After teetering on the edge for over a month, Dad managed to pull himself from the brink. We brought him home once his condition stabilized, and where his care continues.
Past issues were dredged up two days ago while moving his belongings to another room. While I’ve already made peace with him face-to-face, I realized that a bag of untangled emotions still needs to be addressed. Words continue to be elusive, dear readers. Maybe, it’s too raw right now.
Collaging gives me a sense of distance—a buffer that makes me feel safe to explore without fear of judgment or repercussion. Using whimsical imagery, symbols, and metaphors seems to be a gentler approach. I created this quadtych to illustrate the workings of my mind over the past five weeks.
"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time."
- Thomas Merton
Eventually, I hope to reach the intersection of truth and compassion. There is a gap to bridge, as residual anger still lingers. Untangling these emotions takes time and fortitude—embracing the pain without judgment, seeking understanding, and being open to inquiry, even if they remain unanswered. It’s a tall order but walking through this healing journey is part of being human. Sometimes, we don’t get to choose our circumstances, but we have the agency in how we respond to them.
I keep returning to these words by
The bright side of this situation was the gift of time— one of the longest periods our family has spent together. My siblings, niece, and I have grown closer, knowing we can always rely on each other. That much I know for sure. It’s also been difficult for Mom. Yesterday, She rested her hand on my arm as we walked back and forth across the basketball gym near our home. Small things matter and I do my best to be kind.
This week, my brother GT arrived in Paris after his 8-week stay in Manila. Meanwhile, my youngest sister Malyn departed past midnight for her flight back to New York City. She stayed 5 weeks, even working remotely in-between. My niece Marina flew out the earliest to begin her new job. My oldest sister Ate Marica remains in Manila while I leave for San Francisco in a few days. Settling back to daily life, savoring my favorite whole foods plant-based meals, walks in the marina, and getting some much-needed fresh cool air are some things I look forward to when I return.
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It’s always nice to hear stories on how families get together to navigate the harder parts of life.
That’s a nice collage. How do you do that? Do you use an app? It’s clean, fine lined and circumspect.
Stella you have given your father and family a huge gift of time together.