Papa would have been 62 today. And on our way to the cemetery, (thanks to Carla for lending me her car, by the way) I was trying to imagine what he would look like if he was still around. How it would be like. To start off, it would have been awesome for Joaquin to have a grandfather to spoil him rotten.
Felt tears roll from my eyes as I listened to my son shyly sing "happy birthday gwapo" while standing in front of Papa's grave.
My efforts in correcting him to call my Dad "Guakong" have been futile and so, I just let him be. Come to think of it, and knowing Papa, he would have preferred (and would have insisted) to be called "Gwapo" by his grandson anyway.
I wish they knew each other. I wish Joaquin knew him, not just of him.
Happy birthday, Papa! I miss you everyday that you're not here (and that's close to 8 years already).
Keep grooving (up there).
