Wednesday, November 25, 2009

i love you

This article came with one of the many forwarded emails that I would receive from time to time. I thought that it is one that I should share around before it's too late...


Date with a Woman...

After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie.. She said I love you but I know this other woman loves you and would love to spend some time with you.

The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my MOTHER, who has been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally.

That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie.

'What's wrong, are you well?' she asked. My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news.

'I thought that it would be pleasant to be with you,' I responded. 'Just the two of us.'

She thought about it for a moment, and then said, 'I would like that very much...'

That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous.

When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited at the door with her coat on. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary.

She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel's.

'I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were impressed,' she said, as she got into the car. 'They can't wait to hear about our meeting.' We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cozy. My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady.

After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Large print. Half way through the entries, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there staring at me. A nostalgic smile was on her lips.

'It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were small,' she said. 'Then it's time that you relax and let me return the favour,' I responded.

During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation - nothing extraordinary, but catching up on recent events of each other's life.

We talked so much that we missed the movie..

As we arrived at her house later, she said, 'I'll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you.' I agreed.

'How was your dinner date?' asked my wife when I got home. 'Very nice. Much more so than I could have imagined,' I answered.

A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn't have time to do anything for her. Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place mother and I had dined.

An attached note said: 'I paid this bill in advance. I wasn't sure that I could be there; but nevertheless, I paid for two plates - one for you and the other for your wife. You will never know what that night meant for me.

I love you, son.'

At that moment, I understood that importance of saying in time: 'I LOVE YOU!' and to give you loved ones the time that they deserved. Nothing in life is more important than God and your family. Give them the time they deserved, because these things cannot be put off till 'some other time.'

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

thank you, tremendously

Where I am, I am keeping my one desired project on-hold. I have a plan to get all the messages on cards and notes and gift-wraps from my students here. I was thinking of typing them down, one by one, to the letter and full stop, here so that I may always have them with me, where ever I go to, whenever I am connected.

Couldn't have this done before landing here so definitely I can only carry this out when I am back.

To them, thank you so much for all the opportunities, the patience, the enthusiasm, the support, the smiles, the hugs, the smart retorts, the irritating behaviors, the bright eyes, the help, the suggestions, the warmth, the naughtiness, the reminders, the obedience, the attentiveness, the listening..ALL.

You guys were great to me. I've grown tremendously this year, simply because of all of you. You have sincere thanks from the bottom of my heart.

So, yes, I will have this done for me, for all of you and from me, from all of you!

Blessed lives, y'all!

Facebook-ing, not cool!

Ah, Facebook..the craze of today's wired people. Everyone that I know, somehow has an account or another with on that platform. Well, almost. The exception is my parents.

Even I am not spared from stamping my presence in this maze of connectivity. It's my numbered addiction, though at what step it is I have yet to determine, nonetheless, it is one of my vices these days.

I go for the one game and of course, pictures. The nosy side of me loves seeing pictures, of friends, of fiends, of acquaintances, of food, of good times, of places, and of simply, just pictures. Random shots of everyday lives or powerful shots of expression or intriguing picture compositions and of course, there are the not so random, pretty, beautiful, artistic, weird, funny...you name it, I've seen them.

Aside of from that, it's for keeping in touch, really. The lazy pig of myself method of keeping in touch. Of sending greetings, of wishing, of sending messages. Yes, it used to be done with cards which we can still get from stores. Then, phone calls when I was old enough to handle the phone and have money to spend on them. Phone calls gave way to sms-es, easier and avoids the deafening silence and awkwardness you might face with some. Emails were never my choice. When facebook came along, well, all these took a back seat. Wall posted greetings became my number one choice. It's easy, could be done at my convenience, and I even get references from other posts, if any.

While I dig those, it's really a distraction. I am sure I am not the only one suffering from this addiction. Yes, this is an addiction. I have no one good reason to be log in at all times, yet, I am. There is nothing in particular that I need to check yet I am always there. I end up playing game and getting my head all weird and eyes tired over it.

And the saddest thing is that this addiction, this facebook-ing thing, is keeping me away from here. Not cool!