DON'T BE LIKE ME: ADVICE ON FATHER'S DAY

I wanted to post something about how I miss my father today. It is Father's Day, and it is just so sad to wax melancholic about the good times I had with my father. I used to be very close with my Papa until I learned devious, rebellious ways while being a selfish, arrogant teenager. But a few months after I graduated from college, my father lost his life. He died of cardiac arrest at age 47, nineteen years ago. Since, the intimacy was not restored, I did not feel how much I miss my father until I realized everybody have fathers and I have no one.

But because I don't want to write something about how I feel today about him, I just want to let you know that I learned a great lesson. In his last few years, I was never able to say to my Papa how much I love him. For such a long time, he did not hear those words coming out from my mouth. He knew I love him but words sometimes can make a great difference especially when it's coming from the heart. Of course, I love him, but because of my pride and my obnoxiousness, I did not say it. It was years after he passed away that I realized he needed to hear it.

If you still have fathers and you love them, please articulate those words they long to hear. Not just through a cheapo card. Nor through a ridiculously expensive techno-gizmo that will soon be just forgotten. Tell them that you love them in your own words. Because I learned that a lot of important things in life really can be too late. Don't be like me --regretting the past; should have done this or should have said that.

You probably heard this cliche-ish and trifling advice from somewhere, from someone, somehow. And maybe you won't take this seriously because you think your issues are different than mine. But I tell you, with a rue that's gripping me so hard, I should have told him that I love him when he was still alive. And right now, on Father's Day, his absence just makes it worse. I have no father to say, "I love you Papa, Happy Father's Day!" I should stop writing now before I begin to cry.

So this Father's Day, take heed of something that really matters.

Meanwhile, I greet every father who hops into my blog;