2 Years Hence

Today marked the second death anniversary of our beloved Dad. I took leave from work and flew to CDO for the "babang luksa" (official end of the mourning period).

Since yesterday, it has been a very hot kitchen at home. Mama's cooking and cooking and cooking and cooking and cooking. Today, the kitchen activities continued as early as 730am. Of course, I have to help, even if I hate to be enslaved to a hot stove. Having a terrible hot weather doesn't help a bit.

We finished with the kitchen duty by 330pm. Ma and I proceeded to her room and turned the AC full blast. Much as we wanted to stay some more, we have to be get ready soon after. We have told everyone to meet up at the cemetery at 4pm.

One by one, the relatives arrived. A lot weren't able to make it, but it's okay. Food, talk, and love overflowed - just the way Pa would have it at any family get together.

We all miss you, Pa; but I'm sure you're peering down from heaven at us, smiling and sending us your love.

Five (Reposting from FB)

Posted this in my FB account last January...reposting here...


Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at 9:53am

At this time (10:30 AM) five years ago today, I was alternating between bawling my eyes out and slipping into blissful (?) blackouts (thanks to the sleep-inducing drugs given to me). You see, I was waiting to be wheeled into surgery, the first ever in my life, for cancer cell/s removal.

By the time 1:00 PM rolled around, my eyes were all puffy and almost shut closed; I was still crying. I remembered mentally kicking myself for so much drama but I still cannot stop the tears.

Next thing I remembered, I was throwing up in the recovery room, feeling the room spin around me as I sank into oblivion once again.

And then I began my journey to recovery.

Looking back today, it is still quite hard for me to imagine that all these times have passed and I have surpassed all the trials thrown my way.

As I begin my fifth year of being cancer free today, I would like to thank all the people (family and friends, you know who you are) who have given me the courage and the strength to fight back and face all those treatments. Without all of you behind me, rallying me on, I do not think I would have enough to go on as I did. You all gave me cheer and made me realized how loved I am!

As I celebrate today, I shall also remember those who have passed on ahead of me, their courage and valiant struggle against the big C. I also believe that they are looking down at me, happy for me that I have reached this milestone, and cheering me on.

I also want to thank those friendships that I had forged because of cancer - these are the most beautiful people in the world. Battling the big C while living their lives to the fullest, showing the world that cancer is not a sentence, but just a word.

THANK YOU ALL!!!

Revisiting

Last night, I decided to revisit this long neglected blog and read over few entries I made.

There are some entries that about interaction with total strangers that I have absolutely no recollection of - and it feels nice to be reminded of those experiences. To be reminded of one's thoughts and feelings at that particular time made me want to write again.

I'm not saying that the entries will come regularly, but I'll try. I have to make myself sit down once again, take a breather from whatever it is I'm doing (and most especially if it's stressing me out), and appreciate the life that I have.

Yes, I think I'll do that.