Crossing The Bar

I first came across this poem when LOLA LILING passed away.  Decades after, I am reminded of this poem as the family is faced with another departure. 

Crossing The Bar by Lord Alfred Tennyson

Sunset and evening star,

And one clear call for me!

And may there be no moaning of the bar,

When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,

Too full for sound and foam,

When that which drew from out the boundless deep

Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,

And after that the dark!

And may there be no sadness of farewell,

When I embark;

For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place

The flood may bear me far,

I hope to see my Pilot face to face

When I have crost the bar.

It was 10:57 pm of  August 22, 2010 when I received the call.

We will miss you terribly, Uncle Bob. Thank you for all the good times ... for the witty remarks that made me laugh behind the scenes ... for taking good care of each one's health in the family, especially mine ... and for having stood in as my father during that pre-wedding "pamamanhikan" moment.

Have a safe journey.  Send my hugs and kisses to Dad, Lola Liling, Lolo Buddy and the rest of the gang :)

See right top black and white photo of my uncles and aunts at the prime of their lives.

Standing on the right are Uncle Bob and Dad (in black rimmed glasses).

***Dr. Roberto M. Zaide, September 13, 1936 to August 22, 2010.

Note to non-Filipino readers:  Lolo is grandfather.  Lola is grandmother.

February 8, 2010 Thanks BRO!

The last time I listened to this song was on February 4, 2006.  Here's how it goes  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G67qW6V-ZbM. . .

Tomorrow morning if you wake up

and the sun does not appear

I will be here

If in the dark, we lose sight of love

Hold my hand, and have no fear

'Cause I will be here

Thank you for sun-filled mornings . . .

and peaceful evenings

I will be here 

When you feel like being quiet

When you need to speak your mind

I will listen

And I will be here

When the laughter turns to cryin'

Through the winning, losing and trying

We'll be together

I will be here

Thank you for love . . .

and family

Tomorrow morning, if you wake up

And the future is unclear

I will be here

Just as sure as seasons were made for change

Our lifetimes were made for these years

So I will be here

Thank you for inspirations

and never-ending blessings

I will be here 
And you can cry on my shoulder
When the mirror tells us we're older
I will hold you
And I will be here
To watch you grow in beauty
And tell you all the things you are to me
I will be here

Thank you for the splendor

I will be true to the promise I have made
To you and to the One who gave you to me
Tomorrow morning, if you wake up
And the sun does not appear
I will be here
Oh, I will be here.

Here's a fact. . . I'm an abs-cbn primetime bida teleserye fanatic.

I watch teleseryes while I bead. So, before the Santino fever disappears, 

let me express my deepest gratitude to Bro.

THANKS BRO!

January 23, 2010 Love & Care of Family

Weekends are non-bead days. I usually spend these days in a relaxed mode… except this morning. Traffic in Manila on a Saturday is a nightmare! I would have rather stayed home and beaded-away even on a weekend.

But then, there will always be days when we have to put all things aside. On this particular day, we visited Uncle B.Z. at UST Hospital who was diagnosed with Stage 4 Bone Cancer a few days ago =( I felt sad, pain, and what made it more “emotional” was re-living the memories of 20-plus years ago. A lot of hard-to-answer questions, hearts are in sorrow, yet Uncle B.Z. remains to be the gentle and caring man I’ve long known.

Days may perhaps be numbered …. Or maybe not?! Miracles happen! The family had made a conscious effort to walk side-by-side with Uncle B.Z. in his journey. After all, it is in painful moments like this that LOVE and CARE of FAMILY will give each one strength, courage and inspiration.

Nothing else matters.

A photo of Taal Lake taken a few months before I tied the knot. Uncle B.Z. was one of our male principal sponsors, while his granddaughter was our flower girl. I have always believed that there is a golden ray of light at the end of a dark tunnel =)