Dear Mom and Pa,
On this day, I can think of no one else that I am more grateful to than you two. I don’t do this often enough, and I should….Thank you! Thank you for giving me life. From Philadelphia, to Chicago, to Long Beach, and to San Diego, you both have given Jennifer and me such a wonderful home. I don’t say this often enough, but I love you. I know you read my blog, so I wanted the world (all four of the people that read this) and you to know that I am the person I am today because of you!
Mom - I admire how you were the only one of your 7 siblings to work extra hard to finance yourself to nursing school and to make the decision to leave your family in the Philippines to try to make a better life for yourself here in the states. Subsequently, you helped your family back home and sponsored half of your family to move out here.
Never have I actually put myself in your shoes to determine what that must have felt like. It is a tremendous sacrifice, and just one small example of the wonderful things you do all the time. Ever the entertainer, I have never had a party at my home that you haven’t gone above and beyond to assist me with. Whether it’s making a surprise dish (or three) or cleaning up afterwards, you do so much for me and I truly appreciate it.
Pa - You are the most patient and loving person I have ever known. You would do anything for your family. You support our dreams and never ask for anything in return. I don’t know how many times I was upset or down, and all it took was a loving word from you to assure me that things were going to be okay. You and Jay are true saints for putting up with the crazy women in your lives. So thank you…They say that you tend to look for a mate that reminds you of your father….You and Jay are both strong, thoughtful, proud and loving. And I am so lucky to have you both.
Again, Mom and Pa, thank you for creating me…literally and figuratively….I love you more than you’ll ever know.
Love,
Jocelyn
My 35th birthday lunch at Elephant Bar with my parents…chose this restaurant because my mom collects elephants because she says they’re good luck.
5 comments:
Happy Birthday Joce!!! What are very thoughtful and loving letter that was to your parents!!! It's true, we owe it to our parents for bringing us life. I hope you had a wonderful b-day today!! And in the Dutch culture: Happy birthday to Jay too. (I'm not sure why they say happy b-day to the spouses as well. I'll have to inquire more on that one, "isn't dat vierd?"-austin power's Gold Finger.
Happy Birthday Joce! That's very sweet you spent your birthday with your parents. Great letter to them. We do owe our parents everything. How cool that you got to spend your special day thanking them.
And Mei - I don't know if I'm delirious from lack of sleep or what but I can not stop laughing at the "isn't dat vierd?" Seriously! I woke up the kids from laughing so hard!!!
Geez Joce! Make me cry and all... Ditto on the letter for me too Mom and Pa! Ditto.
that was beautiful. WOW. such a great way to start off the morning. I'm so glad you had a wonderful birthday :)
Happy birthday! Your touching letter brought tears to my eyes! Your parents sound wonderful!
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