Friday, September 21, 2007
MISSING TABA
He was the sixth child in our family whom we fondly nicknamed Taba because he was always chubby. More significantly, though, he was my best friend and true ally. Today is his birthday; sadly, he passed away about five years ago. I miss him to this day.
Rather than mope around the house, I decided to drive out to Manila Bay and take some sunset shots. I thought this would be the best way for me to celebrate his birthday, and although I was alone, I didn't feel lonely. On the contrary, I had a good time shooting. It was as if Taba was out there hanging out with me, while I was busily choosing and composing a series of shots.
When I was done shooting, I called a couple of friends to meet me. I treated them to a nice dinner. They didn't even realize that it was to celebrate my brother Taba's birthday. And as soon as I got home, I immediately grabbed my laptop to transfer my shots and to select two to post in Taba's honor. Here they are.
Happy birthday, Taba!
posted by Señor Enrique at 11:11 PM
28 Comments:
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Android Eyes said... Recently I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments
together at the airport. They had announced the departure.
Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said, "I
love you and I wish you enough".
The daughter replied, "Mom, our life together has been more than
enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom".
They kissed and the daughter left. The mother walked over to the window
where I was seated. Standing there I could see she wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy but she welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?".
"Yes, I have," I replied. "Forgive me for asking, but why is this a
forever good-bye?".
"I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the
reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral," she said.
"When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I wish you enough'.
May I ask what that means?".
She began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other
generations. My parents used to say it to everyone".
She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail
and she smiled even more. "When we said, 'I wish you enough', we were wanting
the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them". Then turning toward me, she shared the following as if she were reciting it from memory.
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.
She then began to cry and walked away. They say it takes a minute to
find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.
TAKE TIME TO LIVE.....
I WISH YOU ENOUGH!-
NOYPETES said...
A fine tribute to your beloved sibling.
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Nashei said...
what a sweet brother you are..
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said... that was really nice of you, eric! i'm sure he's smiling at you from heaven. you're a wonderful brother =)
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said...
Oh,I don't know what to comment, Eric. I guess I'll just say - Happy Birthday to your brother Taba.
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Photo Cache said...
i am sure your brother is looking down on you and smiling.
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Señor Enrique said...
Thank you so much, Romy, for sharing. How comforting, indeed.
And likewise, I wish you enough :)-
Señor Enrique said...
Thank you, Noypete. Knowing Taba, somehow I felt he'd want me to spend the day creatively and then topped off with an intimate and delectable dinner amongst friends.
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Señor Enrique said...
Thanks, Nashel, but more appropriately, what a brother he was. Really :)
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Señor Enrique said...
I hope he enjoyed the way I spent his birthday, Nell. He was "the" wonderful brother, and as the years pass by, I miss him even more terribly. He was the most popular among the siblings :)
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Señor Enrique said...
Thanks, Rhoda. Taba and your father share the same birthday :) I bet your dad is just as wonderful as my brother!
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Señor Enrique said...
Thanks, Photo Cache! I hope so, too :)
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Sidney said...
Wonderful tribute for your brother. I am sure he is proud of you !
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Amadeo said...
The clouded sunset and the glittering skyline sure add to the nostalgia. My kind of scenes.
So, happy remembrances to you of times past.-
jon go said...
you talked about him in my post once before.. having a sibling as a best friend is probably one of the great things to have.. i love that you still celebrate his birthday.. i on the other hand am not good friends with any of my siblings.. often misunderstood.. but enough about me.. :)
ps. romy's comment made me cry.. :(-
Señor Enrique said...
Thanks, Sidney. I thought I'd give him something from what I've learned so far from all that time I've been spending with my camera. And I hope he likes these photos :)
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Señor Enrique said...
And I bet you've been enjoying your new digital SLR as well, Amadeo :)
Glad you like these pics!-
Señor Enrique said...
A very emotional piece from Romy which got me teary-eyed, Jon. But I promised myself to make it a joyous birthday for Taba so I fought back the tears :)
How I wish you had someone like Taba among your siblings, Jon. But then again, I bet you manage to stand on your own with or without any ally :)-
reyd said...
A very nice commemoration to your beloved sibling.
Happy Birthday Taba.-
-= dave =- said...
I like the first pic, it's very apt for this entry: staring at the vastness, the boats as the symbolic link to the other side.
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Señor Enrique said...
Thanks much, Reyd :)
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Señor Enrique said...
Thank you, Dave. Very interesting perception/interpretation you have. I like it :)
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said...
You're a definitely sweet sibling.
(:
I'm sure he's looking at you always.-
Señor Enrique said...
Thanks, Kyels, but I have to admit that Taba was the sweet sibling :)
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said...
Very dreamy pictures for a beloved brother. Maybe the ocean is the symbol of the voyage that the sould takes in the afterlife, so vast and venturous.
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Señor Enrique said...
True, Major Tom. I was compelled to do something creative and beautiful on that day, and the very first thing that came to mind was to take a picture of our glorious Manila Bay Sunset.
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Unknown said...
how touching this tribute is. the beautiful pictures here are more than enough to tell us how much you loved your brother.
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Señor Enrique said...
Thanks much, Bugsy :)
