ONE SUMMER DAY, 2011 ON THE LIFE OF THIS WRITER
Yesterday is a very unusual day. I started the day early by doing what my wife calls an unorthodox “carpentry” work (a pure enjoyment) finishing a wooden carport attached to old trunks of pine trees in front of our house. Once it’s covered by the morning glory vines as well as the grape vines , I believe it will be unique and beautiful. I predict also that our drivers at home will compete to get that one cool spot especially during the hot summer months. That is my “physical quadrant” for about 4 hours as I had to rush to meet a new client in Rancho Palos Verdes in the South Bay.
At noon, I had a couple hours meeting a new client, J.S., regarding his family’s plan to put up a Foundation to perpetuate the legacy of a Japanese American s family’s contribution to the community since the late 1800’s. For many decades, the family was quite known in the South Bay (about 35 miles south of Los Angeles) producing fresh fruits, vegetables, fresh flowers and other agriculture products and sold throughout LA county. Doing this back breaking but noble work, this family contributed much to the community while employing hundreds of people during the years that this family was involved in the farming business. Now, this huge ranch is no longer what it used to be, but still has significant remnants of aging avocado, citrus trees and other fruit bearing trees surrounding the old ranch house, with a 360 degree panorama of the ocean andthe lands below it. The property sitting on a mountain has an excellent vantage point to the blue Pacific Ocean to the south and the farm on the opposite direction. As the original Japanese American family is no longer around, theheirs have decided to sell the property for at least a few million dollars, hence theneed for a Foundation to help alleviate the huge tax bites.
Having seen this beautiful area of Palos Verdes many times and now listening to the plans of the heirs in putting up a Foundation where I was invited to be one of the trustees was a big serendipitous surprise as I just met this family this summer. However in the mysterious work of a Mighty Hand, I am blessed and happy as I can really relate and appreciate the nobility of the foundation’s purpose: to perpetuate the harmony and connectivity of all people regardless of national origin, creed or color. To be a part of this charitable Foundation is indeed a gift and also blessing. As they say in Filipino… “Abangan ang susunod na kabanata” meaning “watch for the sequel” of this emerging and colorful story.
From this business appointment, I had to proceed to a Urology Specialist who I was referred to by my primary care doctor. When you are with your doctor, you are automatically reminded of your own mortality and that human instinct to preserve that dear life becomes more pronounced. To live a long healthy life becomes your hope, prayer and novena. This nice doctor (also a Japanese American as the family setting up the Foundation!) strongly recommended some procedures just to rule out more serious ailments like cancer. Sensing that I felt nervous and afraid, he assured me that “I am not dying” that he has done hundreds of this “typical” medical procedure. He added that it is not really painful and it is more of a precautionary step to prevent more “serious” consequencies if detected early enough. As a patient, how can you dispute or question your doctor’s recommendation? When you go to a doctor, you are in effect giving him your trust and confidence that he has your best welfare in his heart. He hss
LLLWith a very good insurance coverage, I had to agree to this biopsy procedure for the first time in my life, next month, after our European adventure! (Why not, I may not have another opportunity again, who knows?)
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In the evening, my wife reminded me of our commitment to be Eucharistic Ministers in a special healing mass in our own Catholic church that was celebrated by a visiting priest, Fr. Efren Borromeo, from Albay Province in thePhilippines. Due to his obvious popularity and the wonders of the internet that broadcast his celebrating mass in Orange Country, many people came even on a Tuesday night.
Being in the church for a couple of hours with many much older people than my family who were obviously there for their own “healing” , considering what transpired to me during the day, especially the one-on-one conversations with my new Japanese American urologist made me pensively vulnerable, reflecting on this perennial question “What is Life?” as well as what is the“Purpose of my own Life?” Also with us in church were my daughter Donna and her l5 month old baby Olive (our first grandchild), a profound scenario that made me really think and ponder deeply into my own life. The solemn atmosphere inside the church brought me some inner tranquility but mixed with an indescribable mixed feeling of sadness and joy. It was a healthy and beautiful feeling but was also emotionally draining.
Before sleeping that night, many scenes of my life flashed in my mind screen. The scenery formed a long, interesting colorful movie, with all themany trials, struggles, suspenseful events that had taken places in my 60 plus years on this earth. Overall, I am very pleased as I tried my best to balance my life ----with the essential quadrants of a fulfilled life---- with family, church, community and Rotary by volunteering my time for many years. Although I may not leave a lot of (material) inheritance to my children, as some of some of my really “rich” clients who had acquired material wealth (due to their intense focus on such a pursuit and nothing else) I am still very happy and contented with my life, and whatever ending this life might be. For that I consider myself lucky, blessed abundantly and eternally grateful to my own God.
Yes, the most happy people, we were was told in one spiritual retreat, arethe Grateful People, who are contented with what they have and never got jealous with others who may have more. Our own individual blessings are unique and different from each other. Some are endowed with great looks but not much intelligence or vice versa. Some are born of rich parents, many are not. Some never tasted the pangs of hunger, many have. Knowing fully well my own humble beginnings and where I am now, I am indeed blessed and cannot ask for more.
With these entries into my own “diary”, I will end the summer 2011. Someday, these personal sharings and reflection will be read by my own grandchildren and will hopefully make them think deeper that may influence their own philosophy in their own life feel.
To all my readers, I wish you had a great summer and now ready to experience for another Season – Fall and Winter --- of your lives, as I am.
Have a great weekend everyone! See you next month!
Email: ernie.delfin@gmail.com or drbannatiran@yahoo.com
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