A T(r)OE Story

It's not just my feet, which used to be narrow and nicely shaped , but now that I am middle-aged , are getting a little too wide for my liking and having the promise of painful bunions to come, which convinced me that I am becoming more and more like my father. Lately,too, there was this realization that I sometimes act like him. Like the time when Tony stubbed and broke his baby toe. As soon as I heard him yelp,instead of helping him while he stopped himself from biting his tongue from the excruciating pain, I berated him for walking too fast! And only afterwards did I comfort him and soothed the 'little victim' with ice cubes to numb it. And a loving and very careful application of Bengay or some balm to ease the pain, and to make up for my being mean. Tony had to go to the clinic for xrays the following day and was off work for about 2 weeks.That's how badly 'the toe' got it.


But really, this blog isn't about the toe. It's about me seeing my father in me. Yes, that's how Papa would have reacted when the accident happened. I remember as a girl, I was playing with my plastic tea set in our 'balcon' one day and got careless that I fell off the balcon (thanks goodness,it wasn't high). I'm pretty sure I got spanked and my poor little pink teacups and plates thrown out! The way I would have reacted if I were in his shoes now. Okay, maybe minus the spanking, but cups be damned!


Yes, Papa & I, we react to things that get us stressed (or scared) the same way. And I'm sure , as I get older I will see more and more of him in me.


Papa is the 5th of 6 children. As his other brother died at a very young age, we have always thought that there is only 5 of them. Papa is the youngest of the boys, and I'd say the best looking. My cousins may contest this ;-) and may claim that their dads are more guapo , but I stick to my statement. Papa even has the most 'matangos'(tall) nose in the brood. He wasn't dubbed Eddie Gutierrez (does that make me Ruffa then?) by my maternal cousins for nothing. It could be this 'kagwapohan' (handsomeness) that charmed Mama when they met in the '50s. Mama was a school teacher in the remote barangay where my father's family lived. She was a boarder in their fairly big home which was (is) a stone's throw from the public grade school. Papa ,on the other hand was a happy- go -lucky guy who liked to drink and play cards with his friends. He was 'the pretty boy ,son of the landlady '. He was the ultimate playboy. All this changed when he fell in love with my mother and they got married. When Mama was given a teaching post in the city, Papa continued with his schooling and got his teaching degree at the local college. And he taught for a few years until he transferred to Government Service and worked at the City Hall until his retirement in 2000 (2001?)


Papa never leaves the house without grooming himself first, even if he only has to go to the market. He is maarte. No hair out of place, shined with his favorite pomada and with nicely pressed clothes. We know when Papa would be going out because we would smell his cologne in the whole house. Yes, he does love his perfume and spritz himself liberally with it. His favorite brand is Jovan.


He had a health setback in 2004 when he had a mild stroke which until this day, he hasn't fully recovered from. There is still the numbness on the left side of his body and arm, which he is trying to rid of by regular exercise and past massage/physical therapy. But he has regained his appetite and has put back on some weight and is in good spirit most of the time. He is most happy when we talk on the phone and when we see each other online. =)

Today, his 71st birthday. I wish Papa all the best. Health and full recovery.Peace of mind.Contentment.Friends and Family. Love all around. HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAPA! WISHING YOU MANY MANY MORE BIRTHDAYS TO COME. WE LOVE YOU! (June 23,2007 in the Phils.)




My family.Pa stands next to Ma in the center





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