Goodbye Uncle Loy

It's been months since I last wrote here and a lot has happened since then.

Uncle Loy, Mama's bother and eldest sibling, died last June 16. One moment he was talking and joking with us in the hospital, and after less than two weeks, he was gone, just like that.

We didn't get to see Uncle Loy often, even when we were kids. He was a Commodore of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and as befitting his position, he was always away on assignment. But I remembered that when we did get to see him during visits, he was the warm sort of uncle - always with the tight and cracking hug, the booming voice and the wide smile. He was nice to talk to, always had stories about his experiences, always ready to debate. He was always enthusiastic, full of ideas. He was appreciative of his relatives as well. He would always show interest in us, ask how we were doing, offer advice and praise any achievement, no matter how small.

This was what I regretted most when he passed away, the stories that he would never be able to tell now. I knew that he still had a lot of stories to share with us, stories worth hearing and passing on.

But then, beyond that one regret, I'm also thankful that now he's beyond physical pain, and at peace.