I'll never forget that early early morning, my mom waking my sister and I up, and me not even questioning why...all because I knew.
I was in 8th grade, my sister in 4th. We slept in the same bed that night (we always liked to play slumber party...mostly because even though she was afraid of the dark, I secretly was afraid too) and so going to sleep, I slept with tears slowly coming down my eyes, because mentally and emotionally, I didn't wanna let go, but I knew I had to...So I went to sleep that night with a little whisper to my Tatay, "I'm ready if you are"....And I woke up...
We arrived in Chino Hills, to the most somber mood I've ever walked into in my life...everyone with puffy eye lids and red eye balls...that day....that day was the day....I'm not religious but I prayed, I prayed intensely for his soul, for our family, and greatly for my grandmother, who had just lost the love of her life.
We went about, kind of reminiscing about Tatay about our family, about how much he brought our family together, the many times he was our rock. Tatay, was a man of pride, and that pride is so strong I think it's been instilled into each and every one of his children and grandchildren....
At one point, I went over to my Tatay, sleeping, sooooo peacefully...I put my hand on his arm, and fell asleep too....
Again, I was awoken...the people were here to take him away...WOW how i LOATHED God that very moment, bc up until that moment, it wasn't real that he was gone, it wasn't real that I would only see him in my sleep...
As they took him away there were silent sobs that turned into loud ones, and I took the time to look around..
for the first time in my life, I saw my Dad cry, real tears that I never in my life had seen before....
The following days that led up to the funeral were tough and memorable...
But Tay, if it wasn't for all of your persistence making sure all of us got along, making sure that we realized how important it was to be NOCON...I don't think that I could say that some of my closest friends are my cousins..I don't even know how many people can say that...
It's because of you that I look forward to one day having kids myself, and teaching them the things you taught me...It's because of you I'm proud to say I am NOCON...
It's because of you that I'm such a big dreamer, and it's because of you that NANAY still has that twinkle in her eye...
Both Kuya Pogi and Kuya Sean had such touching entries about Tatay, and I guess I was inspired, I wasn't going to write about it, because I lack the grace that it takes to write something so touching, but I think that it's important to at least express what he's meant to me, what he's done for me, and what he's made me see.
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