BLISS

Tomorrow, February 6, Daddy and Mommy will be celebrating their 34th Wedding Anniversary...

Wow! Time really flies fast! Wasn't it just yesterday when my siblings and I used to wake up very early on the 6th day of February to prepare breakfast, flowers, cards and what-have-you, just in time for our folks to wake up and be surprised?

I remember the time Daddy used Mom's lipstick to write "I love you, Mommy...Happy Anniversary!" on the bathroom mirror (much to my Mom's horror coz the lipstick was new)...ang sweet!

Their's wasn't a perfect marriage (whose is?) There were a whole lot of downs and times when we doubted they'd come this far...who ever thought? Despite all the trials, and other couple friends separating left and right, they remained together.

I don't believe it's the romance that kept them together...Being a married woman myself for almost 5 years now, I should know that romance (only) does not keep a marriage together. Romance and passion help keep a couple together but more than these, it is commitment and faith that really keep two people together.

And this is what I believe Mom and Dad have to last this long - a strong commitment and steadfast faith that, depite the odds, they will make it as one. They don't say much and they're not into PDA (public display of affection) but you can see and feel it when they're together. Sad to say, they'll be celebrating this anniversary apart from each other since Mom is in Vancouver with Tintin. It must be quite sad for them both because I know that they're really missing each other so much (my phone conversations with them does not end without either one mentioning how they miss the other).

I hope that by reading this post, the pain of being apart may be lessened...

Dad & Mom,

It's been 34 years...we've seen many other relationships fall apart - from our family and circle of friends...but here you are, still standing...

May the Lord bless you with countless more years of joy (to love life), pain (to appreciate life), loving (romance and passion included), fighting (all the more to enjoy the making up after) and just simple togetherness.

It was one heck of a roller coaster ride with you two and us three (Tin, Onin and myself)...but we'll never have it any other way.

You continue to inspire us in our respective marriages and relationships...we only pray that we get to have as many, if not more, years of wedded bliss as you have.

We love you! Happy Anniversary!!!

Christine Marie Valentine

to Shobe dear...

I Carry Your Heart With Me

EE CUMMINGS

I carry your heart with me
I carry it in my heart
I am never without it
Anywhere I go you go, my dear;
And whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling

I fear no fate for you are my fate, my sweet
I want no world for beautiful you are my world, my true

And it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

And whatever a sun will always sing is you

Here is the deepest secret nobody knows

Here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

And the sky of the sky of a tree called life;
Which grows higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide

And this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

I carry your heart

I carry it in my heart.

***this was the poem that Maggie, (played by Cameron Diaz in the movie In Her Shoes) read during the wedding of her sister, Rose (played by Toni Collette)

Tintin,

Our relationship as sisters is less than perfect

We had our share of kicks, fights and bashing

Its a surprise that we don't look anything alike

Shoe size we don't share

Much about everything in life, we don't have in common

For most of our lives, we hated each other's guts

And tried to stay out of each other's business

We shared our secrets with our respective circle of friends

But never with each other

Our family always prayed for the day that we'll end up the best of friends

And for a brief time, we came together as sisters

Ending up being thick as thieves

Sharing life's ups and downs

Opening up like buds to full bloom

Just in time...

For we didn't know that soon after

We will be continents apart

Ending up wishing and praying

That time together had been longer, richer

Regretting all the wasted time

When we made our vows of marriage

We failed to be "maids of honor" of each other

When we crossed over to motherhood

We couldn't just trade mommy stories as easily

And we pined for each other

Now, older and wiser

We pray and wish,

That we can move mountains

So that one day,

We can wake up to find ourselves together again...

Sis,
"I carry your heart

I carry it in my heart", always...

Advanced Happy Birthday!!! Love you!!!

---- ate Cathee

Sister Act

The movie schedule here in General Santos is relatively late compared to other major cities in the country, sometimes getting behind by more than 2 weeks. So after all reviews have been done on the movie, "In Her Shoes", here I am, fresh from just watching it 2 days ago.

It was supposed to be just a movie date with my hubby, not really expecting a "fantabulous" cinema experience. Just imagine my surprise when in most parts of the movie I couldn't stop the waterworks. My eyes were quite bloodshot when I went to the loo after watching the film.

There was a poignancy to the movie that really pinches at the heart. The fact that my only sister, Tintin, lives halfway around the world from me made it even more touching. Two sisters (played by Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette), different as night and day, one being the attractive but quirky and happy-go-lucky "dumb blonde", the other being the plain-looking, smart and successful lawyer, sharing only one thing in common - their shoe size.

It presented their individual weaknesses, fears and anxieties. Their brief estrangement from each other became the solution to their problems - with each one discovering her unique potential and worth. And in the end, realizing that no other person (not even the greatest guy you're about to marry) can replace a sister. It went beyond sisterhood by touching on family break ups, miscommunication and forgiveness --- things that hit very close to home for me.

Being a sucker for "tear jerker" type family movies, this one scores high for me. With Tintin's birthday coming up, "In Her Shoes" gave me the perfect idea for a birthday gift...