This is my son and my grandson walking along the beach.
The picture tells me of the very intimate connection between father and son.
It is not just the genes and the physical traits.
It is the emotions, the thoughts, the vibes they share wordlessly in moments like this.
I look at my hands and I see the hands of my father as he raised me up.
I look at myself and I see my Tatang in the mirror looking back at me.
Tatang was of peasant stock and he worked the soil in his youth.
It was a long journey for him from the fields of Dau to the bungalow in Marisol.
And it has also been a long journey for me from Angeles to San Jose.
Looking back at both my life and Tatang’s, I am filled with joy, gratitude, and humility
for the wonderful adventure our lives have been,
many unexpected events, some very difficult moments.
Still in all, I am filled happiness and fulfillment at the unbelievable turn of events
in our lives and at the beautiful people we have shared these with.
I love my family and friends with whom I have lived through these moments.
If the past is any indication of what is to come,
the future will be even brighter and more awesome.
Life has always been awesome in surprising me
with serendipitous blessings at every turn.
My life has been full of blessings but it has not come about easy.
Being good, as a person and at what I do, is a constant struggle.
It is not easy being good.
It takes doing.
Doing what is good.
The struggle and the effort is the fare
we pay for a happy and fruitful journey;
and our service to others is the rent we pay for our stay on earth.