Last quarter

 Dear Mama

    The title of my letter is last quarter because we are now entering the last quarter of the year. Of course, it can also mean the last quarter of my life.

    It's tough trying to stay strong, Mama. Trying to keep it all in because there's really no one I can open up to. So, I apologize if I am still bothering you today when you should be already resting.

    We are back in the office now, Mama. We started last Monday. And I'm thankful nobody among us here at home are sick. Thank you for looking after us, Mama.

    I guess that will be all for now, Mama. I should stop now, lest I start whining again. I just want to reach out to you. Please visit me in my dream, Mama.

    I miss you.

    I love you.

                                                                                            Daddy

I just want to talk

 Dear Mama,

    I really have nothing special to say. No news, nothing special happened, and I really don't know what to say. But I do want to talk to you, Mama. Just like old times, when we just talk nonsense, and sometimes we don't even talk. We just sit beside each other. Be silent beside each other. And I love how you tolerated me for those silence, Mama. When I don't say anything, and yet we are together.

    I miss you being beside me. I wish I can be with you soon. I know that is being too selfish because that means I will be leaving the kids by themselves. I'm sorry, Mama. I'm just tired. 

    I don't know what to say, but I want to talk to you, Mama. I know it doesn't make sense, but I'm sure you understand what I mean. I just want to be beside you.

    I miss you, Mama.

    I love you.

                                                                                        Daddy

I have a headache, but I also have a good news

Dear Mama

    I have a headache right now. Actually, I've been feeling this throbbing pain since yesterday, but it has gotten worse today while we were eating. Just finished our dinner right now, Mama. I also took a pain reliever for my headache and will be sleeping early tonight.

    I do have a good news, for Toastmasters at least. We have reached 21 paid members for October to March semester.  At least I can breathe for a while, because we need at least 20 members for the club to continue. Now we just need 4 more new members, and also for the members to complete their speech projects for the club to have credits. I really don't like that system, but it is their only way of measuring growth for now, unfortunately.

    Well, as I've mentioned, I will be sleeping early. Tomorrow will be back-to-work Monday, although we are still on a work from home set up. So, I will have to say good night for, Mama.

    I hope we will be together soon. I miss you, Mama.

    I love you.

                                                                                                Daddy

Another quarantine birthday

 Dear Mama,

    We just celebrated, yet again, another quarantine birthday for Ralph. We just stayed at home, I bought a cake for him, and they ordered pizza delivery. It wasn't much, but it's all we can do for now, Mama.

    I'm not sure how long this will last, and how long I can go on, Mama.

    Oh well, I just want to tell you we just celebrated a simple birthday for Ralph at home. I'll stop there.

    I really miss you, Mama.

    I love you.

                                                                                                    Daddy

WFH again

 Dear Mama,

    Starting tomorrow, we will be on a work from home set up again. We are told not to report for work. It's actually a struggle for me because I will be using a laptop which is not really that fast. Although most of our works are Internet-based, I still have some files in my hard disk that I need for some of my works. 

    This set up is also not favorable for many of us, because it is a no work, no pay set up. That means if we have no Internet, or electricity, it might not be considered. This is not the case if we are at the office. I hope it will not be output-based, too since our outputs are dependent entirely on the documents and information that are being provided to us.

    This will be for a two-weeks time, Mama. Whether it will be extended after that, we still do not know.

    As far as leading my Toastmasters club is concern, I'm still failing, Mama. I am really not an effective leader.

    Anyway, before I go anywhere else, I better stop. Take care of yourself, Mama.

    I miss you.

    I love you.

                                                                                                        Daddy

Check up with the doctor

 Dear Mama,

    I went to my doctor this afternoon for my quarterly check up, and I brought my laboratory test results. The test results were okay, I checked them this morning after getting them from the lab, but of course, it won't be official until the doctor says so. 

    Like last quarter, I thought they were okay because they were within the accepted range. When the doctor saw the result however, my uric acid level actually increased from the previous quarters and it was on the borderline. He asked if I would like to have the dosage of my maintenance for the uric acid increased, but I said not yet. I will just exercise and we'll check again next time. Good thing they were better this time.

   That's all I really wanted to say right now, Mama. I don't have any news so far. Still struggling in keeping my Toastmasters club. I think this will be the downfall of me as a Toastmaster. I shouldn't have accepted the presidency. It exposed how poor a leader I am. Then again, I guess they already know that. It is just manifested more obviously now. I can't wait for this to be over.

    Anyway, that will be all for now, Mama. Take care of yourself.

    I miss you, Mama.

    I love you.

                                                                                            Daddy

Ralph birthday and our vaccination

 Dear Mama,

    I had my second shot of vaccine today. I don't feel any side effect so far, except that I feel sleepy. The kids also had their two shots of vaccine - Ralph and Angel were vaccinated last week, while Edgar was vaccinated about two weeks ago. I had Astra Zeneca, while the kids all had Sinovac. But, as everyone have said, it's better than nothing. I'm just thankful our kids are strong. Thank you for taking care of them well then, Mama.

    It will be Ralph's birthday next week, Mama. We still do not know what to do. We are not planning. Even though were all vaccinated, it's still not safe, Mama. Ralph actually wanted an overnight stay in a residential house with pool being rented here in Angeles City. I don't know. I don't feel comfortable, Mama. Maybe, we will just have deliveries and we'll celebrate at home.

    Not sure what to say next. I'm tired, Mama. I'm failing as a president of a Toastmasters club. Actually, I'm failing on a lot of things. I can't seem to get anything right. I'm tired.

    Sorry, Mama. I guess I better stop now.

    Take care of yourself, Mama.

    I miss you.

    I love you.

                        

                                                                                                    Daddy

Sorry, it's been a while

 Dear Mama

    I'm sorry for not writing to you for quite a while. Every time I planned to write a letter to you, it seems I wouldn't know what to say. I mean, without whining or wishing you were here. I know you should be resting, and I should not be bothering you with things like that anymore. Unfortunately, as you know, I really have no one to talk to.

    A lot of things have happened since my last letter, Mama. I may not be able to remember all of them. The kids have all gotten their vaccines for the corona virus, Mama. They already had their 2 shots, it was Sinovac, though. But as they all say, it's better than nothing. Good thing they had strong immune systems, and that is because you took care of them very well when you were still here, Mama.

    As for me, I will have my second shot next week. I had AstraZeneca for my first shot last July, so I am expecting they will give the same vaccine next week. We really cannot choose what vaccine we want, Mama. Since it was free, they would give what was available at the time of vaccination. We can only agree or decline the vaccine. If we declined, they may not be another chance for us to be scheduled for vaccination. So, in a way, we were forced to accept what was available.

    Also about me, Mama. They made me president of our Toastmasters club, the Cabalen San Fernandino Toastmasters Club, It's quite funny because I am not really a leader, Mama. That's why I'm struggling right now. I am not sure if I'm doing things right. I hope I won't fail my club, Mama.

    Ralph is still here, Mama. They are still on a work-from-home set up. Edgar is already a regular in his job. I hope he stays there longer now. Angel is planning for her future. 

    By the way, I was able to finish and publish more books, Mama. They are now all in Amazon. Unfortunately, of course, nobody buys them except maybe 2 or 3 of my friends who are in the US. Well at least I have books in Amazon haha...

    I guess that will be all for now, Mama. I hope I haven't forgotten that much. As you know, I am really growing older. As much as I hate to admit it, my memory isn't as sharp as it used to be. Although I may forget a lot of things, I will never forget how much you loved us and how you took care of us then despite of your condition, Mama.

    Thank you, Mama.

    I love you. I miss you.

                        

                                                                                                        Daddy