A LOT OF LOVE GOES A LONG WAY (A LETTER TO MOM AND DAD)

Dear Mom and Dad, 

Thank you for the permanent stain of love on my heart. And for teaching me the lessons I so desperately needed to learn. Because today, as a wife and mother, they count. Like in a big way. 

I came across this image this morning and I fell apart. Not because of anything in particular, but because the smile that came across my face is now permanently indented there. And I could feel it. And I felt a lump in my throat. So much emotion came up when I looked at this image because I saw my life. Saw it in Luke’s smile. In it I saw mine and my husbands smile. I saw Dad’s smile in the background, and your dark Hawaiian Filipino skin hiding in the fading sunset. And I saw my Bo. And my Kona Blue. And Mom, with a radiating smile that matched my Lukey’s like magic. And it is magic.

Here I am, a product of two people, and I was the lucky one to be born to them. A couple of wonderful kind loving people. When I look at this image I feel nothing short of gratitude. Because you two.  And because of an abundance of love I’ve been given for 40 years and nothing short of it. You see, a lot of love goes a long way, and I'm here to say thank you. 

Your ferocious commitment to us kids and each other, it’s mind blowing.  Every day I try to breathe that in and breathe it out so I’m filled up with it, and cleansed with it forever. Your generosity. The “you need paper towels” and so you buy me a years worth of paper towels like I’m in college generosity. But it’s also the 4 hour plane ride you recently took home with me from California. And Mom you held Luke who had a 102 temperature while he slept on you for most of the ride. 

And how every day while you both were here in Tennessee, Dad you would take my boys swimming and you would teach them to go under the water. And your Hawaiian nature rubbed off on them boys like white on rice. And it’s also how every morning my 3 babies would go looking for you and Mimi in your room and the day you left, Bo kept asking "Ganpa" why? He can’t really talk, but I knew that’s what he meant. I could feel it. And so could he. 

I write this to you today because it should be noted that raising babies and raising them well is a lesson and a gift. And I preach the lessons I learn because when you preach what you know, you spread good word. And knowledge. And love. And love goes a long way.

You (my readers)  all know by now, family is rooted strongly in me. It’s like the tree that’s 100 years old and made of steel like fibers and simply can’t be cut down. The roots go so deep and have so many layers that’s it’s impossible to pull them apart and take it down. It’s the same here. The analogy couldn’t be more spot on. 

And I think the reason I feel all of this emotion today, is because those roots grow deep. And they heal. And they grow new life. 

You see Mom and Dad, you gave me a foundation of solid ground. And of selfless love. I can’t imagine what the world would look like, if every child felt so loved and cared for, what that world might look like?

I bet it would be painted in marvelous color, with smiles spanning from here to the moon. And there would be laughter. And an endless amount of faith, hope and love. And families connected forever. And all the love. Everywhere.

I believe this. Even when skies are gray. And I owe it to you.

I know you won’t always be here in physical body, (and that’s morbid to even comprehend) but I already know the legacy within you two and the family love that we all share surpasses time and all that surrounds it. It’s here in my heart and is passed down to my children and their children and that is something I can never thank you enough for. 

So thank you Mom and Dad. 

I’ll keep this image close by forever, so I remember how it made me feel. So I can always remember that feeling. And And have my kids feel the same. By the looks of it, I think we are well on our way.

Also, I miss you. Come back. Or I promise to visit again soon, even if the twins cry the whole darn way.