Another year to be grateful for

THE year 2012 opened with some sadness with the passing away of my dearest Mom. But, at 94 turning 95, the best comforting consolation was that my Mom is now together with Our Lord. Living a full and blessed life filled with giving and receiving love, it was now time for her to come home to her permanent home. Oh the glories that she is now enjoying in the heavenly mansion that the Lord has prepared for her.

Then after some months, there was much jubilation with the wedding of our youngest Andre to the love of his life Katy. That was a most joyful moment with family and friends coming together for a happy occasion.

With every year comes our birthdays, the day we say hello to this earthly world. As our parents nurtured our health and gave nourishment to our souls from birth to adulthood, we carry on the task of taking good care of our physical being as health is truly wealth, but more importantly, a body without a loving and grateful soul is just a walking carcass.

So as a new year unfolds to this being, I started my day with grateful thanks to the Lord and to many who have made my life beautiful—those who gave support, comfort, time, energy, effort, concern and true unconditional love. They are the angels and the heroes of my life. When the chips were down, they were there. When the moment was triumphant, they shared in my happiness.

But even more so, I give thanks to the few who have made the journey quite a struggle. The grueling challenges enabled me to be strong and to hang on to faith and trust when the crosses left me in states of helplessness and hopelessness. Whooping lessons in humility are learned in trying moments. Humility sharpens our perspective and polishes our attitudes. There is self-examination and we grow in self knowledge. Humility allows a shift from bitterness to understanding and forgiveness.

As we age, we simplify our birthdays. The eve of my birthday, we had a quiet family dinner at L’Fisher with many thanks to the very humble and truly amiable Ciocon family. The salmon, beef and chicken at Yakiniku were superb.

For B-day, I chose to drop all work. As messages and calls came in through cell phones and emails, I answered and thanked relatives and friends. I never realized that Facebook can be so connecting. Many friends I have not even seen or heard from for decades were sending felicitations. I took pains answering each and every one as the greetings came along. Not really
a Facebook advocate, this time I was practically glued the whole day. Good cheer should not go unnoticed!

Dory Ledesma was so cordial in including me in her dinner for a small group of June birthday celebrators in her cozy beautiful home, Dory being a June birthday girl herself. Dinner was scheduled at 7 in the evening.

I was getting dressed for the party when my kids and my new daughter-in-law Katy came into my room with a birthday cake specially ordered from Anne Co. and had spaghetti whipped up by our dearest Nana. They had a surprise in store and I did not have the heart to abandon their small celebration. So with family first as dictum, I opted to stay home.

The following day, my friends forever, the Women In Travel, prepared a luncheon at the Guru Grill. When these women come together it’s worse than a noise barrage. The simultaneous laughter and conversations made us open the doors of the air-conditioned function room because the din was deafening. But it is always a joy being with these ladies of diverse personalities and avocations. The uniqueness of each one is embraced by every member that’s why there is harmony, and in fact every meeting is exhilarating and fun. Pleasantries are not superficial but sincere.

Birthdays are special days, and a prayer of gratitude should start with each new year. Let us not forget that our time is in God’s hands and each day is a gift from Him! Thank you Lord!