Finally I am able to sit down and relax. The last of the guests have disappeared and I am facing just a little uphill battle with cleaning. We will get there somehow, I know.
We have been planning this occasion for months. Our youngest son celebrating his 7th birthday with the grand fanfare he always dreamed of. I had to take a week-long vacation just to prepare it and so I ran errand after errand, in a seemingly endless stream of chores. I have handled marketing events most of my professional life, and so my approach to this was not different. I figured that since we do it for other people anyway, why not make this as organized as we can. So this was the event of the year for me.
It all started with finding out what theme he wanted. He is deeply into Star Wars so that’s what he chose. Invitations were sent a month ago. The party treats were bought, napkins, cups, paper plates, table covers, banners. All these had Darth Vader designs, running the black and orange color that was unmistakably Star Wars. We bought a Darth Vader costume to be worn by a friend. I also printed out a program for the show and a menu list for guests.
The venue took us three weeks to check and finally select. There were a lot of options to consider. We chose a full-sized gym with six basketball courts, and an adjoining function room with a big kitchen. We needed a lot of space for kids to run around, and we were not sure the weather would be great for an outdoor event. The place was new and clean. We had to purchase insurance coverage since it is City policy to have guests covered. Five days before the event, we had a walk-through and we covered safety regulations as well as policies. This was starting to look like the big event of the year indeed.
In one exhausting time when we were on the way shopping, the two kids were at the back of the car complaining. It was frustrating that they could not show some patience and apt appreciation of the things we are doing for them. My wife and I had to converse among ourselves and refocus. What are all these for? Why and for whom? It is easy to just get lost in the moment. Forget why and for whom you do things, specially when the things you are doing it to would not and could not appreciate what it is you do. So, we just stayed firm in the belief that things like these will make a difference in their lives, one way or another.
And so the big day came. And gone. The video’s here. The pictures. The youngest got his treat. The smile was priceless. The costs were more than expected. The turnout great. The fun was all there. The friendships renewed. The fatigue is setting now. It’s over thankfully.
Writing all these reminded me to take him a second for a little chat. Why we did it, for whom. Some lessons stay longer when you harp on it a bit, at the right time. This is one lesson I would not want him to miss.
Last 20 posts by erwinilao
- A Life That is Well and Full - August 3rd, 2008
- Time Stood Still (posted at ownlegacy.com) - June 30th, 2008
- Political abductions on the rise under GMA - June 11th, 2008
- Ready for change - May 22nd, 2008
- In Memory of Those Who Fought - May 20th, 2008
- A Tribute To Mom - May 9th, 2008
- Vacation - April 30th, 2008
- A MASPozie (posted as an autobiography at ownlegacy.com) - March 20th, 2008
- A Wonderful Cross - March 17th, 2008
- Fighting tuition fee increase - March 7th, 2008
- Obama speech on change - February 6th, 2008
- My second’s seventh (posted at ownlegacy.com) - February 4th, 2008
- The way I love thee (posted at ownlegacy.com) - February 4th, 2008
- My Memories of Adamson University - September 30th, 2007
- Chronicles of An Appendectomy (posted at ownlegacy.com) - September 30th, 2007
- A Long Day At Play (posted at ownlegacy.com) - September 17th, 2007
Tags: erwin, ilao, birthday, son
About the author:
1990 - Freshman belonging to a seminary called the Marian Missionaries of the Holy Cross. The very first student to run out of St. Vincent's Bldg. from the Registrar's office when the violent earthquake of 1990 began.
1992 - Fresh out of the seminary and back to the corridors of the institution. Feeling the need to belong to something or someone. That was when I found SAMAKA.
1993 - Elected President of the College of Liberal Arts, really did nothing but hung out with Morfe, Echauz, Mercado and the Filipinism ideologue. Most were SI Fraternity members.
1994 - Got tired of student politics and joined the MASP, a popular group of Student Speech instructors who knew how to clean tables and do teachers' errands. At least we got paid and I got to "own" the Speech Lab off the 2nd floor of the ST bldg.
1995 - Elected as President of the Adamson University Student Government (AUSG). The election was a landslide courtesy of a no-show opponent, a dysfunctional left-winger, an ambitious "speaker", and my being a popular student teacher.
Not that I did not deserve the position at that time. My term was the most peaceful the last fifteen years prior.
Here are My Achievements:
- Minimal pillboxes thrown off the campus since I keep them in my Cabinet at the AUSG office.,
- Less frat wars since I attended their drinking sprees in front of Cardinal bldg.,
- A more religious contribution from the AUSG, never before done, during the celebration of World Youth Day
- More parties or celebrations like a week-long festivity during the Student Week, a College Student Government celebration, a fund-raising dance party for Lahar victims and other sorties we would not mention.
I am glad I was part of this institution. I am proud to say that it was because of ADU that I am who I turned out to be.
For more of me, visit www.ownlegacy.com.
erwinilao has blogged 16
posts
Write a comment