You are your memories, said
our professor, Miss Edna Lee during our class on January 28, 2013. My memories
are like clouds; they drift through my mind. There are times when I remember
when I don’t want to remember and times when I want to remember but cannot find
the memory. Sometimes I question my memories, especially the ones from when I
was a child. I do not know if the memory I see is true or a product of my
overactive imagination. Nevertheless, I must list ten of my happiest memories.
They are not in order and I would prefer it that way since each memory holds
its own kind of happiness.
1. “Dreams,” he said, “is very mysterious
things. They is floating around in the air like little wispy-misty bubbles. And
all the time they is searching for sleeping people.”
- Roald
Dahl, The BFG
I
had this dream where I only saw the face of a very beautiful woman. I can’t
remember the exact features of the woman’s face but I do know she had black
hair and brown eyes. I was, and still am, hoping it was an image of me, only
older.
2. All said I was wicked, and perhaps I
might be so.
- Charlotte
Bronte, Jane Eyre
One
of the many things about relatives is that they never forget to remind you of
the way you were when you were a restless, loud, lihokan, samukan, and sapoton
little girl every reunion.
3. I wondered if there was anything of my
parents in me, or if who I was was entirely cobbled from books and television
and teachers at school.
- Maggie
Stiefvater, Forever
I
realized how I was so like my father and in so many ways. People always said I
was a carbon copy of my mother but I think I really am a carbon copy of both my
parents: outside and inside.
4. My life began when happy smiled
Sweet like candy to a child.
Stay here and love me just a
while.
Let sadness see what happy
does
Let happy be where sadness
was.
- Michael
Jackson, Happy
My
father was playing some songs with the guitar my mother gave to him as an
anniversary present. I went over to his side and together we sang the songs we
knew the pitch to and one of them was My
Heart Will Go On.
5. “They’re teenagers. They do the opposite
of what you say.”
- Lauren
Oliver, Before I Fall
I
took the Chief Girl Scout Medal Scheme Project during my third year in High
School and against my better judgement. It was hard work but it all paid off
when I got my medal, when I shook hands with Lea Salongga, when my father
proudly posed with me in front of a dozen unknown cameras, and especially when
one of my beneficiaries said, “Pagdako
nako pareha ko ni ate! Bata pa pero titser na!” (JV, 8 years old, 2011)
6. Fairy tales had been her first
experience of the magical universe that she was now so eager to enter, and more
than once she had wondered why people ended up distancing themselves from that
world, knowing the immense joy that childhood had brought to their lives.
- Paulo
Coelho, Brida
My
father, sister, and I watched Disney’s Beauty
and The Beast one Sunday afternoon. We sang together with the characters
and I (and this happens every time we watch this!) still got teary-eyed when
the Beast let Belle go.
7. “One of my hardest jobs as a father, one
of my greatest duties, was to realize that my own dreams, my own goals and
wishes, are secondary to my children’s.”
- Rick
Riordan, The Red Pyramid
My
father didn’t want me to go to school here in Cebu. He told me reasons like, “Wala nay mubantay nako, nak.” And “Mingawon si Papa nimo, day.” And even,
“Diri lang ka, Kalay. Mas-safe ka diri
and dili na ko sige ug worry nimo pag naa ka dadto.” I could see his
concern and I was really tempted to just stay in Davao for college. However, I
knew that I wouldn’t grow there. I
want to be independent and going out of my comfort zone was the first step. In
the end, my father agreed to me going to UP Cebu. I think he finally saw that I
wasn’t a little girl anymore; no matter my height and no matter how much I
wanted to remain one.
8. “You’re too young to settle. Look into
your heart – and go after what you really want.”
- Sophie
Kinsella, Shopaholic Takes Manhattan
When
I told my father I wanted to be a doctor, I also asked him if I could pursue it
and maybe not here in the Philippines. I thought he would say that it would be
financially impossible, but he said, “Okay
na siya, day. Dili jud mag-matter kung mingawon ko nimo or mingawon ka nako.
Kayanon lang na ni Papa, apil ang bayronon. It’s my job man. That’s your dream.
Magtarong lang jud ka sa imong studies.”
9. “My dear young cousin, if there’s one
thing I’ve learned over the eons, it’s that you can’t
give up on your family, no matter how
tempting they make it.”
- Rick
Riordan, Percy Jackson and the Olympians:
The Sea of Monsters
My
brother and little sister and I found out that it would be futile to bring my
father on a movie day in the cinemas. The last time all four of us watched a
movie, our father fell asleep before the opening credits were done (and he was
snoring, too!).
10. I thank you for the kindness and the
times when you got tough.
And, Papa, I don’t think I
said I love you near
enough.
- Dan
Fogelberg, Leader of the Band
This
memory I am not sure if it is one or if it is a dream. My mom used to sing Pasko na, Sinta ko to my little sister
and me to get us to sleep when our dad was away traveling. My mother had the
most beautiful voice and the most expressive eyes. But I can’t really see her
face without the help of a picture and now I sing to myself that Christmas song
whenever I need to get myself to sleep.
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