First, living with the woman I love for thirty years n all these years, we have produced a loving family as we bred four angels who are now grown ups and have joined the work force. They are now trying to find their own niches in a world full of drudgeries and sham but we are sure that they can weather any storm as we believe we have raised them well.
What does it mean to be married for thirty years? It means a lot! It means that the children are all grown up by now and possibly having grandchildren running around the house by then. Well, not in our case, at least for now. The perfect gift for this time is a pearl. After all, it is known as the pearl anniversary. For many years, pearls have been considered to be the most valuable. It is an organic gem as it is derived from a living creature. An irritant comes into an oyster or mollusk which then produces a "nacre" or what we call a "mother of pearl" that will produce either that black white smooth substance.
I have tried to purchase a real pearl not knowing how costly they could be. Needless to say that I was really disappointed that I could not buy my wife a simple luxury. However, I didn't feel I have lost the battle just yet. I found the next best thing. I could still buy my wife pearls which are not as expensive. I found south sea pearls which I bought with Kim. And so during the eve of my wife's birthday, the whole family had a fantastic dinner at the hotel where I gave her my gift. She seems to be pleased with it. And surprisingly enough, she also had something for me which turned out to be a Pierre Cardin wrist watch. So you see, we can celebrate, too sans the fanfare of really expensive gifts. What is important is that we are all together as one happy family.
Talking about unity as a family, while my wife and I knew that we will not have our children by our side forever, I was still caught off guard when my second daughter announced that she will be leaving for Brazil to join her boyfriend. While it will only be for three months at the most, I know that losing my children has started. They are all grown up now and will soon leave the nest that my wife and I tried to build over the years. One by one, they shall flap their tiny wings and fly. All I can do is watch and pray that they could fly the highest mountain or even conquer the heavens as they do.
Just like a pearl symbolizes a tear from the moon, my gift to my wife are my tears for years past, the glory days and those times when I was at my weakest. Where have all the years gone? They are forever etched in my heart and in my mind as I recall the years when we were still struggling to build a family. We hope that we have taught them well and continue a legacy of simplicity, humility, perseverance coupled with hard work and patience with each other. AS my daughter leaves tonight, I bid her goodbye and send her a kiss that shall be eternally hers until death.
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