Bouncing Back

October was a month filled with not-so greatness. We were hit and left devastated by typhoon Ondoy followed by Pepeng. It pains me to watch and see the victims on TV, on how they, especially the children and elderly, suffered. I somehow felt guilty watching the television with the comfort of home, foods, clothes, I'm all dry, while seeing them wet and left with almost nothing. But I was able to discard the feeling because I know a can do something, I can do more out of little things that I can share. So, I opened our closets, bagged old clothes and brought them to drop off points in our area. I know they will bring warmth and comfort to all who needs them. My heart goes to those who lost their houses. I was in the same situation 10 years ago when flood washed away our house. I was so devastated that I can't even cry. I grew there. We have a lot of memories there. In a spur of the moment everything was gone. It was as if half of my life was gone. We were left with nothing but our clothes on our bodies. That was 10 years ago. We now found a new home away from where we were before. Last night Naynay and I had a good talk till wee hours in the morning. We were talking about life and all that. The past typhoon that nearly break my being. But I was so grateful on how our parents raised us. We were raised to be tough. And Naynay said in her mother-knows-best tone, " Now you understand why I deprived you three of those material things, i.e. toys and the like. I don't want you to attach your selves with material things because they are fleeting. They will easily vanish. I know you understand why I mean. You have to experience a little of everything. Life will sometimes push you against the wall or you will even hit rock bottom. We've been through that, right? At the end of the day, they doesn't matter. What's important is that you learned how to bounce back and make life even more beautiful than it ever was." Awww, that's why I'm so proud to be called my Naynay's daughter, and I will be eternally grateful to her and Tatay for that. :-)