AUNTIE PATTI KOH

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Location: Chicago, United States

I am now at the prime of my life and have been married for the past 25 years. Sickly at times, but wants to see the elixir vita, so that I will be able to see my grandchildren from my two boys.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

THEY CAME, THEY SAW, THEY CONQUERED

My two sons, Miki and Angelo chilling out at Boracay.
Aja, my eldest son's girlfriend and Miki, and my youngest son Angelo, enjoying their time of pampering at Boracay beach.


Miki and his girlfriend Aja and Angelo at the pool of the Manila Hotel.
Dear Auntie Patti Koh,
My two boys Miki and his girlfriend Aja and my youngest son, Angelo went for a visit to see their Grandparents and attend the wedding of their cousin last August. They have not seen their grandparents for nearly 10 years and were so excited to come home and meet the entire family.
Then they decided to go to Boracay and was truly amazed by the place. They said the sand is like talcum powder and wanted to return back 2010. I am very happy that my boys are so happy with their experiences when they went back home.
They have given plenty of memories to their grandparents and to themselves. Now they wanted to learn the language and the culture, including the intentions to return back every two years to feel the closeness of their cousins and aunts and the rest of the family. They have plenty of stories to tell and they told me it was such a wonderful visit that they don't want to leave.
And so Auntie Patti Koh, I have made my two sons and the girlfriend a firm believer that closeness of family in the Philippines is not only part of the culture but inherent in the blood of each Filipinos.
Thank you for listening.
INFRATERNAM MEAM

Thursday, September 25, 2008

THE TIMES OF MY LIFE

Dear Auntie Patti Koh,

I was checking my crate with all the old pictures that I am about to put in a big crate bound for to the basement. I came across this picture, although the picture is not so good, it showed my parents with their grandchildren and great grand children 10 years ago. I can't believe it and it really brought back lots of memories.

This was taken during the 50th wedding anniversary of my parents. It was such a wonderful even in our lives cuz all of my siblings came home and we are all having the Times of Our Lives.

We are now preparing to come home in two years from now to celebrate the 60 th wedding anniversary of my parents. We cannot wait and we will make it. My parents is also looking forward to it. Lots of stories will be shared again, each family will be showing and presenting our children to our parents who are having a hard time remembering things. They will make it.

And so Auntie Patti Koh, I myself cannot wait for this time to come. My parents are both getting old and this is the Time of Their Lives also that they see all their children and grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Sincerely,

INFRATERNAM MEAM

Monday, September 22, 2008

DO THEY REALLY HAVE TO GROW UP??








Dear Auntie Patti Koh,
I took these pictures of my two boys, and started asking myself if they really have to grow up so easily and move out of the house to be on their own.
I remember my two boys when they were still baby, I love cuddling them and walking them out of the house even the snow is waist deep. Both of them was born during winter and as they grow up, they are very at home with the snow and the cold weather.
My eldest son -- in the picture wearing his diaper is very playful and very nosy and investigative little boy when he was growing up. He always wants to explore things that he cannot fit into and wants to take chances and test even the outlets inside the house, so I have to seal it properly so that he won't be poking it with his baby finger and with any blunt instrument.
My youngest son -- wearing his OshKosh outfit always wants to be in the leading role of anything we do and anything him and his brother will do at the house. When Beta Max recorder just came out of the marker, we purchased one for their bedroom so that the two of them could watch all the cartoons they want to watch. He was the one who placed his mom's sleepers inside the machine and I returned it to the dealer because it was only a week old, but when it was opened up by the technician infront of me, the sleepers was removed and was presented to me. I have to pay for the repair, because the sleepers is not part of the warranty.
Those were the days. I cannot bring it back. The boys have grown up and is on their own. Time flies so fast and it is so hard to stop the clock.
And so Auntie Patti Koh, it is only myself and my wife and my dog Bombolino at the house. I cannot stop the boys from their plans in life. They are now venturing in their future, we -- as parents are just in the background to assists when needed.
Sincerely yours,
INFRATERNAM MEAM


Sunday, September 21, 2008

PLANTS IN MY BACKYARD I DON'T KNOW THE NAME

This plant has been growing underneath the apple trees. I love the color, but I don't know the name.
This particular plant is at the very edge of the fence. This is just a portion of the many branches that is at my backyard.

This particular one at the front door of my house. it kept on growing, so I have to tie it. It is now more six feet tall and is still growing.



This particular one is growing besides the apple trees. The bees loves it very much.



This one just kept on growing at the east side of the property covering the wooden fence. The color of the flowers are so beautiful.
Dear Auntie Patti Koh,
I am starting to cut some of the greens in my backyard because the cold season is coming. I don't want the plants to dry up for the winter and then the snow will hanging into it. For some reason, I don't want to let go of these flowers. They are so beautiful, especially during the peak of summer. The problem is --- I don't know the name of these flowers.
My dog Misty plot, where I buried her is covered with some of these plants. Some of them have climb and covered the apple trees at the backyard. During summer, the bees are hovering over these beautiful flowers and they are a sight to see.
My wife kept on telling me to cut all of them because it is clinging onto the walls of the property. I was telling her it is better that way so that the plant could at least give colors to the wooden fence that we have at the backyard. The apple trees are just one more problem during fall. The leaves are falling and there are so much of it, not to mention the fruits that is falling in the ground and nobody wants to pick and eat it.
And so Auntie Patti Koh, I am blogging these beautiful plants because the cold season is up and about and the trees and other plants are changing its colors now. I love spring time and summer. There are plenty of flowers and bees. I wish you could be here to see it.
Sincerely Yours,
INFRATERNAM MEAM



Sunday, September 14, 2008

VISITED NEW YORK CITY...THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEP!!!

JR, my wife's nephew and his wife Grace doing the ceremonial cake cutting.


Kevin, my nephew with his girlfriend Heather and Kristen my niece, with his boyfriend Mike.

My wife and I, in one of the banquet room for the wedding reception.

The wedding ceremony at the terrace of the banquet hall.



NYC's china town where we bought our siopao in the place where there are some buntings. The place is called MEI LA WEI. Very scary name for those who speaks Tagalog.


This is one of the many gardens within La Guardia Airport of New York. I took this from inside the restaurant where we are eating and waiting for out flight.


Every body knows this place. I took this from China town. Too many limousines in front of the building and on the side.

Dear Auntie Patti Koh,
My wife and I just arrived from New York City this evening. We attended my wife nephew's wedding. It was one hell of a wedding. There's 350 guest, and the food is too much to eat. It is so hard to choose what food one has to eat.
The bride was Chinese and my nephew, although not Chinese is looking like a Chinese also. The wedding ceremony was done in Chinese and English. The printed prayer book was also printed in Chinese and English. All of my nieces and nephew was jokingly telling me that the prayer book is like a menu in a Chinese restaurant. The ceremony is very solemn and very nice. Too much crying from the side of the bride.
After the ceremony, which was held on the same where the reception was held, we all went down for cocktails and finger foods/appetizers. Too much food to eat for appetizers. Then in the same place, we went to another ballroom for the formal lunch and dancing. The food is too much again and I don't know what to choose from. There is a place for children also complete with games and children's food. There is also a baby sitter looking after the children while the parents are dancing and having a good time.
And so, Aunti Patti Koh.... my wife and myself was able to unwind for the weekend. We were supposed to return back Mondy, but because there is this big hurricane in Texas, it has passed by Chicago and we are scared we might be stranded in NYC, so we return back the next day Sunday, after the wedding. We did not attend anymore the brunch and barbeque. I already had too much to eat, but we had a good time.
Sincerely yours,
INFRATERNAM MEAM





Tuesday, September 09, 2008

I AM NOW A MEMBER OF THE PIRATES SQUAD

My eye doctor had a ball withme this morning. He said right eye first and then the left one after six months.



Dear Auntie Pattie Koh,
I did not know that i have an eye problem that I inherited from both my parents. Every time i wake up in the morning, i wanted to scratch my eyes and soak it in water. I feel like I am under the water while my eyes is wide open.
I don't want to see my eye doctor and kept on procrastinating the visit and appointment, until one day, my wife just don't want to talk to me. Finally, I was able to ask her to tell me what is the matter and how come she does not want to talk to me, when it is only us and the dog in this big haunted house of ours.
She told me, she does not want to see me having so many medical problem. My wife was telling me, that it is only the two of us now since the two boys moved out -- we need to take care of each other. So finally, I cam to my senses and visited the eye doctor. And when the eye doctor examined my eyes last Thursday, he advised me immediately that the right eye has to be repaired. And so the surgery was done this morning at 8:25am and it was something that I was not expecting. The other eye has to be surgically corrected after six months from now.
And so Auntie Pattie Koh, I will be temporarily using this eye cover and patch until the eye doctor re-examined me to see if everything is okay.
Sincerely yours,
INFRATERNAM MEAM