In Loving Memory

We miss you, Papa.

Our Papa Is Our Hero

The world has many heroes who have won a world of fame. Heroes who have given their all to win in life's great game. But of all the famous heroes that our changing world has had, there's not a one we look up to or admire more than our Dad.

To us, our Papa's a hero, though he'd turn away from praise. He's heroic in his quiet strength and his gentle giving ways. He may not make the headlines, you won't see him on t.v. But we think our Papa is everything a hero ought to be.

He always keeps his promises, on that we can depend. He's loyal to us, no matter want, and he'll always be our friend. So when we think of heroes and the great things that they've done, we feel the way we've always felt--our Papa's the greatest one.

Big Fish

I love watching movies.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a film critic or anything of that sort. I just love watching movies. There is a movie that appeals to every human emotion or feeling. But sometimes, you come across a movie that just tugs at your heartstrings.

My father passed away almost two years ago. For a long time, my father had this crippling disease that left him bed ridden for many years. Painful as it was, my mother already told us then to be prepared because Papa is not getting any better.

Truth is, you can never really be prepared for it. When Papa died, it left me lost and disoriented. But most of all, I felt inadequate---wondering if I had ever shown him that love and affection, especially at times that Papa needed it most.

Then I came across the movie Big Fish. It is a heartwarming tale about a son who never really knew his dying father outside the incredible stories he told about growing up, finding his fortune, and how he met the son's mother. Called to his father's death bed, the son and his young wife lie in wait as the father recollects amazing memories from his past. From a big cat fish, conjoined twins, giants and midgets, to a dazzling field of daffodils--and finding the love of his life. With the tall tales that his father had said, the son doesn't know whether his father was telling the truth or crossing into the threshold of fantasy. But wanting to piece together a true picture of his dear father from the elaborate stories he loved to tell, the son becomes the story-teller in the end--learning to live within his father's imaginary world and to accept that stories can be more important than facts.

Watching the movie made me miss Papa. In retrospect, I realized that there are so many wonderful stories about him to look back to. All I have to do is remember, and Papa will be alive again in my heart. Stories need to be heard as much as they need to be told, and it is through our stories and the stories that we can get other people to tell about us, that we all achieve immortality.

Everything I Need

Dearest Papa,

I miss you so much. It's hard not to be sad, especially at this time. Nothing will ever be the same without you, Papa. Wherever you are, Happy Father's day. This song is for you, hope you can hear it in heaven.

Love,

Patrick

Everything I Need

Lord I need you to be all the gentleness in me.
I’ve been trying by myself, struggling all alone.
From the very start I knew that I must depend on you.
Here I am, depending on, the rest is up to you.

You’re everything I need for You to be.
You’re everything that shines inside of me.
And I will have the strength to do
All you ask of me.
I will always let you be
Everything I need for you to be.

You are the One who put the stars up in the sky
To brighten the emptiness of space
And You put a light in me today
A dream that will not die away
To brighten every day
And I know that i can say…

You’re everything I need for You to be.
You’re everything that shines inside of me.
And I will have the strength to do
All you ask of me.
I will always let you be
Everything I need for you to be.