjoyHmJaW5lJw/s1600/IMG_1358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPK1vTPRHr8pA385K40VUlEwk1eHjL0g9zgGhR9lQXAgE7hfYH5gTpanbRggP1Z98Pz5EhxO9spETmvaR_Qzpx11Ym4iyI0Ghdx66OJKWsd9gXbVZYjQQjoEwtZdjoyHmJaW5lJw/s1600/IMG_1358.jpg" height="320" width="213"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Hey, Happy. We miss you terribly. Please say hello to the other kids up there for us, okay?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
'catch you later.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Love,</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Dad</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22288867.post-64601143109839693412013-12-01T06:32:00.004-08:002013-12-01T07:45:48.545-08:00Letters to Maddie: Chapter 41 (Lucky Girl)<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<o:p> </o:p>Dearest Maddie,</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunUXXFoMjJWJiL5ecrujagSU4j4bBgYv6dkHUFbWG_XMDZcnk-l7P9ThYy91KcGEcOkj9LqCX_ZKhzT72shZ-FMaqLTizfu0mVEE-aM_gsczKHqHff_hVlXQiJQwCdFVHeqlkPQ/s1600/IMG_1100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunUXXFoMjJWJiL5ecrujagSU4j4bBgYv6dkHUFbWG_XMDZcnk-l7P9ThYy91KcGEcOkj9LqCX_ZKhzT72shZ-FMaqLTizfu0mVEE-aM_gsczKHqHff_hVlXQiJQwCdFVHeqlkPQ/s200/IMG_1100.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">you guys know who's who<br />in this pic, right?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Your mother and i have been waiting for you for probably
around two years. But someone else has been waiting for you all her life.
Although she probably only knew it when she was three. You might know this
person. Her name is Margaret. "Marge" to most, "Achie" to
you.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
As i write this, you are all of ten months old. Your
achie is five and a half. Your mother and i are to meet at a neighborhood mall to
exchange a piece of merchandise we bought a couple of nights ago, and have a
quick dinner in the process.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
I'm coming from the office, while your mother is coming
from the house. She was supposed to drag </div>
Marge with her so she and i can spend
some time together before i ride up tonight. You couldn't come because you were
still nursing a cold.<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Your sister didn't want to come because she'd rather stay
home with you.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Back when she was all by her lonesome she'd object to not
being brought along virtually anywhere. And whenever your mother and i are
about to walk out through any door, she'd say "me sama," and proceed
to tail us.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
All that changed when you arrived, and while we sometimes
miss having your Achie around when your mother and i go out, we could not be
happier about this devotion we see on her part.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Some day in the future, you and your sister will squabble
over big and little things.</span></b> Sometimes, she'll piss you off or make you mad or
whatever. Like how sometimes she wont lend you her toys, or when she'll borrow
your favorite shoes without asking, or you aren't happy because she has a
bigger house than you, or whatever. Sometimes, she won't see things the way you
do, even if sometimes you could be right. And when those times happen (and
believe me, they will), keep it in your heart and mind that none of them
matter because before anything at all, the love between you is pure and began the moment your Achie was told you were already quietly growing in your mother's belly.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQh5zgXD7q3YDtNmmuTTr-80BI9bUzz7HMwO-IF2mxrT2XWr99gaEp8QsY5sORIxvpkoBrW5vyV9xWKbWg5cgIh3BZG_916wwt2hGNLq1XgSqLC5vCIOr_4eLmYziwBZuxh7lz2w/s1600/Madeline_0083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQh5zgXD7q3YDtNmmuTTr-80BI9bUzz7HMwO-IF2mxrT2XWr99gaEp8QsY5sORIxvpkoBrW5vyV9xWKbWg5cgIh3BZG_916wwt2hGNLq1XgSqLC5vCIOr_4eLmYziwBZuxh7lz2w/s200/Madeline_0083.jpg" width="188" /></a><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Always remember how when you could barely crawl, you had a
guardian angel to whom you were the world. </span></b>Someone whose greatest joy shifted
from following me and your mom everywhere to staying behind to watch over you.
And she was only all of five and half years old then.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
You're a really lucky girl to have such a sister. Never
forget that.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
And yes, she knows how lucky she is to have you, too.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Love,</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Dad</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22288867.post-44624708552050572262013-11-17T07:46:00.003-08:002013-12-01T07:45:02.233-08:00Letters to Marge & Maddie: Chapter 40 (Life is not a contest)<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">Dear girls,</span><br />
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometime many weeks ago, your dad had an interesting day. Early in the afternoon, your grandmother whisked everyone away to one of her beach houses (yes, on a Monday). After dinner, i hitched with your Uncle Pom back up the hill and proceeded to run off to the Manor at Camp John Hay for my usual <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://0" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">Monday night</a> jam with the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Baguios-Fusion-Band/183439421804747" target="_blank"><span style="color: #93c47d;">Fusion Band</span></a>. Was late. But better late than not there at all.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZAfRzWzq4K0Pkb6FXfUOulTBAyQcV46PEmXmjuHATnE9Zyml1njfYNSPUl66rz3gkHP6ZIqFjVHxFt892hO6jhspwbgiCmzQqVz1K0qfsyyQwrlcsVOL6zY5ntvDXAQSqEf1pA/s1600/daryl+and+me.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZAfRzWzq4K0Pkb6FXfUOulTBAyQcV46PEmXmjuHATnE9Zyml1njfYNSPUl66rz3gkHP6ZIqFjVHxFt892hO6jhspwbgiCmzQqVz1K0qfsyyQwrlcsVOL6zY5ntvDXAQSqEf1pA/s200/daryl+and+me.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Guy on the right is Daryl,</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">smiling idiot on the left is your dad</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Good thing i caught up. People from the lifestyle section of the Inquirer (a big, big newspaper in these times). They chatted up the band (the real members of the band. Namely: Vocalist Pia Santayana Trinidad, Saxman Joanie Abubo, Bassist Egai Buning, Pianist Teddy Liberato, and fellow <span style="color: #93c47d;"><u><a href="http://golangco.blogspot.com/2008/05/delayed-book-review-sting-biographies.html" target="_blank">Sting</a></u></span>-fanatic multi-talented singer-guitarist Ric Maniquis. There are other guys in the band. But the ones i mentioned were present that night. Your dad just jams along like a ten-year old being allowed to shoot hoops in an NBA court from time to time), and discovered many of us only played music on the side. And right after i did a rendition of "Let Me In" by Mike Francis, one of the ladies hollered: <span style="color: #93c47d;">"quit your day jobs!</span> Compliments hardly get sweeter than that. :)</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Speaking of jamming along, another guy who jammed along is a kid named Daryl Ladioray, who played tenor saxophone.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Daryl's a nice simple kid who was referred to me by my good friend and erstwhile bandmate Caloy dela Fuente. He chatted up Caloy through the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/180520882317/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #93c47d;">Sax Society of the Philippines Facebook <span id="goog_697714391"></span>page</span></a><span id="goog_697714392"></span>, asking about how to make his sound "sexy" or "sweet" or some such. Finding out Daryl was from Baguio City, Caloy promptly hooked us up.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After hearing the kid blow, i correctly guessed he was a marching band player. So after a couple of unqualified so-called "lessons," i taught him to bend notes and make his sax not just sing, but "speak." Unqualified, because quite frankly, <span style="color: #93c47d;">my technical proficiency in playing the saxophone was the rough equivalent of some loser who just because he could whip up scrambled eggs, then proceeds to call himself a chef.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Daryl sounds much much better now. But i honestly doubt i had that much to do with it. Especially when he sounds so much better than i do at this point.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So over a couple of vodka tonics, Daryl said that there are times when he feels inadequate when he finds himself listening to sax players his age who are playing much better than him. So i asked him with a smile: "can you imagine how i feel when i listen to how much better you are now than i ever was?"</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then i told him that i personally have no one else but myself to blame for that. And that i do feel left behind, yes. But i was okay with it. After all, he has spent many of his waking hours playing his horn and playing with other people. He did not have to worry about having to distribute his time between being a dad, being a husband, manning a store, managing an advertising office, designing stuff, and <span style="color: #93c47d;">Heaven knows how many other crazy things i dabbled in</span>. But i chose to do all those. And if the price for having experienced and tried all those things was still sucking at playing saxophone after twenty one whole years from when i started, then so be it.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I just have to reconcile myself with the thought that if i still want to become as good as i hope to be, then i either have to give up so many other things in my life or still keep at it, but it will definitely take longer than most. (As if twenty one years at this point still wasn't long enough. Heh heh... But who's counting, right?)</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Most (or least) importantly, i was not competing with anyone. And, i told Daryl, i did not think he was either. Life is a journey, not a race. It's much too short to waste looking behind or ahead of you all the time. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Life is too beautiful and too much fun to live it as a contest. So don't.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">As you tread along the pathway of life, walk... Look around you and enjoy the sights, the sounds, the smell of the breeze and all those other <a href="http://www.hallmark.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #93c47d;">Hallmark</span></a> card thingies... </span>Skip a bit, if there are puddles along the way. Run sometimes. But only for brief periods, if and when you have to catch a better view of a sunset or a fading rainbow. Trot, if you find yourself joyful. Dance, if you hear music.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Live. Don't compete, because it should be all about how you choose live your life. And not how your life compares with others.'</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And no, all the above is not my excuse for being a mediocre horn player (at best). Although i still am. But i'll get better yet. Maybe i'll even play at your weddings, if you'll let me, right? :)</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Daryl, however, sounds great now.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">'catch you later.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love,</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); line-height: 24px;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22288867.post-51571464784016418572013-09-08T22:19:00.001-07:002013-09-10T13:33:45.948-07:00Letters to Marge & Maddie: Chapter 39 (A Day in the Life...)Hello, girls.<div><br></div><div>First off, i obviously write this blog in forward order, which means that should you guys log on and start reading from the very first post you guys end up finding and keep going, then you will be reading everything in reverse chronology. Make sense?</div><div><br></div><div>Anyway... In my last post, i mentioned being awfully lonely up here, where i still am as i write this. So i have decided to give you ladies a little tour of my evenings when i'm up here. Except for Monday nights, when i grab a horn or two and head for the Manor at Camp John Hay to remind myself (and anyone else unfortunate enough to be at the Piano Bar) why i dont have a professional music career despite how much i claim to love making music.</div><div><br></div><div>So here we go...</div><div><br></div><div>-----------------------<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">---------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So i start my day at the store between 9-930 in the morning, and l</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">et's assume i leave the store at around 8 to 815 in the evening, drive on home, and park the car in the garage ten to fifteen minutes later.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I open the front door and find this...</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); clear: both; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO26gzP1EpxXWkEQ9tNPsRUHwg6EGzCkgjzVV8Sfo7W238mbf2meixnX1MGZukwDnsAAROz-J8WaFptVvxyEutnJkNL-Y58FLgPbiPKhV7X0ss2Mu-5E02U4F4QPXuegRDAzs-OA/s640/blogger-image--688653231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO26gzP1EpxXWkEQ9tNPsRUHwg6EGzCkgjzVV8Sfo7W238mbf2meixnX1MGZukwDnsAAROz-J8WaFptVvxyEutnJkNL-Y58FLgPbiPKhV7X0ss2Mu-5E02U4F4QPXuegRDAzs-OA/s640/blogger-image--688653231.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); clear: both; "><br></div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); clear: both; ">This is the foyer (or "fau-yay," as the French supposedly pronounce it).</div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); clear: both; "><br></div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); clear: both; ">I plop my backpack down on the couch.. This here couch set:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); clear: both; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfR9pFSL9gd3p1L8WgT-sSpmH0dQ-Vj1EMQLu6qN1ki93eTZNImKKiCiFpuG1-0C-_daVFKoFe_uov8RzyhXAgUocx24GTuit8rkwGL76K9ygULDHFVOgzdYC3MZuiMYknSoLlXg/s640/blogger-image--1209728228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfR9pFSL9gd3p1L8WgT-sSpmH0dQ-Vj1EMQLu6qN1ki93eTZNImKKiCiFpuG1-0C-_daVFKoFe_uov8RzyhXAgUocx24GTuit8rkwGL76K9ygULDHFVOgzdYC3MZuiMYknSoLlXg/s640/blogger-image--1209728228.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); clear: both; "><br></div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); clear: both; ">I turn to the other side here...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); clear: both; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7BsAZCRjG5Kxg-q9dqETIMcuW6kutt6qZMFhQLIeau0TbjKm74x8PmlzqFgzKYm_AmRbrl3OLJWpDsPRMsKC0xBhawSsncS89A_m1rauQb5_s-ohfyn-lhX6pf8561EiNCBoWow/s640/blogger-image-1217681538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7BsAZCRjG5Kxg-q9dqETIMcuW6kutt6qZMFhQLIeau0TbjKm74x8PmlzqFgzKYm_AmRbrl3OLJWpDsPRMsKC0xBhawSsncS89A_m1rauQb5_s-ohfyn-lhX6pf8561EiNCBoWow/s640/blogger-image-1217681538.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); clear: both; ">I grab a couple or so horns from that center table over there, and the maids proceed to inform me that the left-over lunch that i've brought home has been prepared on the table to be re-labeled as dinner at the dining room in the lower level. In this here table where only i sit at:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); clear: both; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAK3OMPvkEHAiA1uDa8NpNM4yntqaPorTIQqHT1zn77uEBg89OqPB6P27dwILqNt9T2xTeoKCAiPvvUvE_deq8aNdxIIWg6JyLUW37Jy_ZbwOatMQWNcPBd7ybOdeSKhAMq14DNA/s640/blogger-image-291680252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAK3OMPvkEHAiA1uDa8NpNM4yntqaPorTIQqHT1zn77uEBg89OqPB6P27dwILqNt9T2xTeoKCAiPvvUvE_deq8aNdxIIWg6JyLUW37Jy_ZbwOatMQWNcPBd7ybOdeSKhAMq14DNA/s640/blogger-image-291680252.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); clear: both; ">Sorry, forgot to take a photo with the food on it.</div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); clear: both; "><br></div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); clear: both; ">After a quick dinner, i go back upstairs and proceed to mess up the couch and it usually looks like this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); clear: both; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHc1rMnNw7xEZWYSodVeBfx6_m34MBxbhgse3dY3DtGmQcTIgZo7qoLNdeC8Hw4IOZKpgVEnsX7PAymFh2ZrfuKBVag_jwQKw1gaLYIYUPiUCNivW3QMRj345FO-zB3FPGPxb4QA/s640/blogger-image--1149082490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHc1rMnNw7xEZWYSodVeBfx6_m34MBxbhgse3dY3DtGmQcTIgZo7qoLNdeC8Hw4IOZKpgVEnsX7PAymFh2ZrfuKBVag_jwQKw1gaLYIYUPiUCNivW3QMRj345FO-zB3FPGPxb4QA/s640/blogger-image--1149082490.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); clear: both; ">This set-up usually commences right after dinner anytime between 830-9pm. This period involves me catching up with some work and some music practice. Then i take a shower and finally decide i'll call it a day sometime between 12 midnight to perhaps 1-130am.</div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); clear: both; ">Then i head inside to find this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); clear: both; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhhqZXJkeWaUPW1vdyOgMtXhs6VuYKHQTBNp_SunI-CkQOr7sPXgxnxb84TsE_DigEB2vuQdbjJHSftjnI4XBzXwLWfgcryUTx-qQpNINpR7fEdzY-rr9Zsij2PL6Qi_Kp5u5NA/s640/blogger-image--1784490353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhhqZXJkeWaUPW1vdyOgMtXhs6VuYKHQTBNp_SunI-CkQOr7sPXgxnxb84TsE_DigEB2vuQdbjJHSftjnI4XBzXwLWfgcryUTx-qQpNINpR7fEdzY-rr9Zsij2PL6Qi_Kp5u5NA/s640/blogger-image--1784490353.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); clear: both; ">And i either find something to read online, or bring myself a book to read 'til my eyelids feel like 50 pounds each, and that's usually at around 2am.</div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); clear: both; "><br></div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); clear: both; ">Zzzzzzzzzz...</div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); clear: both; "><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div></div><br></div>One merciful detail i didnt mention is that i usually have your mother's chatty mug on my iPad via Facetime. So that helps make things a lot lot less empty.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; ">But the house still feels like an echoing hall.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; ">So there. That's an evening in Daddy's life up here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; ">Until the next post.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; ">Bye, girls. See you in a couple of days.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; ">Love,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; ">Dad</div><br></div><br></div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22288867.post-65267187755448954252013-09-07T10:10:00.001-07:002013-09-07T18:58:47.454-07:00Letters to Maddie: Chapter 38 (Sorry i'm not there right now...)Dear Maddie,<div><br></div><div>Hello there, Baby Girl.</div><div><br></div><div>It's a late Saturday night/early Sunday morning, and i'm up in our other house. The cold, lonely and empty one (most of the time, but not all the time since you guys come over sometimes).</div><div><br></div><div>And I'm alone. And you, Marge and mommy are down there in our "other" other house. The warm, happy one where you're gently growing up and learning how to crawl, stand and maybe walk, where your mother and your sister are fighting about homework, where dogs bark incessantly just because. And i wish i was there right now.</div><div><br></div><div>I apologize for not being there while you work on doing a lot of your firsts (first step, first words, and so on). I apologize for mostly being little more than this disembodied smiling face on an iPad screen most of the time. I apologize for not changing your diapers like i wish i could. I apologize for not humming you lullabies to sleep for many nights.</div><div><br></div><div>I apologize because i know i might miss a lot of good times with you.</div><div><br></div><div>When your sister was your age, and all the way until she had to start school, your mother and i dragged her infant ass around and across the northern highways back and forth while i juggled keeping Maverick running, and finding my place up here. But when she started school, she had to stay put. So when you were born, for better or worse, i could no longer drag you, Marge and your mother up and down with me like i used to. There were lots of good times there, too.</div><div><br></div><div>But our life is what it is. It's got its good and bad stuff. In equal parts, just like everyone else's lives do, too.</div><div><br></div><div>But physically there or not, i want you to know that i'm always thinking about you. You, your mom and your sister. And i want you to know that if me being up here enables me to send you guys to better schools, afford to let you learn more stuff, take you to nice places and feed you guys better food, and just plain make your life more comfortable, then being alone up here writing this is totally worth it.</div><div><br></div><div>That's how much i love you.</div><div><br></div><div>And besides, this is hardly permanent. I'll be home for another week at least in just three more days. That's three more days of missing you guys. I'll make it up to you when i get home.</div><div><br></div><div>See you then, Baby Girl.</div><div><br></div><div>'Til then, i'll be okay with this...</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZaRgepchgCNeVBTn4-GpZMwzGvVTZoCS66uTm5NQhLbBtMATImZZquqCyuieQ1oSjYKqFFxVP2us8SGIDaqkFwrpc-TF7dgzzgEOx1SdAj0kxZbRK5QqGqFmzuGHkMPLajpTow/s640/blogger-image-96611797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZaRgepchgCNeVBTn4-GpZMwzGvVTZoCS66uTm5NQhLbBtMATImZZquqCyuieQ1oSjYKqFFxVP2us8SGIDaqkFwrpc-TF7dgzzgEOx1SdAj0kxZbRK5QqGqFmzuGHkMPLajpTow/s640/blogger-image-96611797.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Love,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Dad</div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22288867.post-38120495096124707652013-07-18T12:46:00.001-07:002013-07-27T01:06:50.455-07:00Letters to Marge & Maddie: Chapter 37 (Belated Happy Birthday to Me
a.k.a. "Life Begins at 40 my Ass....")<div class="MsoNormal">
Dearest Marge and Maddie,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJEOGdt8gO3mv_HbReiLRhZOyX9hgYOyjOLXw0JtGLR5jWyWA7v0uRt0QAIwHoH3jnHMZAJuVXoRHjAYfRriAQ96eZr80JDRcf5Ro1yxJHiscTmLvnClGJ7z8LCF55YABnTWDsCg/s1600/Madeline_0116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJEOGdt8gO3mv_HbReiLRhZOyX9hgYOyjOLXw0JtGLR5jWyWA7v0uRt0QAIwHoH3jnHMZAJuVXoRHjAYfRriAQ96eZr80JDRcf5Ro1yxJHiscTmLvnClGJ7z8LCF55YABnTWDsCg/s320/Madeline_0116.jpg" width="212"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">What, me worry? :)</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Daddy has officially been forty years old for sixteen days
now.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A wee bit late perhaps for a birthday post like i usually do
in these here parts. But hey, better late now than even much later down, right?
Obviously, there is much to share on an occasion like one's fortieth birthday. (Incidentally,
your mom also turned forty recently. Twenty six days ago, to be exact.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ever hear that life supposedly <b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">"starts at 40"? Well,
i'm here to tell you that that is absolute crap. </span></b>Truth is, life begins when one
starts breathing. And life just keeps going on as you do. It honestly does not
feel any different between being forty years old, and the couple of years or so
before that. "Life begins at 40" is said by people who finally
realize they are officially no longer young, and have got to get up and going
and trying out the things they've always wanted before they kick their
proverbial bucket. Probably because they haven't dared to live their lives a
lot sooner like they should have.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So i'm now forty years old.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I tell that to myself from time to time for the past couple
of weeks. Sometimes, i find myself sad. But mostly, i actually find myself
feeling like my heart could burst with the happy sounds, textures and colors, and
all the gratitude at how not-so-screwed-up my life has so far been. <b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Sometimes,
i take stock of life so far, and i find myself fighting back a joyful teardrop
or two.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have two beautiful children (so far), and a loving, strong
and eternally beautiful wife whom i could provide properly for. We have a new
house that has let me sow my architectural oats and is almost done, i have my
own happily struggling (yet happily afloat) little office where i can become
writer, artist, teacher and so much more. I now have a firm place in a strong
family business, a handful of real friends who have stuck with me through so
much, and some even as long as thirty years and going strong. And to top it all
off, i finally get to play saxophone (and sometimes sing) at various places
nowadays.</div>
<div class="MsoQuote">
<br></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40EsNq_sjvcyDi2n4qv3rSSs2wSLN3Fx0aDL7tnb02Sq_vjiuLsFYZXjM1jd_JNodLfaKLpHE0Wji8z6XEWyRpt9JYAc-BfwcQiOBiD3uxGRBl5O4cozAGJpQljH4c2oK9Jmnyw/s1600/48132_10151404832773212_536025810_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40EsNq_sjvcyDi2n4qv3rSSs2wSLN3Fx0aDL7tnb02Sq_vjiuLsFYZXjM1jd_JNodLfaKLpHE0Wji8z6XEWyRpt9JYAc-BfwcQiOBiD3uxGRBl5O4cozAGJpQljH4c2oK9Jmnyw/s320/48132_10151404832773212_536025810_n.jpg" width="213"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Forty with a sax is cool.<br>No, wait... sax is cool. period. :)</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoQuote">
So
if they keep telling me that "life begins at 40," then what the heck
does one call the funny, crazy, exciting, adventurous, and sometimes dramatic
story that i have lived so far? Sure sounds like life to me. And a wonderful
one at that.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thank you, girls, for being among what have made my life
wonderful so far. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So before i wrap this post up, let me end it with a bit of
advice from a happy forty year-old: one does not get to be a happy forty
year-old by being too afraid to try new things out, too weak to hold on to
things that truly matter, too lazy to work for what one wants, and too bitter about
what one doesn't have to be grateful for what one DOES have. Don't wait. Just live.
Now.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Love,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dad</div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
P.S. Belated happy birthday to me. Indeed. :)</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22288867.post-36417684272502190832013-07-01T19:40:00.001-07:002013-07-01T19:41:39.274-07:00Letters to Marge & Maddie: Chapter 36, Part 1 (Every time daddy
leaves...)Dear Little Ladies...<div><br></div><div>Tonight, daddy journeys off again up the hills to your grandmother's hometown, Baguio City. Sort of daddy's hometown, too. But not totally since your uncles and i did not really study there, and mostly just enjoyed lengthy vacations and school breaks up there. But regularly enough to have allowed us to call the crisp cool city our home as much as Manila was.</div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcq6FhcFuiZOMGF-aJiin9ByMclibtJSriT0kVZn_WIuqDlb8rjLoHD-QGRmmhyphenhyphenicYtPTy-qbq2jB7YAk_McVzGzSJWdio-29ZpuMN9F3hnMMdncu7SB2-ZxrWswp8xoxyP9TnAQ/s640/blogger-image--322591135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcq6FhcFuiZOMGF-aJiin9ByMclibtJSriT0kVZn_WIuqDlb8rjLoHD-QGRmmhyphenhyphenicYtPTy-qbq2jB7YAk_McVzGzSJWdio-29ZpuMN9F3hnMMdncu7SB2-ZxrWswp8xoxyP9TnAQ/s640/blogger-image--322591135.jpg"></a> This is/was my bus.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">* * <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">* * * * * *</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Fast forward. It has been a week since i got up here, and a mere day before i ride back down.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Time surely flies.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">* * * * * * * *</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Oops... Fast forward yet again.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I ride down tonight. It has been eight days since i got up here.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Retooling my brain to going back down home is easy. It's the coming up here that's hard sometimes.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Not because i dont like it up here. But just because i like down there a lot more.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Not much in this entry. But it would be best if i post it already for posterity.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I must continue this in the next for i have much to say about it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Much to share with you about the joys and challenges of being here and there.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">But i will see you girls later.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Love,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Dad</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22288867.post-12409720002087992072013-05-12T04:45:00.000-07:002013-05-12T11:00:33.661-07:00Letters to Marge and Maddie (Chapter 35): Welcome to God's 1lb. Pizza Personality Kitchen<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIcO9Ufa1SeSylwfxIaZAAomZDdDIOGVYwYT7z5VH04UDWBKhT6baju9BfBPHVQYIQL-4DPVQmu9PSRY11dNViDtIR9UjhvfaNyu6NtwG0BuL24x9GlW6rEa8QpqJahzq61sliQ/s640/blogger-image-1740485466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIcO9Ufa1SeSylwfxIaZAAomZDdDIOGVYwYT7z5VH04UDWBKhT6baju9BfBPHVQYIQL-4DPVQmu9PSRY11dNViDtIR9UjhvfaNyu6NtwG0BuL24x9GlW6rEa8QpqJahzq61sliQ/s200/blogger-image-1740485466.jpg" width="150" /></a>Greetings, girls!<br />
<br />
<div style="border: currentColor;">
So this entry is a bit weird for me for various reasons.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="border: currentColor;">
First, i haven't blogged for at least three months, and the one before that was even more months before that last one. Secondly, i have effectively changed the title of this series to include Maddie<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><strong>(hey, Maddie!)</strong></span>. I had half a mind to start a totally new series for only Maddie which can go side by side with Marge's, but i figured... and figured some more... and here we are.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="border: currentColor;">
So here goes...</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="border: currentColor;">
There are two of you now. Sometime back, when there was only one of Marge,<a href="http://golangco.blogspot.com/2012/03/letters-to-marge-chapter-29-who-are-you.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> i wrote about making sure that one stay true to who one is</span></a>, and that life is not about being the "best you can be," but <strong><span style="color: #6aa84f;">being the best YOU that you can be</span></strong>. So now that your world is getting bigger (especially you, Marge), you will meet new people, learn new things, and along the way, learn more about yourselves and each other. And oh how wonderful a journey that will be!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="border: currentColor;">
So now let's talk about pizza...</div>
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<br /></div>
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We are all pizzas. Yes, that isn't my imaginary Italian lineage talking. I repeat, we are all pizzas. Specifically, one-pound pizzas. <span style="color: #6aa84f;"><strong>Each and every one of us weigh in at exactly one imaginary pound</strong></span>.</div>
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<br /></div>
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This is why...</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="border: currentColor;">
Imagine, if you will, God being this great big pizza maker guy in the sky... See it? Okay, so he's in his heavenly pizza kitchen with the heavenly pizza oven and the <span style="color: #6aa84f;"><strong>heavenly pizza delivery motorcycles which probably look like storks</strong></span>... See it some more? Even cooler.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="border: currentColor;">
So just like any pizza guy, God kneads the dough, spreads the sauce, digs through and sprinkles various toppings from mushrooms to cheese to beef to pepperoni and Heaven only knows what else. But here's the catch: it doesn't matter what kind of toppings He puts, as long as the ending has to be exactly one fair pound. So He'll ensure the weight and probably finger a few toppings out to do so.</div>
</div>
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<div style="border: currentColor;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="border: currentColor;">
<strong><span style="color: #6aa84f;">So no two pizzas are going to be exactly the same.</span></strong></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="border: currentColor;">
And it doesn't matter what toppings the other one has more of, God will surely have taken something else away to even the weight out.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="border: currentColor;">
So know what you were topped with and find a place where your "toppings" will be best appreciated. Imagine if you were a Meat-Lover's Pizza with bacon, pepperoni, beef bits and all... So stay the heck away from them vegetarians, kid! They would consider you poison. Instead, find yourself people who love bacon and all other kinds of animal fat.</div>
</div>
<div style="border: currentColor;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="border: currentColor;">
But you wouldn't know what you're topped with unless you study yourself very *very* carefully. Then surround yourself with people and places were your "toppings" will be more appreciated and even loved. Because<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><strong> not everybody loves everything nor everyone, and you can never please everybody.</strong></span></div>
</div>
<div style="border: currentColor;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><br /><strong></strong></span></div>
<div>
<div style="border: currentColor;">
And here's more... We all weigh the same. So if the contest came to someone challenging you because they think they may have more cheese, ask them if they as much onions as you. Sooner or later, there will be something where you will come out on top. Just don't stop looking.</div>
</div>
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<div style="border: currentColor;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhJTpGCdbWzDuPOLvKFbfw4bv5KbrKg-ZkzBiwtqMuoH849BG1Dx_qJHAQ2QuB6Vt1yfzprGW3UGtRaA8XTCQGbZxa0ambFPTaw94fzhX_1DrZoA8Dy6oIHqerRhDEzVgcGEHUg/s1600/pizza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" mwa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhJTpGCdbWzDuPOLvKFbfw4bv5KbrKg-ZkzBiwtqMuoH849BG1Dx_qJHAQ2QuB6Vt1yfzprGW3UGtRaA8XTCQGbZxa0ambFPTaw94fzhX_1DrZoA8Dy6oIHqerRhDEzVgcGEHUg/s200/pizza.jpg" width="200" /></a>So in the same way, you can have more of one thing, and then less of another on the next. So always see people as the exact same fair pound that you are. <strong><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Let this will make you fearless, and hopefully also more patient with others.</span></strong></div>
</div>
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</div>
<div>
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That make any sense? Uhm... Somehow, this whole theory sounds better when i tell it in person. Remind me to do that one day. And we can have some pizza while i do.</div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
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Love you guys,</div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="border: currentColor;">
Dad.<br />
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<br /></div>
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</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22288867.post-7789728955911004062013-01-29T08:03:00.001-08:002013-01-29T08:03:18.052-08:00Paranoia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfb2pwndRUWz3j8GIAsE3FAa2M13pahqgMd9AGCuYM1mX0GhnDaYMHzN8snMXBfNZJBpqJOi8n4jd8FV0iE3nK8z-MYE_0pIgLxA185XUsjjAFfYW-uifHlcH3SYiuriIIJAUtw/s1600/P1050273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfb2pwndRUWz3j8GIAsE3FAa2M13pahqgMd9AGCuYM1mX0GhnDaYMHzN8snMXBfNZJBpqJOi8n4jd8FV0iE3nK8z-MYE_0pIgLxA185XUsjjAFfYW-uifHlcH3SYiuriIIJAUtw/s200/P1050273.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Dear Universe,<br />
<br />
It's been a while since i've written here, hasn't it?<br />
<br />
So yes, Maddie's out. Marge now has a sister, and is showing so much love and affection that even her mother and i were more than pleasantly surprised.<br />
<br />
Thank you, Lord. Another day, another blessing.<br />
<br />
So many new things. Good things mostly. And this is where my paranoia tells me that there's always a relatively equal balance of both good and bad things happening more or less at the same time. The universe (yes, you) is not an unkind place, but it is not Paradise. Everything has a price somehow. At least that's what i've grown to believe in my almost forty years in this life of mine.<br />
<br />
My slight addiction to slightly more colorful narratives makes days like these somewhat odd to me somehow. It's like when things seem so f*cking perfect, i find myself waiting for the stench of payback in the air.<br />
<br />
And then i sometimes realize that perhaps i've paid forward.<br />
<br />
That somehow God has already taken away much from me. And that my having dealt the funky way that i have with whatever i've lost or was never given is another thing i have to be thankful for. And with that thought, i sometimes tell myself that perhaps i should just sit back and enjoy the ride.<br />
<br />
Jesus took THIS wheel, and the ride has been good and blessed.<br />
<br />
Thanks. Seriously.<br />
<br />
For Marge, for Maddie, for the wife, for the new house, for the fact that Maverick is finally seriously not bleeding, for my friends, for the family who has employed me without really gaining that much from it, for having two eyes to see, ears to hear, and a complete set of functioning appendages, for not having to worry about how the f*ck i'm going to pay for this hospital stay, the Blackberry kept intact with Scotch tape, and the freshly popped noodles the girls and i had for dinner, and even the warming light on top of Maddie right this very second.<br />
<br />
Thanks.<br />
<br />
JUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22288867.post-47195815373278904692012-09-16T07:02:00.000-07:002012-09-16T07:02:03.272-07:00Letters to Marge (Chapter 34): Stale Slice of a Fresh Sunday (082612)Dearest Marge,<br />
<br />
Whenever I finish writing you one of these, i feel great. I feel like i've left a little piece of my soul for your future consumption. Feels really great, but man... sometimes it's tough to kick off. Even if i've already lined up so many things to write about.<br />
<br />
Oh well, enough with the excuses. Here goes another one...<br />
<br />
This is actually quite delayed. These should have been posted exactly three Sundays ago. The very Sunday outlined herein in a photographic day-journal of sorts. Here goes...<br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzZmn6qSy_KWzukoHCnQ8RPwBA9HGfKbiPw31AMJoTfcGMomNFREy5Zxw5VjSgZtEVNjmW7nIMwmucS0wDkWdKNiCUPevesBnfj5GeaYaDqnhyphenhyphenWrYEllkjEgDi5MbDSxvAoTzuA/s1600/IMG01038-20120826-0540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzZmn6qSy_KWzukoHCnQ8RPwBA9HGfKbiPw31AMJoTfcGMomNFREy5Zxw5VjSgZtEVNjmW7nIMwmucS0wDkWdKNiCUPevesBnfj5GeaYaDqnhyphenhyphenWrYEllkjEgDi5MbDSxvAoTzuA/s320/IMG01038-20120826-0540.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;">After your mother turned me into her zombie-fied errand boy practically at the crack of dawn the very Sunday morning right after she shooed me out of the house late on a Saturday night in her quest for burritos, i finally found the presence of mind to document this early morning torture. Right here, while waiting at the drive-thru window for the breakfast i no longer remember was what.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNSorhS5EQa-qD5SFlotmAhtBSA0Evp8JgyR-7YeARgGbFyCGbctMtoq11ZpjevQxk0lysEi0I_Qqg7fb6ym3vjP1XfoMmbOv4KrW1lVPmx8DJMr1c0Dc6cOOvDH9nawM9OxCjg/s1600/IMG01045-20120826-0543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNSorhS5EQa-qD5SFlotmAhtBSA0Evp8JgyR-7YeARgGbFyCGbctMtoq11ZpjevQxk0lysEi0I_Qqg7fb6ym3vjP1XfoMmbOv4KrW1lVPmx8DJMr1c0Dc6cOOvDH9nawM9OxCjg/s320/IMG01045-20120826-0543.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;">Let's talk about early morning. A morning so early that even the street lights are still on.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIig1-7jr5mVAJOg5BqXSw5TXoM6_fYtSc_iPRWpoM9ylMvl4SHVyrc-H_diwFjJDj8IvUVRqNTBIhaf6pp61Bl3uY-Rd0GIxPGwCj8rxMfuZai9IyEb1AQI5z7fZAU9s9jQxBHA/s1600/IMG01041-20120826-0541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIig1-7jr5mVAJOg5BqXSw5TXoM6_fYtSc_iPRWpoM9ylMvl4SHVyrc-H_diwFjJDj8IvUVRqNTBIhaf6pp61Bl3uY-Rd0GIxPGwCj8rxMfuZai9IyEb1AQI5z7fZAU9s9jQxBHA/s320/IMG01041-20120826-0541.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;">This is an amusing time of day. Especially on Sundays. Because sooooper early mornings usually bring the unlikely convergence of two opposite kinds of people: on one corner, you have the party people who realize they have to stop partying because the sun is up and wants to kick their sad asses back home. And they usually either have a hang-over, or have just woken up and are still trying to figure out where the heck they already are. On the other corner, you have the very "together" people who wake up early to do their chores like gardening, or go jogging or something. you know... the "good stuff."</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;">It is only on very early mornings such as these that these odd creatures can converge. Middle fo the road people like your mom and i do not belong here. not in this early a morning. So just HOW early was it?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPYVyxQQWU03fHZkfaFZQiIT17jbF9JTFel53Z92CFtrKG3qZpVP_svKDV06DZKwTszIVA7chTFOlg5cy5hdssPEr7NJJFyrLRlmu02LMV6-K0LtuIdRhXU18xiKLqRWJ3RHyL1w/s1600/IMG01044-20120826-0542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPYVyxQQWU03fHZkfaFZQiIT17jbF9JTFel53Z92CFtrKG3qZpVP_svKDV06DZKwTszIVA7chTFOlg5cy5hdssPEr7NJJFyrLRlmu02LMV6-K0LtuIdRhXU18xiKLqRWJ3RHyL1w/s320/IMG01044-20120826-0542.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;">THIS early, dangit...</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;">But i must hastily add, that your mother is currently preggers, so everything may be annoying but forgivable.</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGzDm20p1U3yXmqga8IsCMucOJiEb1SESjsLvYk8fsHq00XdDF4Jng1jfgZKR6JyObb-ZqZX7MznzD22hNswLR9I30cvg8CccEZVJc93Ryz2c17Mml_BGRS1I7NTQtIFfns_v1w/s1600/IMG01047-20120826-0545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGzDm20p1U3yXmqga8IsCMucOJiEb1SESjsLvYk8fsHq00XdDF4Jng1jfgZKR6JyObb-ZqZX7MznzD22hNswLR9I30cvg8CccEZVJc93Ryz2c17Mml_BGRS1I7NTQtIFfns_v1w/s320/IMG01047-20120826-0545.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;">This bag holds the unholy contents of oddly-assembled matter that is disguised as food. I at least remember it containing an order of pancakes for you. I was too sleepy to make them for you that day.</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFIrebTkV72PUxLZ6H8aj88_1nq_Ee6iXvd3EpKbEHeb7R25COscn_wgLH3iJbp1TXdmd4MDZcJHStFJrvyu_ydjmzqZo321QX71GFvJ5FoCd8pu4zPly00aoNCqmMiIsTaoPDlA/s1600/IMG01051-20120826-1316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFIrebTkV72PUxLZ6H8aj88_1nq_Ee6iXvd3EpKbEHeb7R25COscn_wgLH3iJbp1TXdmd4MDZcJHStFJrvyu_ydjmzqZo321QX71GFvJ5FoCd8pu4zPly00aoNCqmMiIsTaoPDlA/s320/IMG01051-20120826-1316.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;">This is much later. At a time for normal people. At a time when pregnant women have had their synthetic breakfasts, you have had your synthetic pancakes and i have had more sleep.</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;">This is you enjoying some sea breeze by Manila Bay where we went to take your grandfather out to lunch.</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOurXucgT6BqIFvuIis_jSY8PGBeqnay-mtINpJzaWue8oBlapkd65Mg-mWoDr2jMsMapW0RSgVzb_hnLWqJOUz-phfVdvDBHUs88PljmUZgwHfqJOZAURAuAn3AkkVCa2sSb9g/s1600/IMG01053-20120826-1317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOurXucgT6BqIFvuIis_jSY8PGBeqnay-mtINpJzaWue8oBlapkd65Mg-mWoDr2jMsMapW0RSgVzb_hnLWqJOUz-phfVdvDBHUs88PljmUZgwHfqJOZAURAuAn3AkkVCa2sSb9g/s320/IMG01053-20120826-1317.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;">The smiling man is your grandfather. The kid doing a Marilyn Monroe impression is you.</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhsxmrixjArjmoUbbB-zcFH5oBxa4vNpoeVHBkWluPnli9HH8v16O2mEWgQMFeqst6sYtmcg9Bsye1QZ7lBOevC0iqF5nEzIrNhJfs-2Kk3bl7FeafQHS27dLNYHU9xBvIzzYHg/s1600/IMG01050-20120826-1314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhsxmrixjArjmoUbbB-zcFH5oBxa4vNpoeVHBkWluPnli9HH8v16O2mEWgQMFeqst6sYtmcg9Bsye1QZ7lBOevC0iqF5nEzIrNhJfs-2Kk3bl7FeafQHS27dLNYHU9xBvIzzYHg/s320/IMG01050-20120826-1314.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;">This is the view that day inside the restaurant known as "The Aristocrat."</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;">This oddity is always full, they have been serving the same Chicken Barbeque for what i know to be all my life so far, and everything still still pretty much tastes the same.</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;">And this is what i consider the cool part of Sundays. We get to go visit down town Manila, and i get to reminisce about old days, old food, visit old places, and sometimes imagine what Manila could have been and what it once was.</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQjjgopweGJAjhm6N_bMVwy0ea2Zk3bCC1aeMTE2YrQoxZe39PGSdxhT0NGluNzVR4if0nFl2_fFp532yRBlMbId5RSc509OQx0WjKMle5P_BQzM8GUqiAzVOQSOBNF8dE6S_vQ/s1600/IMG01054-20120826-1319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQjjgopweGJAjhm6N_bMVwy0ea2Zk3bCC1aeMTE2YrQoxZe39PGSdxhT0NGluNzVR4if0nFl2_fFp532yRBlMbId5RSc509OQx0WjKMle5P_BQzM8GUqiAzVOQSOBNF8dE6S_vQ/s320/IMG01054-20120826-1319.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;">This is the view driving your grandfather back to middle Manila. To the left of the photograph is the historic Manila Bay. Go google it or something, kid. Buildings to the right are old buildings that used to hold some of the biggest and most important companies in Philippine business. Now they're mostly out in Makati or Bonifacio Global City.</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;">But make no mistake, the very shoreline to the left is part of what made Manila the jewel of a city that it once was.</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;">***********</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdh9bQsPOPONwt-4MLRcmINXLVEFIkaLl8MmoyEqq553lKfO6PM_hiOGP1wWYn7ixm3XtORB5ogevLpKdB9CXk2lQqqVx0onUJhpuasCtkwBEl2K2C-T29n-fu3AWw_mkf8CMT4Q/s1600/IMG01055-20120826-1547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdh9bQsPOPONwt-4MLRcmINXLVEFIkaLl8MmoyEqq553lKfO6PM_hiOGP1wWYn7ixm3XtORB5ogevLpKdB9CXk2lQqqVx0onUJhpuasCtkwBEl2K2C-T29n-fu3AWw_mkf8CMT4Q/s320/IMG01055-20120826-1547.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;"> Fast forward to the future. Or more accurately, the afternoon of that day.</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;">We proceeded to drive all the way down South to see what was new down there. And boy, WAS there anything new!</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;">It was actually quite amazing and it really did feel like nothing from the South that i knew from as recently as maybe eight or so years back.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7wGkAOrceVgbzXvSowLH7baxqIpYw2cH91DaqhOONm55Vi3Xh3kT9WiNUFZyxhcSs552eNj7fwXY-tqZQH17ElqrWLDpZ3dVfVMRZLUy0Yx0Vjw8NCY5NwY0XWBA38h7iimFYQ/s1600/IMG01059-20120826-1611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7wGkAOrceVgbzXvSowLH7baxqIpYw2cH91DaqhOONm55Vi3Xh3kT9WiNUFZyxhcSs552eNj7fwXY-tqZQH17ElqrWLDpZ3dVfVMRZLUy0Yx0Vjw8NCY5NwY0XWBA38h7iimFYQ/s320/IMG01059-20120826-1611.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;">First stop, ICE CREAM!!!</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;">Hot pregnant lady behind you is your mother.</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglM_7Uf5QmPShqBeJ0at1wZi2Wwyi9NjpoFSaf9u2gyabCYw291BFAuawqJOcXy3pIV0W0Xpygj-iR1OEwUtmV8ypTVC7grJCMHkbeWt5AKFSSmUzfecOFhwdR5_mufLEYS6YkaQ/s1600/IMG01066-20120826-1624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglM_7Uf5QmPShqBeJ0at1wZi2Wwyi9NjpoFSaf9u2gyabCYw291BFAuawqJOcXy3pIV0W0Xpygj-iR1OEwUtmV8ypTVC7grJCMHkbeWt5AKFSSmUzfecOFhwdR5_mufLEYS6YkaQ/s320/IMG01066-20120826-1624.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;">This is you hamming it up while aforementioned hot pregnant woman is off somewhere exercising consumer rights.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sL6JGE7w1-3R-KDgWkXJpWOoo7shyphenhyphenbFdjKRMNq-M5oXnST9v9_zqZjwV1Q2RGN2BB4e0zFvkzDTCDdZrvwon0atZuxx1FW0O9pGo3hm8ycPUFfn3GAr6xMGTBDtLZ7ai-HLkyQ/s1600/IMG01071-20120826-1701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sL6JGE7w1-3R-KDgWkXJpWOoo7shyphenhyphenbFdjKRMNq-M5oXnST9v9_zqZjwV1Q2RGN2BB4e0zFvkzDTCDdZrvwon0atZuxx1FW0O9pGo3hm8ycPUFfn3GAr6xMGTBDtLZ7ai-HLkyQ/s320/IMG01071-20120826-1701.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;">Bo's Coffee place. You went out to crap, i think...</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJnLI_-voKedEpv8S8Xv4uDau0TN93fPRAF-XCKTAG7gntbkPd4D6CvssxnODVYgZqYrX5cPgNJZhw5uBDERiwHpY3xiglJulscJ12TDvgAhAC2e3oZMh0YqBLpIkOqSZXATUWw/s1600/eli's.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJnLI_-voKedEpv8S8Xv4uDau0TN93fPRAF-XCKTAG7gntbkPd4D6CvssxnODVYgZqYrX5cPgNJZhw5uBDERiwHpY3xiglJulscJ12TDvgAhAC2e3oZMh0YqBLpIkOqSZXATUWw/s320/eli's.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;">This is Eli's Barbeque at Tagaytay where we ended the day. This place is owned by one of Daddy's best friends. Great food, great view of Taal Lake (too bad we came at night). We'll head back there soon!</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;">(photo credit from </span><a href="http://www.askmewhats.com/"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;">www.askmewhats.com</span></a><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;">) I was already too tired to photograph the place and our food.</span><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So there you have it, girl. One more journalized Sunday.<br />
Cheers and catch you later.<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
<br />
DadUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22288867.post-23624353690297996502012-08-24T10:14:00.000-07:002012-08-24T19:39:04.324-07:00Letters to Marge (Chapter 33): A Slice of Saturday (or is it still Friday night?)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHrALJUeGXRcAQd24vZYXwlmLxZPqaraiDU59ReI_uFpX6IKAXjWge30MP4QWgJRsPrpPDcsXtsIqjJ7PFrJFLcVMnG8mLFkTTYsYQf_aYJYB29tEGJBAXEWNqWxBIpCs0jWsxwA/s640/blogger-image-1463771776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHrALJUeGXRcAQd24vZYXwlmLxZPqaraiDU59ReI_uFpX6IKAXjWge30MP4QWgJRsPrpPDcsXtsIqjJ7PFrJFLcVMnG8mLFkTTYsYQf_aYJYB29tEGJBAXEWNqWxBIpCs0jWsxwA/s200/blogger-image-1463771776.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">me looking at the Army Navy</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">serving counter in a very</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">"Night Hawk-ish" moment.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">Dear Marge,</span><br />
<br />
Nope, no lectures today. Just a little drop by.<br />
<br />
Your mother is currently pregnant with your sibling. Please note the ambiguously gendered noun. Oh my, doesnt the word "sibling" sound a wee bit cold? But no, we still dont know if the bean of jelly in your momma's belly is a boy or girl.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPCzGI_l-yFGBcYJCxKI00QbnA7ruR09od1y8RnT3paWILC-Zxejs0W8JRxb1lZo6L9rxLIVdmIYR0NsB1HbBRzxvCbkQs0Cot8ZChzBualUV8bZ6FwCDgU0kYRLj5tnP7Zm-WAA/s640/blogger-image-1051232078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPCzGI_l-yFGBcYJCxKI00QbnA7ruR09od1y8RnT3paWILC-Zxejs0W8JRxb1lZo6L9rxLIVdmIYR0NsB1HbBRzxvCbkQs0Cot8ZChzBualUV8bZ6FwCDgU0kYRLj5tnP7Zm-WAA/s200/blogger-image-1051232078.jpg" width="200" /></a>Anyways, i have been dispatched at a little past midnight to the nearest spot that sells taco, because your mother caught Robert de Niro's "Machete" on HBO.<br />
<br />
So there. Oh, order's done. Gotta run.<br />
<br />
'catch you later.<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
<br />
Dad<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfx6SmaVzWL1yMNlly73xZD4ZVcYBRDKaXyQ1xL2etMXXVSxu5fhA06GFeypwS5w81IhWbnbvi2B_0uymefVE71-5HFDRfxrePPthRviXnUixDhpT8_R7OhRnOcr3HYK6zBzeAsw/s640/blogger-image--2044432255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfx6SmaVzWL1yMNlly73xZD4ZVcYBRDKaXyQ1xL2etMXXVSxu5fhA06GFeypwS5w81IhWbnbvi2B_0uymefVE71-5HFDRfxrePPthRviXnUixDhpT8_R7OhRnOcr3HYK6zBzeAsw/s200/blogger-image--2044432255.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">random shots snapped while</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">avoiding a road accident.</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">(don't try this at home, kid)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
P.S. your mother ordered a soft vegetarian taco, a tortilla soup (without the tortilla. Yeah...), and i got myself a bit of onion rings.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22288867.post-34401930289963106272012-08-20T04:55:00.003-07:002012-08-20T16:38:54.046-07:00Letters to Marge (Chapter 32): Everything is (Almost) Worth Trying<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Dear
Marge,</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">I wrote
the theme for this post before i wrote the Tears for Fears post. And it was
initially titled "Life is Too Short." But given what i wrote in the
previous post, it seemed a wee bit contradictory. But the point i'd like to
make is still the same.</span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">And it's
as simple as this: when an opportunity comes your way to do something new, keep
an open mind and always lean first towards trying for it before ultimately
turning it down (if you have to).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RD1JXrV5Z1yJPdTJjBFNJCid8V9mlg3zHFpWjQfsnVE005-aHKmfuBfNcCG2IMHl5mxMfpr6hTT8Hu9-QEZVu3pnWdrxygtK0eWLlJ_Rp24PoCw06egni6xQ6eHEgCicw_nlkw/s1600/hats.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RD1JXrV5Z1yJPdTJjBFNJCid8V9mlg3zHFpWjQfsnVE005-aHKmfuBfNcCG2IMHl5mxMfpr6hTT8Hu9-QEZVu3pnWdrxygtK0eWLlJ_Rp24PoCw06egni6xQ6eHEgCicw_nlkw/s200/hats.png" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Been there, there, there...</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">ooh, i have to go THERE...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and THERE... </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Done that, that,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">that... no, </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">not THAT, </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">did that,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">that, that... </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">oh no, never THAT...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">but THAT? </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">hmm...</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Check
this old man out. Over the course of my colorful life, i have been or dipped
into the following things (in the order that they just pop into my head): i've
written articles and tech reviews for magazines (yes, real ones that got
printed on real paper), joined painting contests in school, got forced into a
swimming competition as a child, studied martial arts, went to the gym, played
saxophone with a couple of bands, sang vocals in a band, sang in a church
choir, was an altar boy, a published poet, <strong><span style="color: #6aa84f;">an honor student (in kindergarten! So
what? Still! Heh heh...)</span></strong>, a high school drop-out, helped tend your
grandmother's store, acted as cashier, went to the gym and got offered to join
a body building competition waaay back (yeah! Believe it, girl!). i've emceed
weddings and other events, i joined a TV game show once, <strong><span style="color: #6aa84f;">auditioned for a job
as a DJ (which i didnt get),</span></strong> was an amateur photographer (nowadays, everyone
is!), served food and drinks (at your mother's little food place waaaaaaay
back), attended to customers as a computer technician, worked as a landscape
architect for two weeks (on site, too), worked as an interior designer for
almost two years total, directed radio and print commercials, provided voice
talent for radio and the occasional event, posed as a print ad talent, been my
own company's messenger, your grandfather's weekend driver, tried to play basketball (had ONE good game in my entire life! yes, believe it!), <strong><span style="color: #6aa84f;">i even once
regularly toyed with the lights of a disco in a five-star hotel, </span></strong>i did minor
carpentry and repairs at home (waaaaaay back), performed minor repairs and even
part replacements on my first car (again, waaaaaaaaay back), acted as
unofficial substitute guidance counsellor back in college, and so many more
that will fill a very long list.</span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnf1lI4DhWFPuTpDD4LJL0inRNg0ydkzwYWcfyLM6D-UcfJD6WiFOK7HhxtS9blYdeAo1krKfElI8kp_-o7QTda7sVnEzzMu0-rX4glezaUIinjnIoWu8EITwNQpaki1VxqRL94w/s1600/blurbeedoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So
through all that up there, i look back from time to time, find myself smiling,
sometimes wincing, sometimes even angry. But ultimately, i will find myself
smiling again at the color, music and noise in the memories of what has been my
life so far.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnf1lI4DhWFPuTpDD4LJL0inRNg0ydkzwYWcfyLM6D-UcfJD6WiFOK7HhxtS9blYdeAo1krKfElI8kp_-o7QTda7sVnEzzMu0-rX4glezaUIinjnIoWu8EITwNQpaki1VxqRL94w/s1600/blurbeedoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnf1lI4DhWFPuTpDD4LJL0inRNg0ydkzwYWcfyLM6D-UcfJD6WiFOK7HhxtS9blYdeAo1krKfElI8kp_-o7QTda7sVnEzzMu0-rX4glezaUIinjnIoWu8EITwNQpaki1VxqRL94w/s200/blurbeedoo.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And
here's the clincher, in many of those above things, i totally sucked.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In a few,
i didn't embarrass myself (which may actually mean that i may have embarrassed
myself on some other things, but we can talk about those some other time), in a
handful of those, i haven't given up trying to not suck. But there's a job that
i didn't list up there where i may have sucked, i may done well sometimes, but
most of all, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">i will never give up trying to always get better at. That
"job" is being your dad, and being your mother's husband.</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Again, I
have never been perfect at any of those up there. But in every case, i either
had fun or learned something new and/or useful. And guess what? I have no
intention of ending that list. It will keep getting longer while i live,
breathe, or manage to sneak away from your mother so i can try something she
might find either embarrassing or suicidal.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But no,
i'm not suicidal. Neither should you be.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But as
you go on through life, try different things. Learn something new (sometimes
not necessarily useful). Fill your life with color, music and noise.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Love,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Dad (is
Crazy!*)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">*your mom added the last two words herself.</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0