Wonderful Lullaby

Wonderful song by Billy Joel. I could never finish this song. I always get a lump on my throat... then my eyes get watery. I'm posting the lyrics for fathers and future fathers: 

Goodnight, my angel
Time to close your eyes
And save these questions for another dayI think
I know what you've been asking me
I think you know what I've been trying to say
I promised I would never leave you
And you should always know
Wherever you may go
No matter where you are
I never will be far away
Goodnight, my angel
Now it's time to sleep
And still so many things I want to say
Remember all the songs you sang for me
When we went sailing on an emerald bay
And like a boat out on the ocean
I'm rocking you to sleep
The water's dark and deep
Inside this ancient heartYou'll always be a part of me
Goodnight, my angel
Now it's time to dream
And dream how wonderful your life will be
Someday your child may cry
And if you sing this lullaby
Then in your heart
There will always be a part of me
Someday we'll all be gone
But lullabyes go on and on...
They never die
That's how you
And I Will be

 

Daahhdee!

I couldn't believe what I heard this morning while half-asleep. Lorenzo was vocalizing his usual pre-dawn coos and saliva-bubbles play when all of a sudden he exclaims: Daahhhdeee! ... It felt like a shot of espresso to the brain. What a wonderful feeling!

It Takes A Big Man To Cry

The sight of interviewed grown men holding back sobs while clearing mud, muck, and debris is heart-rending. After relief goods have been given, we must endeavor to help them regain their confidence, dignity, and pride. Hope may be too vague a word but they will surely need a lot of it. We also need to look beyond the relief efforts... look beyond ourselves.

Bravo, Juan Manuel Marquez!

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. has got to be pound for pound the most boring fighter in the world. No wonder "Money" Mayweather is not as popular as our Manny.  Even though Juan Manuel lost to Floyd Mayweather, Jr., he showed he had the brave heart that great and honorable fighters possess.  Floyd Jr (or Flop Jr.) is a great fighter but he lacked the showmanship to earn the respect of the hard-core or even regular boxing fan (*yawn*).


On the other hand, Floyd Jr's. kind of class (or the lack of it) reared its not so handsome head when he was interviewed post-fight.  He almost picked a fight with Shane Mosley who got up the ring to congratulate him. I thought: Hmmm... was that an act to play up an upcoming fight of Mosley vs Mayweather?  Looks like "Money" is chickening out (again) in the fight against our Manny.  Oh well. 


Bravo, Juan Manuel Marquez!  You're still a winner in my book.  

Ninoy

I showed a file video of Ninoy Aquino (delivering a brilliant speech) to class today. I started the video without introductions. When the video ended, I expected them to be wowed by his eloquence or simply impressed by his wit. 


Then one student whispered: "Diba siya yung nasa limandaang piso?"  It was an interesting day. 

Turning Japanese

When my niece was a toddler she overheard her Nihongo-speaking aunt making an overseas call to Tokyo. "Moshi moshi!" her aunt greets her friend over the phone. With wide delighted eyes she turned to me and proudly exclaimed: "Washing Machine! Meron kami nun, ninong!". I gave her a hug while I enjoyed the biggest belly laugh.

Hinulugang Taktak!

This morning, I attended an observation class of 6th grade Social Studies. The teacher asked if anyone can sing the song about Hinulugang Taktak waterfalls in Antipolo. After about 3 seconds of awkward silence, a male student renders a loud song unannounced: "Itaktak mo...Itaktak mo...Itak itak itaktak mo!". I bawled with laughter that was impossible to stifle. You had to be there.

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.

What To Expect When Your Wife Is Expecting

I've been reading the "What To Expect When You're Expecting" series lately.  When I was still single, I thought these books were simply informative and, well,  cute.  I did not even remotely think that I was going to read up on the series.  There is the original "What To Expect When You're Expecting" and a host of other books that complements the original like, "What To Eat When You're Expecting". While these books also discussed the participation of the fathers in the pregnancy and birth, it was all just discussed in passing in an Oh-by-the-way fashion.

I thought it'd be nice if they also wrote for the father and concentrated a little bit more on their needs and anxieties.  I know. You may already be protesting and saying "but you're not the one who's carrying the baby and not the one who will give birth!" True but I thought these books would be nice for us fathers too. Here goes:

1. What Not To Expect When She's Expecting (hmmm...).
   
2. What Not To Eat When She's Expecting.
3. What Not To Say When She's Expecting. (How to be nice even if she can't be.). 
4. What Not To Do When She's Expecting. 
5. What Not To Watch On TV When She's Expecting.
6. What Not To Have Her Smell When She's Expecting. (Lest you get pushed away.).
7. How Not To Vomit When She's Vomiting. 
8. How To Try Not To Snore While Asleep When She's Expecting. 
9. How Not To Move Too Much When You're Beside You're Wife Who's Expecting. 
   
10. How To Prepare Food At 3 AM While Half-Asleep When She's Expecting. 
11. How To Hunt For Hard To Find Foods When She's Expecting. 
12. How To Sing  Lullabies To A Big Tummy. 

There's plenty more book titles I'm sure. I'll have more new titles soon.  Feel free to add.

Mr. Sensitivity

I realized I'm a little bit edgy and irritable these past 3 months. Good thing the pregnancy books we bought and the web pages I browsed explained to me the complexities of the Couvade Syndrome I've been experiencing. The increased appetite, sluggishness, irritability and lack of patience are the dominant feelings I've been experiencing lately. My brother sarcastically says I've found a convenient excuse to raid the refrigerator and binge on the leftovers. Well, he may be oversimplifying it but then again he is not entirely wrong...and it irritates me to accept that.

Anyway, back to talking about irritability. Watching television is perhaps the best way to de-stress and relax. Incidentally, Philippine local television has done the opposite. I have been succesful at avoiding hearing the sound of the voice of Boy Abunda, or worse see him on TV. Sundays have been stress free if and when I am away from the TV in the afternoon. Now, they gave him more airtime. We all now get to see Boy Abunda (and his sensitivity) on TV every F#%@*ing weeknight! Let's see...we get to see him weeknights...and then we see him on weekends, too. Hey, we see the bloke everyday! What is the world coming to? Is this country running out of talents? I sure hope not.

My wife is laughing her head off listening to me talk about this. This Couvade syndrome can be sarcastic indeed. Inhale. Exhale. Owmmmm....Forget it! I'm raiding the ref! You want anything? The Angel and the Boy. The Beauty and the...ummm... Sensitive guy.