Today you turn 10. The little girl who used to say ‘min’ when she meant ‘moon’, ‘ibat‘ when she meant ‘ubat‘ (medicine), ‘yoyo’ when she meant ‘susu‘ (milk). The little girl who has always spoken with a decidedly American twang in a land where British English is the norm. The little girl who got mortified when I remarked “We should start planning the colour scheme for your wedding” a couple of months ago while driving past someone else’s wedding party (her reply: “Not for another 15 years!”). The little girl who eerily resembled me when I was young.
B&W pic of me, circa 1972. Coloured pic of OnlyGirl, circa 2002
Happy birthday, Princess! I know all you’ve ever wanted was a sister to play with, the one thing that’s, unfortunately, beyond my power.
But what I can give you is a heart overflowing with love, a shoulder to lean on and cry on, ears always ready to listen to you, arms always wide open to hug you and to cradle your own babies one day, hands to hold yours for as long as you’d like to hold on and to let go when you are ready to face the world on your own.
Mahal na mahal na mahal kita. (I love you very, very, very much.) Always have. Always will.
Your Mama
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