twenty-six
To my shame, I have no idea how exactly did my parents meet. All I know is they met in college, graduated, and got married at the age of twenty-two on my dad's birthday.
And here they are now, twenty-six years later, with five grown kids. From my perspective, I'd like to think that my parents have a good marriage. Far from perfect, but good enough for me think (while growing up) that it was perfect. I don't see them arguing much, so the rare times that they do, I would get very scared and often create a scene so they'd be mad at me instead.
Now, I don't see them as scary arguments, but little verbal sparring that's part of their life. My mom and dad have opposite personalities, with my mom having the tendency to flare up on things that irritate her, while my dad would usually be calm about it. In fact, my siblings and I would say, the more quiet my dad becomes, the more angrier he is; and my mom... well, we usually just let her air out what she feels.
When I was younger, I favored my dad more than my mom. Like when they'd pick me up from school, I want my dad to do it than my mom. Probably because I felt that my dad would embarrass me less than Mama would, as she's more talkative and ma-kwento than Papa. I value my privacy, and will only reveal what I want when I want, so Mama's openness wasn't favorable for me.
As I grew up, I see that it's really just how they are. My mom's an outgoing person by nature, while my dad's the more laid back one. My siblings and I often say that we're more like Papa, but once in a while, some of Mama's "star quality" would emerge.
You know the famous Jerry McGuire phrase "You complete me"? It somehow applies to my parents, though they may not actually know it. They're a tandem of sorts, where one ends, the other begins. It's funny sometimes to see them together because of how they talk or act. For example, when my dad got a new phone, it was Mama who played around with it, figuring out how to change the wallpaper, ring tones, sending MMS. Papa, once he found out how to send SMS and call, was happy. Sometimes, he'd even give the phone to Mama so she could tap out the words while he dictates. You could say that though Papa is the public official between the two of them, Mama isn't going to sit quietly in the background. She's his strongest supporter, but she's not a quiet one.
Life has changed for them, for us. When I was a kid, I was used to going out on weekends and going home with a new toy or a new book. Often we'd have out of town excursions or vacations. But life was tough, and when business failed, the toys and the outings weren't as much as before. My mom used to say that Nunik and I were lucky because we got to experience that, because my younger siblings didn't.
But despite the financial trouble, my parents were able to --- and are still --- pulling through. I told my brother that I firmly believe that anything I ask for, Mama and Papa will be able to give. Maybe not immediately, maybe not until after several years even, but I know they'll be giving it to me. Most important, they're able to give me and my siblings the things that really matter --- a home, good education, lots of love and laughter. And maybe because they can't give everything we ask for, when they do, it makes it doubly special.
So here's to your twenty-six years, and may you get twenty-six more... and even more, hehe. And I'll be nearing senior citizenship by that time. :) I love you, Mama and Papa.
P.S. Happy birthday to Papa as well. :)
This isn't the most flattering picture of us ('cept maybe Papa), but it's the latest one I have of us ^_^
And here they are now, twenty-six years later, with five grown kids. From my perspective, I'd like to think that my parents have a good marriage. Far from perfect, but good enough for me think (while growing up) that it was perfect. I don't see them arguing much, so the rare times that they do, I would get very scared and often create a scene so they'd be mad at me instead.
Now, I don't see them as scary arguments, but little verbal sparring that's part of their life. My mom and dad have opposite personalities, with my mom having the tendency to flare up on things that irritate her, while my dad would usually be calm about it. In fact, my siblings and I would say, the more quiet my dad becomes, the more angrier he is; and my mom... well, we usually just let her air out what she feels.
When I was younger, I favored my dad more than my mom. Like when they'd pick me up from school, I want my dad to do it than my mom. Probably because I felt that my dad would embarrass me less than Mama would, as she's more talkative and ma-kwento than Papa. I value my privacy, and will only reveal what I want when I want, so Mama's openness wasn't favorable for me.
As I grew up, I see that it's really just how they are. My mom's an outgoing person by nature, while my dad's the more laid back one. My siblings and I often say that we're more like Papa, but once in a while, some of Mama's "star quality" would emerge.
You know the famous Jerry McGuire phrase "You complete me"? It somehow applies to my parents, though they may not actually know it. They're a tandem of sorts, where one ends, the other begins. It's funny sometimes to see them together because of how they talk or act. For example, when my dad got a new phone, it was Mama who played around with it, figuring out how to change the wallpaper, ring tones, sending MMS. Papa, once he found out how to send SMS and call, was happy. Sometimes, he'd even give the phone to Mama so she could tap out the words while he dictates. You could say that though Papa is the public official between the two of them, Mama isn't going to sit quietly in the background. She's his strongest supporter, but she's not a quiet one.
Life has changed for them, for us. When I was a kid, I was used to going out on weekends and going home with a new toy or a new book. Often we'd have out of town excursions or vacations. But life was tough, and when business failed, the toys and the outings weren't as much as before. My mom used to say that Nunik and I were lucky because we got to experience that, because my younger siblings didn't.
But despite the financial trouble, my parents were able to --- and are still --- pulling through. I told my brother that I firmly believe that anything I ask for, Mama and Papa will be able to give. Maybe not immediately, maybe not until after several years even, but I know they'll be giving it to me. Most important, they're able to give me and my siblings the things that really matter --- a home, good education, lots of love and laughter. And maybe because they can't give everything we ask for, when they do, it makes it doubly special.
So here's to your twenty-six years, and may you get twenty-six more... and even more, hehe. And I'll be nearing senior citizenship by that time. :) I love you, Mama and Papa.
P.S. Happy birthday to Papa as well. :)
This isn't the most flattering picture of us ('cept maybe Papa), but it's the latest one I have of us ^_^