Today, my daughter Zephyr turned 7. She has just invented an “infinity portal” (pictured below). Maybe she got inspired by History channel’s feature on Albert Einstein. Mix that with Phineas and Ferb.
She was explaining to me about what the portal does and how it works. By the end of her “presentation”, she kind of surrendered to the basic truth that it was just a product of her imagination. I repeated what Einstein said about imagination as being more important than intelligence… She gave me a reassured smile and proceeded to the next preoccupation.
I remember the early months that seemed to happen too slow, all before she turned one. Everyday was eventful but not as eloquent as the days near the present. She and my son Vedder talking to me about what’s on their mind is a gift that I hope they’ll never get tired of giving me. I encourage them to think out loud,to go bite more than they can chew, face limitations as a daily task that can be conquered. At least, that’s what I feel my environment taught me.
When I turned 7, my mom (seemingly out of the blue) decided to celebrate my birthday. She took me with her for a drive. I think she’d been driving for more than a year then. Her drive for driving was tied on this lit filament to catch my dad who was fooling around.
Of course then, the adults would like to think that there are codes wrapping the message between conversation. I pretend to sleep or be busy playing with a Matchbox while she investigates.
But that day was different, we stopped by a local bakeshop, bought a plain 8×10 chiffon with white icing and a Popeye the sailor man ceramic cake topper.
I know we didn’t have enough money then not because our parents told us but because the kapitbahays (neighbors) tried to verify why don’t we just go to the nearby public school as opposed the pricey private ones. Kapitbahay comments are the equivalent of today’s Facebook comments, both in its ignorance of context and self righteousness.
My mom’s stubbornness may lead her into trouble, but will never cause her failure. That day she celebrated my birthday encapsulates everything that a parent does to ensure, though we can never truly guarantee, that their kids get a better platform. A wider horizon. That is what I do now, I wish this kindness passes on to my family infinitely.
danDAman 