My mother loved to putter around. When she does, I make sure to join her because almost always, I will get to hear a story or two about her favorite memories of random objects we come across. Like how a gold brooch was passed down from her mother, and she told me how she felt the first time she wore it; or a particular Chinese dress she was saving for me or my sister in case we will need such a costume (Ella wore it for her grad pic, whilst it barely fit my thigh).
During one of those puttering sessions, we were sifting through her old letters and notes, and I came across her compilation of love letters from my father. He called her Sunlight, she called him Sunshine. And it was corny, but happy kind of corny, and I decided I wanted that kind of corniness in my life. Perhaps sensing my longing, my mother said, "Someday you will find your husband too, and you will know what it means to have your own Sun."
I told her I have a list of qualities I want in my husband, and I shared a couple of them with her. She smiled her quiet smile and nodded at each one. But when I finished, she told me, "It's good to know what you want, but you also have to be open minded about things you might not know you want."
"Hanapin mo yung parang Daddy mo. Yung ramdam mo ang kabaitan hanggang puso. Iwasan mo ang mga mayayabang, pero huwag din yung masyadong mahiyain. Kailangan may sariling talino, yung kaya ang sarili at kaya ka. Yung iba, dagdag na lang, gifts na ni Lord. Pero humanap ka lang ng mabait, mababa ang loob at matalino na sasamahan ka sa buhay."
I don't know if any piece of advice can get better than that. I am thankful I got to share those moments with her before she passed away, and I am recording it now so that I get to share it with my sister too. Looking at her list though, I think I did well in choosing the One. It's true, what they say about mothers knowing their daughters' hearts. I miss you, Mummy.
During one of those puttering sessions, we were sifting through her old letters and notes, and I came across her compilation of love letters from my father. He called her Sunlight, she called him Sunshine. And it was corny, but happy kind of corny, and I decided I wanted that kind of corniness in my life. Perhaps sensing my longing, my mother said, "Someday you will find your husband too, and you will know what it means to have your own Sun."
I told her I have a list of qualities I want in my husband, and I shared a couple of them with her. She smiled her quiet smile and nodded at each one. But when I finished, she told me, "It's good to know what you want, but you also have to be open minded about things you might not know you want."
"Hanapin mo yung parang Daddy mo. Yung ramdam mo ang kabaitan hanggang puso. Iwasan mo ang mga mayayabang, pero huwag din yung masyadong mahiyain. Kailangan may sariling talino, yung kaya ang sarili at kaya ka. Yung iba, dagdag na lang, gifts na ni Lord. Pero humanap ka lang ng mabait, mababa ang loob at matalino na sasamahan ka sa buhay."
I don't know if any piece of advice can get better than that. I am thankful I got to share those moments with her before she passed away, and I am recording it now so that I get to share it with my sister too. Looking at her list though, I think I did well in choosing the One. It's true, what they say about mothers knowing their daughters' hearts. I miss you, Mummy.
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