Monday, February 20, 2012

A Very Memorable Birthday

When I was young, we didn't have much. My parents had 7 girls, all were in Catholic schools, so we didn't have birthday parties. My mother then made sticky rice cake, bought some cookies and prepared hot native chocolate drink to celebrate my younger sister and my birthday together. The only birthday party we celebrated at home was my older sister's 18th birthday because she had finished college and had a job.

On my second year in college, Martial Law was declared by then President Ferdinand Marcos. The administration started rounding up student activists including my younger sister, myself and another girl who was boarding at my parents house. We were detained at a military camp called Camp Dangwa. While in detention, I became ill in the camp, and later was taken to the hospital; and that was where I spent my 18th birthday. Imagine the anguish my mother felt when two of her young children were taken away and detained for months and then seeing one of them in the hospital on her 18th birthday. I had no idea what my mother felt and went through at that time.

This year, should be a very memorable birthday for me, one that would never be ever forgotten, a real celebration of life, and real greatfulness for the good Lord's power.

The day before my birthday, I called my son to ask where he was when I stopped by his house. He was already at work, and informed me he rode his bike to work. He uses our other car which was at his house but we needed it for valentine flower deliveries. He told me to go ahead and take the car and that he'll see us on Tuesday to help with flower deliveries.

At about 1:30 am on February 13, the phone rang, and I thought it was a prank call; then my cell phone rang, but I didn't pick it up because I was trying to get to sleep so that I have energy for a busy day. After several rings, I finally got up at 5:30 to pick up the call on my cell phone. It was a social worker from UC Davis Medical center. She informed us that our son was in a very bad accident, he is serious, but calm and collected and was able to give our business phone, home phone and my cell phone. The other passenger was more seriously injured with broken back, eye and head and leg injuries and at first was not expected to live.

At the end of his shift, it started pouring rain so his friend offered him a ride, will drop him off by his friends apartment which is halfway to my son's house and he will ride his bike home from there. It was a ride he won't ever forget. His friend drove too fast for the weather condition and lost control of the car, hit a tree and then another tree. It's a miracle my son survived - he had a cut on his chest, broken sternum, broken tibia and a day later, they found that his hip was broken too. It was a shock to be awakened with such a terrible news. I can't express what I felt; I just fell on my knees and prayed for my son and the other passenger and for the driver who lost his life that dark, ominous morning.

I called my helper to come in early, informed my daughter of the news, and then rushed to the hospital. My son was in the operating room when we got there and expected to be in there for a couple of hours. We went to work and got busy with valentine orders. We informed his employer of the accident, and I sent a text message to one of his roommates.

After not getting any news, my husband went back to the hospital and found our son in recovery but was sleeping. About 10 of his friends were in the OR waiting room - my husband told them to go home because they are not yet allowed to see him while he was in ICU recovering. When we got back to the hospital at around 6 pm that night, he woke up and had the guilty look in his face and apologized. It was such a rough day seeing my only son all battered, bruised, in pain, and hooked up with mask-like breathing instrument. etc. and can't barely move.

This particular birthday, I am grateful for the gift of life, I feel so blessed and thank the Lord my son is alive.

Tuesday, February 07, 2012

February is - Black History Month

On the second week of February in 1926,"Negro" History Week was establshed. Dr. Carter G.Woodson, who originated this event, chose the second week of February because it marked the birthdays of two Americans who greatly influenced the lives and social condition of African Americans: President Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist and former slave Frederick Douglass. Woodson also founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, now the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.

Black History month should be a time to honor those whose struggles, accomplishments and contributions brought us to where we are in this country. We could start by learning and discovering who Dr. Carter Woodson is and his accomplishments.

In Sacramento, the local libraries are presenting a variety of cultural programs for all ages in all its 28 locations throughout the month of February. Programs include art displays, arts and crafts hands-on projects, story telling, geneology workshops, drumming and dancing, cooking and much more.

Friday, February 03, 2012

February is the Month of Love and Romance

Valentine's day is on February 14th. It's time for expressing our love and affection for those who are most important to us. And naturally enough, sending flowers is one of the best romance ideas of all. Not only that, studies show that there is a link between flowers and the emotional health.
Anyone, of any age who is presented with flowers elicit a geniune smile.

For Valentine's Day, roses are the most popular flower that express love and romance and the favorite flower men order for their loved one. Professional florists offer lots of choices of roses and spring flowers and many of these flowers have a very sweet scent.

If you've decided to send flowers for valentine's, consider sending your flowers on Monday, February 13th, especially if they're being delivered to a place of work so they can be admired and enjoyed for several days more.
Don't wait until the last minute….call or visit us soon and let Cupid's arrows fly. Your local florist - A Vanity Fair Florist, can help you express your feelings of love and romance with flowers.

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

February is the month of Violets, Amethyst and Aquarius

It's February and today is my sister's birthday, and my niece's too. What a birthday gift, a blessing to my sister on her birthday to give birth to a beautiful daughter 25 years ago. Here's wishing them both a blessed day as they celebrate this day apart, a continent apart, and yet just a click and a phone call away.

The flower for the month of February is the African Violet and the birthstone is Amethyst. Violets represent chastity, humility and faithfulness.

February's purple birthstone has been found among the possessions of royalty throughout the ages. The intense violet hue of Amethyst appealed to early monarchs, perhaps because they often wore this color. Amethyst is also symbolic of spirituality and piety. It has been used to ornament churches and crosses used in religious ceremony, and worn in rings and on rosaries by bishops and priests.


For the Aquarian, enjoy this month's segment of a Gregorian Birth Stone Poem:

    The February born shall find
    Sincerity and peace of mind,
    Freedom from passion and from care,
    If they, the amethyst will wear.