I noticed that I have been writing for sometime now about serious matters.
Today, allow me to digress from heavy stuff and write about something light, about a child. Don’t we all brighten up when confronted by a child? Even Jesus, they say, must certainly have smiled whenever He was among children. And so let me brighten up your moment now and tell you something about Nicole.
Nicole is a bubbly and loveable two-year old girl who lives with her parents in Union City, California. Her smooth, fair skin she takes from her mother while her brownish straight hair is most likely from the women on her father’s side. She has just begun to talk and is fascinated by words. She speaks and understands a mixture of English and Tagalog words since her parents are both Filipinos. She calls her parents Dada (for Daddy) and Mummy, her grandparents are Wowa (Lola) and Wowo (Lolo). Like any two-year old, she likes to say “No” and “Mine”. Yes, she already goes to school at Stanford pre-school in California where her mummy is also an assistant teacher. She loves Barney, Dora and Elmo as her playmates. And yes, she loves to pose for photographs.
Why do I seem to know her so well? Well, you see, Nicole is my first and only grandchild. Below is a letter I just wrote her.
My dear little, sweet, Nicole:
I just saw you a while ago on my computer screen and yet it seems I miss you more each time I see you do your antics, sing, and dance before me. (In a way this new technology is convenient but it can be cruel. It can make people communicate to and even see each other, yet leave them still helpless and lonely.)
I wonder how an innocent one like you thinks. Do you wonder why we here in Manila can’t leap out of the computer screen and join you there in California? Do you ask yourself why we the big folks in your life can’t do a simple thing like that for you? Or why Lola and Dana did it and stayed with you there for 6 weeks, while Ninang Pizza, Mae and Lolo can’t.
I still feel envious of Lola because she was able to be with you for that long while I had to be contented with seeing you on the computer screen. She has endless stories about you and every single thing that you are able to do now. She relates how you can ease her aching and tired arms after a day’s load of cooking chores just by your hugs and kisses while mumbling what sounds like, “wub yu, wowa”. Whereas I can only… never mind.
Of course, I have already held you in my arms. If you remember (no, you don’t), we were all together last Christmas of 2006. I flew in from Honolulu and spent Christmas with you and the whole family. That was a special Christmas for me! For the first time, my family was complete – all three generations! For the first time too, I felt complete – I was not only a father but also a grandfather!. But that was too brief for you and I to bond somehow. You would not even let me hold you, and that hurt... Anyway, I came back to see you a second time on your first birthday on March 2007. That also was special to me. This time you let me hold you and we even had a photo together. It has been more than a year now, how time flies… Now you are a two-year old. When will I see you again?
Well, of course, I look forward to seeing you early next year when Nana (Dana) gets married. You will be almost three then and will surely be the prettiest and cutest flower girl ever!
So I can only look forward till then. Lola said she taught you how to pray… Now pray that I will live much longer and see you grow up to be a pretty, well-bred young lady just like your Mommy, Ninang, Dana and Mae!
I love you,
Wowo (Lolo) Danny
Today, allow me to digress from heavy stuff and write about something light, about a child. Don’t we all brighten up when confronted by a child? Even Jesus, they say, must certainly have smiled whenever He was among children. And so let me brighten up your moment now and tell you something about Nicole.
Nicole is a bubbly and loveable two-year old girl who lives with her parents in Union City, California. Her smooth, fair skin she takes from her mother while her brownish straight hair is most likely from the women on her father’s side. She has just begun to talk and is fascinated by words. She speaks and understands a mixture of English and Tagalog words since her parents are both Filipinos. She calls her parents Dada (for Daddy) and Mummy, her grandparents are Wowa (Lola) and Wowo (Lolo). Like any two-year old, she likes to say “No” and “Mine”. Yes, she already goes to school at Stanford pre-school in California where her mummy is also an assistant teacher. She loves Barney, Dora and Elmo as her playmates. And yes, she loves to pose for photographs.
Why do I seem to know her so well? Well, you see, Nicole is my first and only grandchild. Below is a letter I just wrote her.
My dear little, sweet, Nicole:
I just saw you a while ago on my computer screen and yet it seems I miss you more each time I see you do your antics, sing, and dance before me. (In a way this new technology is convenient but it can be cruel. It can make people communicate to and even see each other, yet leave them still helpless and lonely.)
I wonder how an innocent one like you thinks. Do you wonder why we here in Manila can’t leap out of the computer screen and join you there in California? Do you ask yourself why we the big folks in your life can’t do a simple thing like that for you? Or why Lola and Dana did it and stayed with you there for 6 weeks, while Ninang Pizza, Mae and Lolo can’t.
I still feel envious of Lola because she was able to be with you for that long while I had to be contented with seeing you on the computer screen. She has endless stories about you and every single thing that you are able to do now. She relates how you can ease her aching and tired arms after a day’s load of cooking chores just by your hugs and kisses while mumbling what sounds like, “wub yu, wowa”. Whereas I can only… never mind.
Of course, I have already held you in my arms. If you remember (no, you don’t), we were all together last Christmas of 2006. I flew in from Honolulu and spent Christmas with you and the whole family. That was a special Christmas for me! For the first time, my family was complete – all three generations! For the first time too, I felt complete – I was not only a father but also a grandfather!. But that was too brief for you and I to bond somehow. You would not even let me hold you, and that hurt... Anyway, I came back to see you a second time on your first birthday on March 2007. That also was special to me. This time you let me hold you and we even had a photo together. It has been more than a year now, how time flies… Now you are a two-year old. When will I see you again?
Well, of course, I look forward to seeing you early next year when Nana (Dana) gets married. You will be almost three then and will surely be the prettiest and cutest flower girl ever!
So I can only look forward till then. Lola said she taught you how to pray… Now pray that I will live much longer and see you grow up to be a pretty, well-bred young lady just like your Mommy, Ninang, Dana and Mae!
I love you,
Wowo (Lolo) Danny
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