The best text message I have ever sent.

It's been a while. I have not posted anything since after our first trimester. My bad.

Exactly 14 days ago I was sitting in the cafeteria of The Asian Hospital and Medical Center. It was 9 AM and I was composing the most exciting and happy text message I have ever sent to all friends and relatives. My coffee and bangsilog were getting cold and I did not care. I was too excited.

Looking back 4 years ago, in 2005, I sat in the same cafeteria with the same breakfast getting cold while I composed the most morose and saddest text message I have ever sent to friends and relatives. It read: "Our dad, Pepe, is experiencing end-stage cirrhosis of the liver and is now being given the best comfortable medical care possible. Please continue to pray with us for his recovery. Thank you and God bless." After 1 difficult week, my father peacefully passed on.

Two weeks ago, August 15, 2009, 9 AM, I texted everyone: "Hello, World! Jose Lorenzo Grande Gaston born this morning at 7:45 AM, 6.75 lbs, handsome and healthy. Rovie and I thank you deeply for praying with us for a safe delivery. God bless you."

Two text messages, four years apart, same cafeteria, same hospital. I imagined my old man giggling heartily while happy water welled from my eyes. His shoulders bobbing up and down while he enjoyed his signature semi-silent laugh. I can almost swear he was there... at the delivery room even.

I finished sending my messages while replies arrived almost instantaneously. I wiped the water off my eyes, ate my cold breakfast, and looked forward to a long day of replying my thanks to the many congratulations.

It was a great morning.