Open letter to Dad 1

Dear Dad 1,

I hope all is good there in Europe, but I am sure that all would be better if tita were around.

Yesterday, we had a send-off lunch with tita in the country club. It was a sumptuous treat.

It is always nice to exchange thoughts and laugh with her. However, under the shimmer, it was quite obvious that tita's smile could still shine brighter. Yes, the big smile was there but short of perfect. You are the missing piece.

Your relationship, I understand, is none of my business, and I may be crossing the line.

Anyway, I do not think that tita has the personality to impose her will, but I could read that she is yearning for quality retirement years together. You have worked hard all these years to build your reputation in the field of business and your nest egg; now is the time to intensify further your oneness with tita.

Pardon my unsolicited opinion.

Your family home is waiting for you.

Love,
Prodigal Son 35

Busy is good

I have been so busy lately; to be honest, in some ways, I hate it. I miss the days when I would come home during the day, either for a power nap or a lazy man's sleep in. I guess I have no choice but to hack it. When you ask to be blessed a bit, you have to be there to catch it when it pours. I should not be complaining; it is utterly stupid to do so.

Today, I will be going on a trip. Again, it has something to do with work. I will be taking the last flight out and, I think, the first flight in when I come back. No leisure time at all. I have to cram everything in a few days. Also, no suitcase this time except for my small backpack.

Before I go, let me share a short prayer: Father, thank You for keeping me busy. With Your mercy, I am able to provide means for my family, and it helps me stay glued to my wife. Pardon me if I whine at times; it is so selfish of me. I missed church today; I was negligent. Sorry, Father. Please keep my family safe and give my wife peace of mind. May she get enlightenment: I am traveling alone. In the name of Christ, Amen.

Have you earned it?

I came across an ad the other day that said, "Respect can't be built. Only earned." The pitch, I would say, is quite effective in selling to its target market: sophisticated and discriminating customers. I would definitely give the marketer an A+ for the striking statement.

Most of us have been taught that respect is reciprocal. We have to receive respect in order that we may dish it out. It cannot be free of charge. Such is the cost of the virtue that we have to earn it. In some ways, we instantly earn respect by simply being somebody.

I was a disciple of earned respect. In fact, I used to make an accounting of it. Anything received was recorded as debit; if I had been remiss, I would have to guesstimate the value that I had to part with. No way. I had to be precise.

The established norm, however, is wrong. The intellectuals who introduced it to society may have erred. The teaching violates what is proper. Our right to be respected is innate. We do not need to earn it. We already have it, by virtue of birth. Likewise, there is no need for us to build it. What we can do is enhance it. Unfortunately, people give more emphasis to enhanced respect that we forget about the core.

Yes, I was once a disciple, but now I find it bothersome. Advertisements are very powerful in molding our minds. I fear for my two daughters whose values are still immature. I hope they will live not seeing any similar advertisement. My girls will bump into a lot of different people in their lifetime; I pray that Nicole and Stefanie simply deal with others in high regard. I was subscribing to an unfair standard for decades, may they get it right from day one.

Do we really want to live in a world where respect is scarce?

Retiring in fashion

I recently signed up for a memorial plan. Yes, I have been preparing for every kind of retirement imaginable. However, for this one, I did not go for the best that I could afford. I wrote a check for the cheapest casket and service. It should serve its purpose.

For those who are willing to lay luxuriously, the plan provider has something worth over US$20,000. It must be real comfortable in there. Elegant? You bet! Unfortunately, I did not have the chance to try it; I could not be bothered. Like a wedding dress, I believe that the fitting should only be arranged at the most appropriate time. Hopefully, not that soon.

Anyway, I told my wife that I would be happy to go in simple terms. My rationale: I know of this certain VIP who had it all yet chose to be born in a manger and whose funeral was less than decent.

Valentine on the drawing board

Every end of the month, I come up with a summary of the work that we had just accomplished (for that particular month): accomplishments against targets and issues that were hurdled or those that could arise. The report will also include specific goals for the following month and the requirements of those new targets. If not for the said scorecard, it will be like sailing out into the ocean without a compass.

February, as we all know, is popular for being a "heart" month. Of course, we have plans for our clients. The objective is to subtly nurture goodwill. No need for anything elaborate, simple knick-knacks should do the trick.

Businesswise, my plan, our plan for the upcoming occasion is clear. Crystal. However, on the other side of the plane, personalwise, I am still on the drawing board. Or should I be a little more snappy, display an abundance of love at home, live my married life to the fullest, and start sailing purposefully?

Wife's YM was hacked

My wife's email account may have been hacked. She only got to learn about it when my stepmom asked her about a malicious email and when Yahoo! suggested that my wife change her password, as the account may have been unscrupulously manipulated.

May God bless the hacker.

Gift of love

I still owe my wife a holiday present. As usual, I am horribly late. How can I be so slow, when Shiela has always been quick to remind me of upcoming occasions? Honestly, it is an area that I need to work on. Furthermore, I should also learn to wrap my presents because, lately, she has been experiencing fatigue from receiving gifts of love.

As irritating as it may be, I never get tired of teasing my wife about my gift that will never wither. She usually tells me, in disgust, that it is never enough. I agree and give her the go-ahead to shop for something reasonable.

It is all friendly banter between my wife and me, but everything makes sense.

Some people give out boxes but fail to give love. Others would not even be willing to offer love in jest. How about those who take back love? Those whose boxes have attachments? More off-color are the ones who will give you an accounting of the gifts relative to their fake affection.

What would you rather receive?