Wednesday, June 08, 2011

and his name is walter

my grandpa looked at me, flashed a smile and said: "you know what mark, 73 is a good number... ok ya iyo."

these striking words freaked me out! startled, i asked him why. he replied "...ok ya iyo". i love my grandpa so much that i almost burst into tears. guess what? i didn't. (crying while washing the dishes just isn't a good combo. not a perfect drama scene for a tv show) come 14th day of june, he will turn 73 years old.

bothered, i kept wondering why he told me this. was he ok? was it because he was a bit drunk that night? or was it because it's just his nature to be melodramatic whenever his birthday is upcoming. but no matter what the reason was, i knew he meant it. the way he spoke the words to me was so pure.

married for over 50 years to his lovely wife, josefina
the hell. he's still alive! go talk to him. go out with him, eat at some fancy restaurant or in any fastfood chain. chat. talk about the past. his past. talk about what's bothering him or whatever he likes to talk about. laugh. take photos of him. surprise him. make him happy. these things i tell to myself after he talked to me. and the moment i accomplish all these and more, i will have no regrets when that unexpected day comes. i love you more than words.

then and now
note: i found these old printed photos in a box, scanned them and posted it here. (not my property, just so you know)
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4 comments:

  1. AthenaJune 13, 2011 at 5:47 AM

    gwapo pala ng lolo mo.
    malungkot ka man na sinabi niya 'yon pero if siya mismo happy na sa ganun, then there's nothing much to worry kasi even what that day comes na he'll say goodbye, at least you know na ok na pala 'yon sa kanya.
    *hug*

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  2. markopoloJune 13, 2011 at 5:57 AM

    @luz athena: sa kanya bka ako nag-mana nu? puahaha! tomo!.. nalulungkot tuloy ako ngyon. waaaaaaaa. birthday nya pa man bukas. dapat everybody happy. :D hug!!

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  3. Christelle DeeJune 13, 2011 at 7:54 AM

    aww ghawd!! i wanna cry here in Manila... you are a meanie!! i wish i was there... and yeah.. hopefully, when i come back, we'll go out and treat our dearest lolo to some fancy resto... for sure, if i was with you when he mentioned those words... i will cry with you my cousin dear... take care of him ok? tell him i miss him and i love him and i still would want to celebrate birthdays with him...

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  4. markopoloJune 13, 2011 at 9:47 AM

    me also want to cry after reading your comment. tama. where'd that be? and when? etu ya muna gasta kay etu heb sweldo. bawi io if io ya tmen chene. :D i will. i'll give him his you-know-what vitamins! :D ok i will. i also do want to celebrate birthdays with him. oh. and btw, after abla si lola kay man celebrate poko na suyu birtday abla ele, "eh, selebra selebra pa. gasta pa. ordinaryo hente lang man io." naaah. our lolo dear is so dramatic ya. haha. :O

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