Tag: garden

A Landscape Forever Changed

On By Ramon B.In Mariel's Life2 Comments

Dearest Mommy,

I should have written this a few days ago, but your beloved Tatacoco got sick, so I only had the chance to write again tonight.

Your passing feels like yesterday, yet it has been eighteen years since I last saw your radiant smile, heard your laughter, or felt the reassuring warmth of your hand in mine. I visit “Mariel’s Garden” because it beautifully echoes the essence of who you were. And I want to tell you how much you are still, and always will be, a part of everything in my life.

To me, a garden with its vibrant life and its beautiful flowers is the perfect reflection of who you are. For you always saw beauty in the promise of every tiny seed, and the importance of tending to it with love. You had cultivated not just flowers, but joy, kindness, and understanding in everyone you had ever met. For your inner beauty truly blossomed, Mariel, making you the most lovely person I have ever known, inside and out.

I remember, too, how you could make even the simplest moments feel profound. Our walk in the park became an adventure, our quiet evening at home a sanctuary. You had this incredible way of illuminating the world around you, making colors brighter, music sweeter, and love deeper. You taught me so much without ever needing to say a word – just by being you.

Life without you, however, is a landscape forever changed. There are many days that colors feel muted, and the silence too loud. But then, I feel you in the warmth of the morning sun on my face, a gentle reminder of your bright spirit. I hear you in the rustling of leaves, a whisper of your calming presence. I see you in every flower that pushes its way through the ground, a testament to the resilient and beautiful life you once lived. You had planted so many seeds of love and happiness in my heart, and people who knew you, and they continue to grow, and give comfort and strength to us.

You were my truest love, my greatest supporter. You saw me, truly saw me, and loved me unconditionally. That kind of love is a rare and precious thing, and I will carry it with me every single day. For it has shaped who I am, and it will always guide me forward.

Thank you, my love, for every moment, every memory, every lesson, and every ounce of your boundless love. Thank you for making my world a more beautiful place, a garden I can still walk through in my memories, forever in bloom because of you. Thank you for being the most beautiful person, for me and your daughter, Sam. You are our forever garden, eternally blooming in our hearts.

With all my love, always,

Bong

Your Heart Is My Garden

On By Ramon B.In Mariel's Life4 Comments

It’s three o’ clock in the morning and I just have to get a load off my chest. In less than three days, we will be commemorating the first year of Mariel’s passing. It was one that I knew was coming but had somehow tried  to deny. Because the “wounds” are still as fresh as the day when I was roused from sleep at about 4 a.m. to be told that my Mariel is already being given CPR, only days before we had checked-in to the hospital for some routine treatment. In fact we had felt like simply going to some “picnic” and had happily celebrated our togetherness. It was only hours after I had kissed Mariel goodnight (on her toes, not wanting to give her any “germs”). Then I found myself helplessly wading through a sea of bewilderment and tears and having to tell my daughter Sam that her beloved Mommy has gone. Gone to heaven. Oh the pain was almost as unbearable as my losing Mariel. For how can I ever forget Sam’s expressions of panic and disbelief over what had happened to her mommy. It’s been nearly a year now and I’m still terribly heartbroken. Moving on, I guess may still have to wait.

I am very grateful however for the love and kindness of my family, relatives  and friends who had helped me make it through it all largely in one piece. To my Mama, Alma, Baguie and kids I will forever be thankful for your life-giving care of Sam and me. To my relatives, officemates and “barkada”, I will always be awed by your tireless support and understanding. And still to my dear blogger friends too–  Jan, Linda, Writinggb, Shadowlands, Robert and many,many others who had propped me up on this journey and had put up with my constant and embarrassing whines, thanks truly from the bottom of my heart.

Now I await September 20 with great ambivalence. Wishing to wake up from just another bad dream. But then too yearning to make sure that the day is made into a fitting tribute to my Mariel’s beauty, kindness and love. Among others we are planning to offer Holy Mass in her memory at Santuario de San Antonio Church at 6pm, then have a thanksgiving dinner for close family and friends at the nearby Parish Center. We have also prepared a short program to fondly remember what she had meant to us and share reminiscences of our happier times. I know Mariel will be in our midst hopefully reveling in our stories and for sure lending us her usual tenderness and warmth.

Mommy, I promised you once to build you a garden. I now try to live all the days of my life telling everyone how you have shown me that the most precious garden is one where true love blooms. Thank you Mommy for your gift of love and all the wonderful memories. I will treasure every bit till the day we meet again and share our heavenly garden forever. I love you now and always.

Lilac, Purple or Mariel

On By Ramon B.In Mariel's Life, On GrievingLeave a comment

Pretty in PurplePeople have noticed that the color lilac and its siblings have always caught the eye of Mariel. Yes, you can check out her coffee mug, toothbrush and of course, her wardrobe and you’ll immediately see an obvious theme. Mariel’s well developed fashion sense however, does not preclude all the other lovely colors like pink, orange, red and apple green, all of which she adores too. But, Mariel it seems has a special fondness for this special shade of royalty. My princess loves everything about it. I used to kid her when we go window shopping that she can’t resist any blouse or dress in this color specially when its on sale. My very first gift to her in fact was a purple jewelry box ( without any jewelry, by the way) in that special color. I, of course, promised her to fill up the case with the desired content someday.

Today I remember her purple jewelry box, violet umbrella, lilac mini- electric fan and ube-tinted shades with special fondness and some sadness. My princess has now gone to the great purple paradise in the sky and I fervently wish I still could still add one more lilac- colored something to her collection. But alas, I could now only shed purple tears and hope to meet her as soon as God allows in our lilac garden and purple- themed house in heaven. I love Mariel.

Coming Back by Sally Kennedy

On By Ramon B.In Third Party Articles1 Comment

I just received an email from my friend Mana ( Happy Birthday, Mana, its her birthday by the way). I found the article by Sally Kennedy thats been helpful and also very appropriate for Mariel’s Garden. Here goes:

“COMING BACK
By Sally I Kennedy

Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him,
rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were
taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7
Coming Back
The plant that “would grow anywhere” looked dead as a doornail. The
flowers behind it weren’t looking so good either. Limp and fading,
they appeared to be on their last leg, too. Ironically, the
surrounding weeds were thriving, growing great.
Fading, limp, wilting, or a goner. Have you ever felt this way, in
your spirit, body, or emotions? I’ve been there, and I have learned
the truth of the principle of being rooted in Christ.
This plant was sprayed with an insecticide, but the large dose burned
it. For us, circumstances, relationships, job situations, can batter,
or burn, us pretty good sometimes. That’s life.
On the surface, what is visible, is what I call “in the night”. Things
seem dim, cloudy, even dark. But God is not a God of confusion. No
matter what is going on, He is still sovereign, still watching over
you, and involved in every facet of your life, working all things out
for your good.

On either side of this burned-out plant are two sturdy, older bushes,
and the roots of the plant have grown deep down into the soil below.
This plant will come back. It will have fuzzy green leaves again. It
will have bold sunny yellow flowers.
Stay rooted and grounded in Christ. In Ephesians 3, Paul says, “May
your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love.”

Persevere, no matter what. Hold on to the hem of Jesus’ robe, to His
mighty and powerful name. We will not only be survivors, but we will
flourish.
That is good news.”

Thanks again Mana