From My Readings This Morning- A Room for Dad

My Gift to Myself at my Last Birthday Party -December 21, 2024, Dublin, CA

I turned 90 years old last December 20, 2024. The following article struck a cord in my Heart. I am reposting it to those of you whose parents are in the same stage of life as this 90 year old man in the article.

**𝗔 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝗱**

I didn’t expect him to stay. He arrived with a small suitcase—two shirts, a pair of slippers, his old leather wallet, and the flannel robe my mom had bought him decades ago.

For the past month, a quiet man, aged 90, has been living in my home. His once strong hands now tremble when he grips his coffee cup, and his once steady steps are slow, careful, as he shuffles across the floor.

He pauses at doorways, as if remembering something before stepping through. He stares out the window for hours, watching the trees sway, whispering stories to someone only he can see.

He smiles at my children, though sometimes he forgets their names. He folds napkins at the dinner table, just as he used to when I was little. He hums songs from old records that haven’t played in years.

He’s not the same man who taught me to ride a bike, who fixed everything with his calloused hands, who carried me on his shoulders when I was small. But he is still my father. And now, for the first time in my life, he needs me more than I need him.

I make his favorite soup, warm his slippers by the fire, and hold his hand when he wakes from restless dreams. I tell him I love him—something I never said enough before.

At first, I was scared. He was always so independent, so strong. But now, I feel only gratitude. For every moment. For every memory. For the chance to give back the love he gave me.

I have gained a son who is 90 years old. And I will care for him, just as he once cared for me.

Dad, stay with me as long as you can.

~ Author Unknown

Meanwhile, Did you know that ......

Duhat seeds from the Java plum were once used as a natural spice?

Indigenous Filipinos dried, ground, and sprinkled them into dishes, adding a deep, tangy flavor with a hint of bitterness. Aside from its culinary use, Duhat seeds were also valued in traditional medicine, believed to help regulate blood sugar.

Though this practice has faded, it’s a lost spice worth rediscovering for its unique taste and health benefits!

Lastly, Did you know that.......

Barote armor was a unique pre-colonial Filipino chest armor made from hardened carabao horn and woven fibers?

This light yet durable armor provided warriors with protection against arrows and sword strikes, allowing for speed and agility in battle. Crafted by skilled artisans in Luzon, Barote was a testament to early Filipino warfare techniques—combining natural materials with strategic craftsmanship. Though largely forgotten, it remains a fascinating piece of ancient Filipino martial history!