Today you would have been 60. You would have started your birthday week quietly waiting to see who would remember that it's your actual day of birth. Some years we would, some years we'd totally forget, but that's okay because we'd have the whole week to get it right, before your legal date, the day your lolo registered you at city hall, the date on your passport and immigration papers, drivers license and facebook page. Some years we would celebrate all week long, and most in combination with Fathers Day.
Today you would have been 60. You would have woken up early, eaten your oatmeal while watching the morning news, you would have gone to work, (unless still on a work from home order due to your compromised heart) had a nap on your lunch break, and ordered the appetizer at dinner. Inay and Tatay would phone you (they NEVER forgot) and if we were lucky one or more of the kids would be around to celebrate too.
Today you would have been 60. You would have been even more proud and even a little sentimental about what amazing adults your children have become, claiming that all their best qualities came from you just to get that oh so predictable rise out of me. You would have booked a T time at the golf course and talked again about which dream venture you would try, while I'd excitedly and obsessively dive into the research. You'd get the barbecue and lumpia ready for the party we'd surely plan for another landmark year.
But today, while you should have been 60, we are left with but the memory: those simple everyday actions of a not so simple man whose big heart gave out while ours beats on.
Oh how I wish that today you were 60.
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