Memories of My Dad

Many things are a blur to me, some things I remember when I see pictures, but few things, like certain memories of my dad, give me no trouble remembering.

My dad was a patient man. He didn’t get mad very often, except when I couldn’t hide my rebelliousness anymore (but that’s a different story haha). He loved eating banana with his rice, dill pickles, whole chilli peppers, and I know he would eat kalderetang kambing (goat stew — eew). He was active. He played tennis when he was younger, and golf later in his life. Just as he would play with us when we were younger, he played with us when we were older. I enjoyed my first and last time on the green a few years before he passed away. He, my mom and I played 9 holes. I always liked hitting balls at the driving range with him and my brother too.

My dad also had his quirks. If my mom is low-maintenance, my dad was so much more so. He didn’t care for expensive shoes or clothes. My mom would have to convince him to buy the more expensive ones for their quality and durability. He rarely carried cash in his wallet as well. Hmmm. That sounds a lot like me haha.

During Christmas, I would give my family gifts that I could afford (cheap, that is). One Christmas, I gave my dad a striped collared shirt I’d bought from a bazaar. It wasn’t really of good quality, but my dad wore it all the time, even when it was already faded! I thought that was really sweet. It’s either he loved and appreciated me that much, or he just liked the shirt haha.

When I was little, I would wake up at dawn because of bad dreams. I’d run out of my room and see my dad awake, sitting on our old sofa that was with us for more than 20 years and is now serving another family. It was as if he was waiting for me, and he would comfort me and put me back to bed.

Oh my dad’s massages would often put me to sleep! Those were my favorite! He was so accommodating to each of us when we would request for them. If he were here now, he would have new clients — his grand daughters.

He traveled frequently, and I would plant many many kisses on his face when he would be home because I thought it was unfair to him that I’d kissed my mom many times while he was gone. Go figure! That was how I thought, even with my money. I was a good saver back then, and I remember deciding to give my savings, ten and twenty peso bills that were more than an inch thick total, back to my folks. When I saw that my mom took the thicker portion, but not necessarily the greater, I complained and demanded that she give my dad more haha. I wanted it to be fair for my dad.

Yeah, I guess I really was a daddy’s girl.

And I tell you, if he were alive today,

my daughters would be Wowo’s girls too.

Happy (74th) birthday daddy!

We love and miss you! 🙂