PONDERING IMMORTALITY

[Alibangbang]

The dreaded phone call came from Deden and Dodong March 23rd at 12:30 AM New York time. Wara na dayon ako mahi katurog. In seeking comfort, I’ve decided to marry lines from a classic poem, words from Lonestar's hit song and what I imagine the after life would be like. Please allow me to share it with you:

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there, I do not sleep

I know I’m in your prayers
I’m already there

Take a look around. . .
I’m the diamond glints on snow
I’m the sunshine in your hair
I’m the shadow on the ground
I’m the raindrop in your hand

I’m already there
I’m the beat in your heart
I’m the whisper in the wind
I’m the moonlight shining down

I’ll be there with you till the end…
I’m every butterfly you see
I’m the soft star shining through

Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.

I live in the presence of our Risen Lord




MANA UHOT/INSOM, KALIMTAN KO INI PAG HISGOT KANIYO NAN GA ESTORYA KITA. KADAYAW HUNAHUNA ON NA GA REUNION SA SILA KOMAN NGADTO SA LANGIT

[mimi]

Mana Em, our prayer and condolences.

i went to your mama's wake last Saturday afternoon. Si Dodong da an didto kay graduation ni Justine. Ganahan garo mobisita si Mana Elaine (Montesclaros) Gallito pero yanlarga sab sila that day for Leyte to attend the burial of Manong Anggie's aunt. She just asked me to give the mass card.

[kampanaryo_spy]

abb,

the best epitaph---for me, at least---at the tago cemetery is carved on the tombstone of iya anday manzano. and up until now i wondered where fred or atty. boy manzano got the quote. and yes, the first line reads: Do not stand at my grave and weep; I am not there, I do not sleep. in fact i've memorized the lines but now the rest of the lines escape me.

if you visit iya anday and iyo sisoy's graves any time of the year, all you can see and read are the epitaphs----only the epitaphs: no name, no nothing. and then on all soul's day, mana nits, the only daughter of iyo sisoy and iya anday, installs the granites that carry the brass facsimiles of iyo sisoy and iya anday's signatures. beautiful!
o0o

lorelie texted me last friday, just after i left the office in tandag. i immediately texted deden to confirm, after which i texted bonsal to request him to post it.

mimi asked me in the evening where the wake was because she wanted to go there. i gave her deden's number, but mimi said she didn't meet deden as she was attending her child's graduation.

as i always say: no death is ever easy. even jesus christ pleaded to His Father at the garden of gethsemane to take away the cup, didn't he? but life is a mustard seed, if you know what i mean.

still, be strong. you are in our prayers.

(maglibog sa lang kita haw hain mo sabat nan pangadje----sa victoria kon sa new york!)

[Alibangbang]

Mi - Salamati na yaka kadto kaw. Lang-a sab si Mana Elaine thank you.

K-Spy,

Poem written by Mary Frye in 1932. Arang na alternative modern definitive version. An ako ya memorize an original version below in its entirety. Originally the verse had no title so the poem's first line became the title.

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.

Beautiful words transcend all else; they inspire, console and strengthen the human spirit. diba?

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I didn't know na did-on na baya sa Obi an death ni Nanay. Si Sapaalaska an una min tawag and left a message sa bay astan sa office (i was still in transit). Thank you Saps... I owe you a phone call.

Tapos tawag sab si Mana Uhot. Siyay galaong na si Bonsal an ga post. (THANK YOU BON) Hunahuna ko, basin pagka hibawo ni Walter/Lita, in texan kaw ni Lita kay silingan sa lugar. Waray imo access sa computer so you did the next best thing- - - text Bonsal.

Si Classmate (Australia) sab amoy laong na hinbasahan kono dayon niya sa obi tapos ga dali-dali siya pag kadto sa kowarto paga pahibawo si Insom kay paga sakitan intawon gikan in ip-an nan wisdom tooth. (Hunahuna ko aduy basin ga isan an sakit an bang-an ni Insom - Insom ayaw pag compiansa !!!!)

The info got to you from Manila baya. Si Lorelie an CNN breaking news. Wow the power of modern technology