When Tomorrow Starts Without Me

A HS classmate of my younger sister shared this poem with us. She said that she too lost her father years ago and this poem comforted her. During our time of grief, we received messages of comfort and support as well as tangible help from many - relatives, friends, colleagues, lunch mates, and even blogger friends whom we do not know personally, and yet the friendship is there. From within our province, Antique, and all over the Philippines. And even abroad, from fellow Pinoys and other nationalities. Separated by distance but we felt their closeness. Such love and concern help us through this time and will be treasured forever in our hearts. To all, our great thanks. We thank God for all of you.

This is also for all readers who are facing grief during this time. May you find comfort in this.

When Tomorrow Starts Without Me
(David Romano)

When tomorrow starts without me
and I'm not here to see ...
If the sun should rise and find your
eyes filled with tears for me,

I wish so much you wouldn't cry
the way you did today ...
While thinking of the many things
we didn't get to say.

I know how much you love me,
as much as I love you ...
And each time you think of me,
I know you'll miss me, too.

But when tomorrow starts without me,
please try to understand ...
That Jesus came and called my name
and took me by the hand,

And said my place was ready
in heaven far above ...
And that I'd have to leave behind
all those I dearly love.

So when tomorrow starts without me,
don't think we're far apart ...
For every time you think of me,
I'm right here in your heart.

sorry for absence

i have not been blogging for nearly a month as my dad passed away last 22 april. i had to urgently leave for home. all my siblings also had to rush home. it was so sad and our grieving period has not really passed. we will forever miss our dad. he was a major part of our lives despite the fact that we were separated by distance. but he was just a phone call away and i last talked with him on the phone a few days before he passed away. so this is just a short note for all my blogger friends who have been wondering why there has been no post. thanks to those who have written to inquire. thanks also to those who knew about my dad's passing and have sent condolence messages, which have brought comfort to me. i thank the God of all comfort for the assurance of rest and peace for my dad.

Comfort Music

There are comfort food, comfort shoes, comfort rooms, comfort whatever. We all need them at one point in our lives. Right now for me, I am listening to my comfort music. I have quite a few of them in my PC which I play whenever I do not want to listen to people around me, or I just don’t want to be disturbed unnecessarily. With my ears plugged to the music, I can be on a beach floating on a raft under a blue cloudless sky reading a nice book … Unless my boss comes in, of course!

I am used to working and reading despite the sounds/noises around me. But sometimes the noise gets too much so I’d better turn to pleasant noise! Especially when two people on the left and right side of my desk stand and talk above my head (literally)! As if I am just a tree between two fences, or maybe I am the fence? That is way beyond what is normal, and so disrespectful. As I am writing this piece the voice of Yeng Constantino singing Hawak Kamay is blasting in my ear. Oh … so comforting, so uplifting, so relaxing. I’ve played it twice already and now I am playing it again. I never get tired of hearing her voice and the melody of this song. I think it reminds me of home and happy times with my family. I first heard it last year in April 2007 when I visited home. And so somehow I associate this song with happy times. And when I am feeling a bit hassled in the office, I just turn to it. I also have a set of gospel/ inspirational music, and songs from my yesteryears … a compilation of songs we used to sing way back in high school.

Listening to these songs comforts me and makes me feel a bit better and more upbeat towards life. And at 9:30 am, the day is still long and it is good not to be downhearted early in the morning, with still so many things to face as time moves on.