Tag Archives: son

Fire and Rain

27 April 2012

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The past several weeks has been a roller coaster ride of emotions for me and my family. First was shock. Followed by joy. Next came more shock. Then grief. (see previous post)

In the few days that followed after our painful loss, a friend of mine asked me if we should cancel the camping for the boys that has been planned for a while, before all the unexpected turn of events had happened. He told me that maybe our family needs to spend time alone in our mourning.

So I asked my wife about this, but she was quick and firm to say that the plans for the boy’s outing should push through. She added that she will be fine while I am away. Besides, my son, who was really looking forward to this trip will be very disappointed if the camping will be postponed.

Yes we grieve for our loss, but we should also continue to celebrate life. For life should go on. No, life MUST go on. I tell you that life can be like butterfly wings: beautiful, yet can be delicate and fragile. But there’s nothing more resilient and tenacious than the human spirit.

Thus me and my son, together with our friends – another father and son team, headed to a lake-side camp and spent two days in the wild. Well it was not really the wild, for we slept in a cabin, that has heat, air-conditioning and even a refrigerator. There were two bunk beds, spacious enough for the four of us. By the way, this trip was only for the boys, but in a few weeks, our whole family, together with other families, will go for a “real” camping, that is sleeping in tents.

One of the main activity in the camp was building a fire. We enjoyed gathering firewood and sticks and starting our own fire like skilled boy scouts. OK, OK, we cheated. We brought lighter and wood fire starter, so it was no sweat at all. We spent hours and hours sitting around the campfire and staring at the fire. We burned woods, sticks, barks, leaves, paper, plastic, paper plates – basically anything we can find to burn. A little open fire brings out the pyromaniac in anybody.

Of course we cooked our meal too in the fire: hotdogs and marshmallows! What is camping without hotdogs and s’mores? We could have sung “Kumbaya” as well, but we’re too busy munching on our “perfectly” cooked food. Well for assurance, just in case we cannot start a fire, my wife did not let us leave without bringing chicken adobo and cooked rice. So we are not really left alone in the wild to fend for ourselves and survive without provisions.

During the early evening, angry rain clouds with gutsy winds came over. Rain fell over our campgrounds . But the rain did not extinguish our fire nor did it dampen our spirits. The rainfall did not spoil our fun, it just made the night more interesting. My son and his friend grab the umbrellas (yes, we even had umbrellas!) and frolic and dance around the fire. It was a mix of Native American fire dance and Gene Kelly’s Singin’ in the Rain. Minutes later, the clouds rolled away, and the twinkling stars appeared up in the sky.

This experience just reminded me that in life, even when the winds blow and rain pours, if we just hold on for a little longer and keep our flame burning, we will make it through, and we will see the stars again.

We also spent at least a couple of hours biking (we did hauled our bikes along) around the lake which has a nice bike trail, a loop of about 6-7 miles. Along the trail there was a covered bridge, an old round barn, farmlands, parks, beautiful lake-side houses, and of course the lake. It was certainly a scenic bike ride. Halfway through the trail, there was even a cozy diner that serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. So we were far from starving at all!

We did not do any water activity like fishing, kayaking or swimming as it was still too cold for the season. There are many pictures hanging on the wall of the cozy diner exhibiting photos of people showing off their prized catch from the lake, indicating that this place is a prime location for fishing. Maybe we will do that when we return some other time, so we will have big fish stories to brag about. Or should I say “fishy” stories.

As we were going home, I asked my son if he enjoyed our trip. He gave me a wide grin. I don’t need to ask more.

Life indeed continues.

A Very Expensive Board

9 June 2010

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Few years ago, I paid for a very expensive piece of cardboard. How expensive? $200 for a small piece! Holy Iowa cow! Am I nuts? Here’s the story.

It was a Sunday, and my family drove to Walnut, Iowa, which is known for its antique shops. We were not looking for anything particular, we just want to look around.

After going in and out of so many stores, we entered one in particular that was full of antique mirrors. The mirrors were beautiful, but all of them were expensive. And there was this one that is heptagon-shaped, with exquisite hand painted decoration on the borders of the mirror, and was made in the 1940′s. It was sitting on the floor and was leaning against the wall. I looked at it, but it was not my type (meaning: too expensive). So I passed on it.

My son, who was 2 and half at that time, whom I was towing along, was being himself – hyperactive as always, as most small boys are. Then suddenly, it happened right before my eyes. My son while running down the hall (he miraculously escaped from my grip), accidentally swiped the mirror and it fell face down to the floor. The beautiful mirror was multiplied……… into several broken pieces that is!

The shop clerk came running when she heard the crash. She was unhappy, and that is an understatement. By the look in her face, I knew we have no chance of getting out of the store without a dear consequence.

I ended up paying for the mirror. $200 for a broken mirror. And since I paid for it, I decided to take home the cardboard where the mirror was mounted. I did not take the broken sharp glass pieces, as they may cause more injuries to me, adding to my bad luck. Will I really have 7 years of bad luck?

On our way home, I stayed calm and was not hard on my boy. It was an accident afterall. Why break a $200 Million child for a $200 broken mirror? Besides, I don’t believe in bad luck, and I already have countless blessings from this boy who broke the mirror.

I still don’t know what to do with that $200 piece of cardboard. It still sits in our closet up to this day. Maybe someday I’ll figure out a way to turn it into something useful. And if not, it’s already worth priceless memories.

Son Eats Dad, Checkmate

25 April 2010

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I like playing chess. My father gave me a chess set very early in my childhood, and I learned how to play chess long before I learned how to ride a bike. I even had a chess book that I read when I was in grade school, to  improve my game.

Less than a year ago, I taught my son (he was six at that time) how to play chess. I was happy he grasped the concept of chess very well. Since then he will often challenge me  to a game of chess. But his novice mind is out of match to his strategy-experienced dad.

We have a chess game application programmed in our computer, and my son will frequently play this. He becomes frustrated stating he cannot beat it. He even requested me to buy him a chess book so he can learn to beat our computer. I smiled at his naivety, as I try to explain to him that it is impossible for humans to defeat the computer in a game of chess.

The other day while I was reading a book, my son again challenged me to a game of chess. I continued reading in between my chess moves. Then I realized I made a simple blunder (for lack of concentration), that my son took advantage of. He ate my bishop and all I got in return is a pawn. I put down my book, and concentrated on the game trying to salvage my situation. But my son kept on attacking and improving on his advantage. Few moves later I was checkmate.

It is either I am a very good teacher or the student is getting better than the teacher. Is this the beginning of a new era? I hope I can also equip my son with enough wares to do well in another chess game, we called life. But then again, he already have mustered enough strategy to beat his dad. I believe he is on his way in conquering life.

I will not be surprise if one of these days he will tell me that he finally defeated the computer in chess.

I Want My Own Cake

1 April 2010

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In a few days, I will be celebrating another birthday. For the people who know me, this is not to remind you to give me a gift (but I hope it affords you enough time to shop for one, hah!). Yes, I m getting older (older than the number of kilometers in a Marathon ), but I hope I’m also getting wiser (or not?).

There are so many things I’m thankful for, and over the years I have received several gifts on my birthday that I’m indebted for. But there are two birthday gifts in particular that cannot be topped  (even if you give me $20 M gift- but I’ll accept it just in case).

The first one is  life itself. From my first breath (or my first cry, after the doctor spanked me) up to my last breath, I will be forever grateful. To be able to  live, love, laugh, cry, walk, run, eat, drink, play, work, sleep and dream…….is something that I cannot ask for more.

The second one, may be even more precious. What?! What can be more precious than life? Well, you see, life begets life. Seven years ago, I have received a gift on my birthday, that just kept on giving. It is my son, whom I share the same birthdate.

However, since the arrival of my son, my birthday celebration became secondary to his celebration. Nuts! I also would like to have balloons and Super Mario cake of my own.