Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
What would you ask Santa for?
STEEKEENOWTS


Dear Santa,

I was having second thoughts of writing to you, mainly because I'm not sure if you really exist or not. But I guess there is no harm in trying, after all if wishes do come true, then mine is probably worth a shot. I know that when they talk about you and when they get to sit on your knee, they ask so many material things. A new car, a cellphone that has everything on it, a house, a promotion..and the list just goes on. I refuse to be a hypocrite, and in just any normal day I would have asked for the same thing. But this year I chose not to.

Santa, I know you can't bring me back my Daddy and my Mommy to celebrate the holidays with me. I only wish to feel that same joy I used to have when Christmas is coming. When I was a child I look forward to the cheers and the reunions, but as the years passed the holiday is merely nothing to me. I have forgotten what it was like to smell the festive dinner my mom would be preparing, or the laughter that would come from the living room while we waited for midnight to open the gifts. Help me remember those wonderful times, and understand that the true meaning of Christmas is family..and happiness..and being together.

Santa I also wish to be less selfish. For the whole year I only thought of myself and carelessly meddled with other peoples feelings. I only wanted to be the best in everything I do, and I know there is nothing wrong with that. But help me nurture my talent in ways that I do not step on other people or hurt others.

Santa, help me to be more thankful of the blessings that come to me. Sometimes I am so enveloped with all the material things in my life that I tend to forget the little things that matter the most. Help me thank all the ones who were there for me through my hardships and for those who stayed while I was at my worst. I guess I can't really thank them enough. So if you can send them a gift on your way, I would truly appreciate it.

Santa help me to become a stronger person than I already am. Help me continue to fight my battles and to stand up from my mistakes. I know my life wasn't that easy for me this year, but teach me to hold on and move forward. That I can cry and be weak for a moment, but will not allow it to pull me down forever.

And Santa,  my last wish for this Christmas is to be able to appreciate all the people around me. That even if I don't get to eat a fabulous Christmas dinner, nor receive any gifts, I would know how to smile and laugh and feel good about myself despite all the tears that I already shed. I know it would have been better to ask for an Ipod, but it would have been nothing compared to the person who would actually give me one. Help me to remember to love life, and savor each moment as if it was my last.

Thank you and Merry Christmas..


Photo from Google Image Bank
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Must love Dogs
STEEKEENOWTS
Whenever I got to the mall, I never let an opportunity slide without having to pass the pet shop. Coming from a family of dog lovers, the sight of canines actually pleases me. And as I stare at those furry creatures caged up inside a marble floor, I couldn't help but wish that I had all the money in the world to purchase each and every one of them.
It has always been a mystery though how dogs can survive around human beings and vice-versa. Training and raising a dog is never an easy process. It takes more than just the best dog schools, or expensive canine food to understand them. With a little patience and time, your hound is on it's way to being the best friend you might ever have in this lifetime. I can't count on my fingers anynore how many dogs I've already had for a pet, but each one has been special.

If you're a first time owner of a pup, it's inevitable that you may not be aware of the basic do's and don'ts. Not to mention the doubts inside your head if you are truly ready to have one. Let me give you a rundown on how to give your doggy the awesome years of his existence.

1. When choosing a dog, choose one that fits your lifestyle. If you're the typical prissy rich girl, there are a lot of Poodles and Chihuahuas out there that can very much groove to your way of living. If you're the sporty type, why not find a Golden Retriever or Labrador who can jog with you every morning? Most of the time though dogs are given out as gifts, so whatever breed you get, treat them the same way as any other canine. Breed or not.


2. As your pup settles around his new home, allow him to make space for himself. Where he would want to sleep, where he would want to take his food. Of course this includes house training him. It's understandable that puppies tend to make every tile in your house as his bathroom, so whenever he gets the itch to hitch, show him the right way. Worse comes to worst, he may have done the deed already, so if that happens...NEVER HIT HIM OR SHOUT AT HIM. This causes fear in a dog's mental system, instead of following you, he ends up getting scared of you. Talk to him in a stern way, and after he has messed up the floor, take him outside to receive the inclination of where he's supposed to do the deed. He'll pick up from there.



3. Just like humans, dogs require sustenance. Dog food varies among the ages, so you better get advice from your vet on what's the best for his nourishment. On my experience, we sometimes feed the dog rice or bread. This doesn't really do much harm to your pet, as long as you don't keep it as a habit. It's only to give your dog a little variety in his eating lifestyle. (and of course when you've run out on dog food and too lazy to go out to buy some) But provide his daily diet by feeding him the usual Alpo or Pedigree brands, not only to ensure his health but also to maintain the shiny coat of his hair. To top it all, always keep a clean basin of water for him to drink. People can handle the temperature but not when you're covered in paddings of fur. Point taken I hope.


4. Bathing time should not be considered a chore. Not only if you keep your dog inside the house, but dogs who are kept outside also need to be bathe at least every week. With the temperature of course, your dog literally needs to let his hair down once and awhile to provide coolness from the heat. There are dogs who enjoy the water, but others tend to whine and fight back as you struggle with the shampoo and hose. Again, the DO NOT HIT HIM AND SHOUT AT HIM rule. Reprimanding will lead you nowhere, only in shambles and a wet tush. Enjoy the bath, if you get wet, then do so. Have fun and make him feel comfortable about cleaning time. Bath tools, shampoos, soaps, and flea powders are prescribed by your vet, so feel free to consult them. Plus don't forget to gently dry him off with an old towel and smooth out the snarls on his hair with an old brush or comb.




5. The vet plays a vital role in the growth of your canine. Have time to visit your local Veterinary clinic and ask for injections and booster shots to ensure the health of your dog. Again this shouldn't be a chore. If there's anybody out there who understands the needs of your dogs best, then it's the vet. You may assume that a mere cold or flu can be alleviated by over the counter paracetamols, but to be 100% sure, consult your vet to know how a sickness affects him, and ways to prevent all sorts of diseases. Don't attempt to play Doctor Doolittle.

6. Similarly to children, dogs have a need to be given time. If they have hours set for eating and sleeping, he also demands a breather. Meaning these animals deserve their own allotted space for playtime. I know this sounds redundant, but again have the time to spare in a day to take him out of his cage, or release him from his leash for a little horsing around. Play with him, have fun with him, as much as possible spend time with him. You didn't get a dog just to guard your house or to chase the mailman, these creatures want attention too. Talk to him if you can, he is man's best friend after all. He may not respond to your complaints about your snotty boss, or if the car loan you applied for that got denied. All that's important is make him feel that he is a part of your life, no matter how busy it is.
7. Last is the best advice that I can share to all you wannabe dog owners. All the stuff to help you nourish your dog can be purchased at any pet store or from your resident vet. But the best way of making your dog feel alive is by giving him the love he needs. Most of us presume that they are only animals. But they too have feelings of their own. They may not say it out loud in verbal words but they crave for attention and care the same way as most of us would. Understanding goes as far as trying to be patient and listening to their barks and to their whines. Try to see what he means when he looks at you with his ears down, or when he ecstatically jumps on you with his tail wagging like crazy.

Having a dog is just like having children. There's always a first time for it, and once you partake in such an obligation, you will begin to enjoy the wonders of owning one. After a tiring day at work, he will be happy to see you and you will feel the stress ebbing away. When you are alone he will sit by you, not saying anything but being there and being the friend you need. The rewards are limitless and they usually do not ask much in return. They are truly man's best friend. Try owning one, and you'll know exactly what I mean.

Photos from Google Image Bank
Photos from Google Image Bank
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The Price of Freedom
STEEKEENOWTS
Do you remember when you were younger and you wanted to speed up your growth? Like you felt you weren't old enough to go out on a date, or stay up late for the parties around you? Do you remember ignoring the healthy food your Mom used to prepare for you because you were too busy losing weight at fifteen? And do you remember your Dad continously reminding you to come home earlier than your expected curfew all because he wanted you safe?

Sometimes it just breaks down to the little things your family did for you that you took for granted all because you just wanted to grow up and grow out of their roof. And yet the price of freedom and independence can sting you hard once you realize that after several years you end up missing these things that used to be such a big part of your life.

Christmas and New Year and birthdays always come with just one anticipation. What this year's gift would be, and what food there is to be served. You never have to worry about those things, because it was always there every year. But each year dwindles, and as you grow older, there are fewer gifts and then no more celebrations. Your siblings are busy with their own families to tend to during the holidays, with you nowhere to go to, and you stumble on finding where the time has gone.

What I would give to come home again to my Mom's famous adobo, or my Dad's tinkling laugh each time he would crack a joke. How I miss making my Dad coffee, or laughing with my siblings during a day at the mall. I know people do not choose to grow older, it just happens and sadly all that is left are the memories of who and how you were when you were a kid.

I guess time really doesn't stand still and even if there is nothing left sometimes. Like food on the table, or money to pay the rent, you have to stand up and realize that all you have is now. If once in your life you were happy and safe with a family that kept you warm, there is no reason not to start feeling it again. The memories remain where they are, and it's time to make new ones.
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Pappy
STEEKEENOWTS
It all dawned to me one morning how one experience can totally affect your entire life forever. Sometimes I feel as if this abnormal limbo is crashing all over me and the only way I can breathe is to hang on to whatever sanity is left. And sometimes the pangs of reality can be so utterly strong that every step I take is almost child like and giddy. I guess that’s how it is when you force yourself to accept what is the inevitable and will your senses to push forward and move on.

My Father’s battle against his heart disease was an endless journey back and forth to the hospital. We all watched how he changed from this happy, exuberant man to a delicate being who struggled between doses of medicine and dextrose straps. It’s amazing how one’s fate can wither with every attempt that my siblings and i took to make things better for him and to make us accept that fact that my father’s life was not meant to last forever.

He went away so easily, and yet so peacefully. He looked at my sister one last time, trying to remember who she was and where he was at the moment. As she held him in her arms, he took one wistful breath and finally let go of the pain. I wasn’t there, I wasn’t able to see how he embraced the fulfillment of going home. But I knew that he was happy, and he was finally going to see my mom, whom he hasn’t seen for almost 16 years.

I recognized the feeling, because it was the very same one that I had when mom took the reins and passed away. They both died in the morning, as if fate motioned them to do so. I guess the only difference is, I was a child when my mother died, but now that I am all grown up, the questions about death seemed endless. When I stood inside the morgue and silently observed the mortician remove the blanket from his face, I was suddenly drawn closer and closer to the man lying there. A few hours ago at the hospital he was reaching for my hand and repeatedly told me how he badly wanted a glass of Sprite and a bite of Dunkin Donuts. And now I curse myself badly for not giving him what he requested for, as I gaze quietly at his solemn face, and the coldness that used to be my father. I gently touched his face, smoothed the hair on his forehead, and leaned over to kiss him goodbye.

His death was a whirlwind. I matured overnight and became engrossed with the numbness that was over powering me. The funeral almost felt like a dream, almost as if the truth was not being allowed to embed within us. But when it all ended, we were all brought back o earth and accept that realization that my father was no longer with us.

I can never understand how people learn to go on living their lives after the death of a loved one. !6 years ago when my mother died, it all felt the same for an entire year. We groped in the dark, fought fervently to survive, and yet we did. When we lose someone, are our minds pre-conditioned to accept this, or is it because we fall back into our normal routine that eventually we only remember them when the situation arises?

Sometimes I still sit alone, thinking of how my dad used to be. How he made us laugh with his silly antics, or how he was cruel to my curfew when I was a teenager. But when I look at my siblings and at myself, I understand that all he did for the 61 years of his life was to make us reach this point of maturity. I know that he was this bond that glued us together, that no matter how busy we were with our work, or families, he was that person that made us stronger. It is a renowned cliche, that we value a person at his best when we are no longer with them. But it is quite true, because at this moment we see all the beautiful things this person shared with us, and how they make a difference, no matter how big or small it is.

Every night I feel subdued. I lay at night and ask myself still why he left so soon. That I would have wanted him to see me succeed, or that I would have wanted him to walk me down the aisle one day. I know he would have wanted to as well, but life does play with us sometimes. That maybe I continue to fail understanding the reasons of him dying, but he was ready altogether. He was ready because he knew he did everything in his lifetime to be a good father to all of us. He knew that it was time for him to rest because we have unknowingly reached it all. That he was proud of us.

We only share seconds, minutes, hours with someone. We may not be the best to anyone, or we may not give to them what they expect. Growing up I felt as if I have not returned every beautiful thing that my father sacrificed for me. But that is what makes him noble. Because he never asked for anything in return. He understood me, more than I understood him.

I look at an old picture of him, and smile at how he not only gave me life, but helped me understand what living is all about. They say to only cherish the good memories, but I chose to carry with me all the memories he left us. That his weakness does not mirror cruelty as a parent, or his moods as reflection of his anger. He was only human, and he lived his life the best way he could, just like the way he would all want us to do.

Memories of my father is not only a way for me to remember all the laughter, the tears, the sacrifices, but it remains as an inspiration for meto continue living and loving life, just like the way he did.

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