05 March 2010

In 2008, the whole family (plus some relatives) were all together to commemorate daddy's death anniversary. In 2009, it was just me and Aunt Julie. This year, I was alone. I didn't want to get all too emotional about it, because I do know there were reasons why I was alone. Mom cannot travel because she will be having an eye operation (her right eye was operated "yesterday"), brother will be with her, and sister has work to attend to. Still, it feels sad that the family's incomplete, to think this day was just the third year of dad's death. I guess this is just one of the many difficulties of burying a loved one far from our own house, but I know dad's happy that I lit a candle for him. Aunt Julie and Uncle Caesar already visited the other day, so all's well.

Anyway, I wasn't able to buy any flowers for him, so before I reached his grave, I took some bougainvillea flowers from one of the plants in the cemetery. Although not as pretty as the flowers I have brought from the past, it's still the thought that counted. :) To make up for it, I did bring dad's favorite chocolate for I know he's missing it already.

I stayed at the cemetery until all the candles melted. I talked to my dad the way I talked to a friend I haven't seen for the longest time, and happy that I didn't break into tears this time. I am now getting stronger. Still, I miss him.

It was about lunch time when I left the cemetery. It was hot and sunny, but this being my last day in La Union, I walked from the highway 'til I reached our house. The church was just nearby, and seeing the gate open, I passed by and took some pictures. I already forgot the angle my sister made when she took a picture of this church last November, but for now I just took a picture from the other side. This is one of the most beautiful church facades I have seen from La Union, and I just don't get tired taking pictures of it.

Come night time, it was another DVD night for me, and I watched "Empire of the Sun." A very nice movie, but quite haunting...

*** Jenn ***