When I'm sixty four

I spent my birthday at Chong Hua Hospital two weeks ago. The last time in was confined for a bum stomach due to amoebiasis was over 40 years ago, that’s why hospital owners hate me “wa sila negosyo nako”. Actually, it was my idea to check in at the hospital to get a little rest and at the same time have an executive check-up. But my siblings were alarmed ,they thought I have a more serious illness. My New York based doctor brother Jun, called from Paris,France where he was vacationing while my sister Sonnie, Director of Nurses in a Riverside, California hospital also called. My sisters Chiquit and Cherie arrived from Iloilo and Manila respectively. Of course they found out that their big brother (I’m the eldest of ten) is still alive and running. I told them that I have to shoo away a funeral agent who wanted to take my coffin measurements. Anyway, I’d like to thank my siblings for showing their concern, it just shows that we are a closely-knitted family. A big thanks to the Dietary dept for giving me a cake and singing for me. Also for those who sent flowers. I remember what the Freeman publisher sir Nito Jabat once said when he was confined at a hospital. “It’s a nice feeling when you can smell the flowers at your bedside, it’s a different story when you cannot smell them at all when placed beside your coffin.” Well, Sir Nits. 

Thank you Lord

Yes, I’m sixty –four years old but I could run an ultramarathon at any given time what with over 120,000 kms (mileage) under my belt since I started running 33 years ago and I could probably last a whole game of basketball. I could also probably belt some 20 rock and roll songs of Elvis in a concert. And I thanked the Man in the sky for all the blessings He’s given me. I just can’t help listening to the Beatles When I’m Sixty Four especially these lyrics “When I get older losing my hair, many years from now, will you still need me? Will you still feed me when I’m sixty four.” My wife Sally said she will definitely feed me or it could be the other way around? We officially got to celebrate my birthday last Sunday at Imperial Palace in Mactan.