07/12/2020
Heaven’s birthday girl (-:
It’s been a while now, ‘Nang... I would run to my phone whenever you rang me and we would talk for a while... I might have been six or seven recalling my first memory of you. You broke your left leg and my mother tagged me along a sixteen-hour ride (by bus, jeepney and tricycle) to see you. Then, when I was nine, mom left for the United States and you took over our care. You poured your heart into mine and Gail’s and it was your presence and love that continues to be my personal beacon of healing love. You bid us goodbye the summer of ‘95... but joined us in Florida less than ten years later. Nanang, you were my constant... and I miss you on your special day. I miss playing tong-its, pusoy dos and listening to your stories in Ilocano. You loved gardening, always staying active, you loved recalling your grand children and watching after them/us. Your life was hard but your faith in God was also deep. You were stubborn, strong-willed but you loved hard that you sacrificed yourself for your family.
Since heaven transcends time, you are in your glorified body enjoying eternity’s blessings. I look forward to holding you again. Until that day comes, happiest of all birthdays my precious, beloved Nanang Naning.
