10 Comments
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Tatyana Burlaka's avatar

Love love love your writing, Ani!true feelings, rational and unrational to build the beautiful story, so human, so perfectly unperfect

Ani Payumo's avatar

Thank you so much, Tatyana.

Emily Ann C. Paculba's avatar

You express beautifully with words even in sadness, this “stings my heart” but made me smile and cry as well. Like watching a mellow dramatic movie mixed with comedy. I hope you know what I mean .☺️ I feel the pain, the sadness and the longing. You dont need to dream about him because he is alive deep inside you.♥️

Ani Payumo's avatar

Thank you, Ann.

Regina Grace Payumo's avatar

I think being the favorite means you have the most conversations with him as a human being, not just as a dad. He could be himself with you and he must have counted down the days he could talk to his intellectual equal:) I love the bench. Talking but not facing each other has its own intimacy and honesty. These memories, stories immortalize him and he must be soooo kilig.

Ani Payumo's avatar

Thanks, Reg. I could never be his intellectual equal. .. hence the bench, as you astutely point out. It's not sitting in front of each other squaring off as equals; it's facing the same direction and him showing me the world.

Ines's avatar

Oh Ani. I feel like I was in the room when you and dad had these conversations, almost like I was invited into your home. I can actually see and feel how much you miss him! Sending you tons of hugs and looking forward to being “invited” in for the next chapter of your life. 💕

Ani Payumo's avatar

Thank you, Ines.

Sunshine's avatar

Just lost my dad too after losing my mom a few years ago. I'm not as eloquent as you, so I enjoy reading your articles to organize my own feelings and thoughts.

Hugs from across the pond. See you in Madrid!

Ani Payumo's avatar

Big hugs, Sunshine.