Memento mori. Remember you will die.
A couple of years before I reach the big 4-0, it may be morbid to be even thinking about a bucket list. While granted I may still have a long life ahead of me, death is inevitable and its discussion something we should not shy upon.
I just sound so adult saying that, but somehow the idea of a bucket list accidentally crossed my mind while I was looking for something in my blog. Tomorrow is never promised.
Back in March 2014, I recounted how I almost kicked the bucket towards the end of 2013. I’ve re-read that recollection a couple of minutes ago and found myself a bit teary eyed. I forgot almost half of the details of what I wrote at the time. I literally had a brush with death, and about 9 years after, here I am writing this post now.
I also remember how back in December 2016, I suddenly just cried while we were inside Myeongdong Cathedral. I was very grateful to be back. It was unimaginable. I was overwhelmed with emotions that time as it felt surreal to be back at the exact place 4 years after when in December 2013, I was already at the hospital fighting for my life. Now that I recall it, I pondered that time:
“Oh, this time last year, it was my first winter“.
Oh, those days. It got me thinking: what are the things I am looking forward to?
If there’s one thing off of that list that has happened, it was when I had my third graduation from UP last 2018. Since I was a kid, both of my parents were not able to attend any of my graduation ceremony together: pre-school, grade school, high school and college. They had been working overseas since 1988 and, thus, not present in any of those.
I was not a demanding child and never thought differently about those absences, as I understood what it was for. It was not only until 2013 when Mama managed to attend my graduation for my first graduate degree that a parent was finally present. Imagine my happiness when we finally had that photo from 2018.
Perhaps the most immediate one on my bucket list was really to visit Europe in spring 2023. I have never travelled anywhere with my senior parents ever, and it would be such a blast to have that memorable trip with them. Mama, who met a fatal accident back in 1997 also eventually had to work overseas around 2001 until her retirement in 2007.
Her regret was, despite being already in the UK before, she should have just taken the plunge and visited the Vatican City.
I, however, have set my mind to make that dream come true. I had been planning since I left my job end of last year that 2023 should be that year — 10 years after I almost died as well. That would have been poetic, non?
It would also be great to get another house in the future where Mon and I could adopt as many stray cats as we want. A farm house by the mountains sounds amazing. We look up to the singe, Jona who recently opened an animal shelter in Rizal and took in around 70 stray dogs and cats!
For now, we can focus supporting those Facebook groups that cater to specific areas in the country, such as this group in Makati where we got Bami and regularly support.
While I could, of course, list many things as I can, last would be to ensure that the 2 kids are already set for whatever they wish to do. I think that has been a recurring theme with any parent, or anyone standing in as a parent. It is a scary world out there. We can only go as far as provide whatever it is we can provide within our powers. At the end of the day, they’d be adults and would be on their own.
I just hope we provided and reminded them enough when that time comes, I guess. You reach the age where your own dreams can gladly take a seat for the young ones, and you won’t mind.
Just some random musings at 2:09 am before I hit the sack.
