it seems like it’s been such a long 2007 already, but it’s really only 2 months deep into it. and yet, so much has happened it’s hard to believe that 2007 hasn’t just passed thru already.
especially with all the great (hot) weather we’ve been having lately, you’d think it was summer already.
so this is my first real post of the year, and i’ve been meaning to do this for a while, but life has kept me well pressed at other things like usual.
this entire time i’ve been meaning to say something about my family…
my uncle passed away earlier this year, in january. now, while i personally wasn’t particularly close with him, i was (and am still) close to my cousins. they were my brothers growing up. my mom and dad tho, they were close to him. my dad was the best man at his and my aunt’s wedding.
needless to say there was grieving and sadness, but what really struck me the most about the entire thing was the presence of family… not just my aunt and cousins, but my entire family, both my dad’s (and my aunt’s) side, but my uncle’s side of the family as well. each time something was going on, there was an outpouring of family members.
my family, and most filipino families, have what i think is an awesome tradition that occurs in time of death: we pray the rosary for the 9 days after the death, again 40 days following, and every year after is a celebration… in spite of the occasion that calls forth this tradition, the greatness comes in the gathering. how awesome is it that we gather… to show our love and support… to show our unity… to show our bond as a family.
it’s just so profound how much family, food, and prayers helps console and strengthen.
strangely enough, it’s only really been the last few years that my bond with my cousins has really built up… i love how we can all hang out on a random saturday nite, watch some american idol reruns and make fun of how bad (or good) we all are at various games on the Wii. each of us has such a unique personality that there’s never a quiet moment.
and i love it.
i love my family.
i’m thankful every day, every time i think of them.
-m