On the Pursuit of Ideals, Light, Madness, & Humility

(Subtitle: This is how we felt when we gave in and bought you an iPad mini.)

Fathers often wish to have children who follow their footsteps.We want our little ones to eventually fancy movies like Dead Poet’s Society, The Color Trilogy, or the History Boys. We want them to read Nietzsche, Camus, understand some Derrida and Foucault. We want them to listen to Pearl Jam, Phoenix, John Coltrane, and Chopin.

The children grow, and they discover the things we haven’t. Their futures beam even more brilliantly. Our children will not just be improved versions of ourselves. Yes, they will fall and falter, and all over again. But we are right behind, their very own Catcher in the Rye.

They will stand on their own. They will be fresh and crisp. They will be more elegant in their pursuit of their ideals, light, madness, humility. In their attainment of wisdom and resulting peace, they will make their own way, deciphering that fire, (paraphrasing Neruda).

In the meantime, my little one, mommy and I present the world to you. Let's build your core. I would never tell you though that we are now just growing up -- together. There are so many things I have just seen and learned.

Your Top-Shelf Books

The Sunset after our Sunday Ocenarium Scuba Dive

Groupers

You finally found Nemo

Drizzling

Belated post. 2.21.2013 

It's drizzling. We are celebrating her birthday in a dimly-lit restaurant, telling her in a hushed voice (some spanakpoita still in my mouth), life feels like a dream.

 

This little dream almost didn't happen. It's Thursday evening rush hour and we ran late. The restaurant called me and they were about to give our table away. I love it when this happens, because it makes Makati feel like New York. They held on to the reservation.

The Corner Tree Cafe is quite literally, in the corner and beneath by a huge tree. It looked homey and that took it to us. Inside, there's framed poster listing them on the Miele Guide. They served a wide range of vegan, glutten-free cuisine. We had Spanakopita for starters, spinach & mushroom lasagna, and baked tofu walnut burger. It must have been the lights on dim, the slow flicker of candles, but something compelled the crowd to keep the conversations on a low volume. While the setting was intimate, "children are welcome," their website announced. So we happily brought our little one along. There were ladies in office attire having cocktails while waiting for their takeout and they exchanged smiles with him. This pre-schooler sure is smooth. And I'm glad I'm smooth myself, but only to the birthday girl. It all flashed before my eyes, the birthdays of hers we celebrated in beautiful islands, the birthday I got her a watch, the birthday I got her a refrigerator. Every time, she was beautiful.

It's drizzling. It's just the right amount of rain to keep a cool breeze. The clouds maybe thick, but my stars are all twinkling tonight.

Gentlemen

The crossing of his legs gave emphasis to his otherwise unnoticed shoes. A pair of hand-made oxfords, perfectly pointed and well-formed, brushed clean as though it made him stand as a pillar of self-respect. A black pair of socks covered what would have been a revealed portion of his shins. He thought he understood the requirements of sock-length. He had some foolish, useless pride in telling an Oxford from a Venetian or a penny loafer. He thought his shoes earned him a modest, quiet dignity. So he thought.