Hello, Lia.
Do you remember this? This is you at three years old. It was my birthday, and we, along with Daddy, were trekking Mt. Balagbag’s open trail. When we started hiking at 6 am, you had a cold, but you were chirpy as usual, even running around with local kids. But by the time we reached the summit, you were running high with fever.
It was 10:20 am and the November sun was sweltering hot. It took us two-and-a-half hours to get down from the summit, but even so, we never heard a whimper, much less any complaints from you. (Actually, we’ve had no experiences of you throwing tantrums in the mountains ever.)
That hike in Balagbag always reminds me how resilient and capable you are of many great things. You are a kid who cannot and must not be underestimated.
In a month, I will be leaving for work again somewhere far away from home, from you. It makes me sad because once more, there will be buckets of tears, a lot of leg pulling, and tearful “Sama ‘ko, please”. As much as I want to bring you with me, we cannot always get everything we want at the time we want it. That’s just the way life works, dearest.
I hope that even if I am far away, you will always remember this time in November 2015. Remember that you possess fortitude and strength – sometimes more than most adult possess. That you are so much more than what you or anyone perceives you to be. That I am always with you; even if I am not beside you, you are loved immensely, deeply, all throughout your years.
Stay strong, stay happy. Your smile makes the whole world – my world – better.
To the moon and back,
Mama
