Joys of Retirement at Chateau De La Mer (Seaside Garden Paradise): The Other Women Who Have Touched My Life

Friday, October 22, 2021

The Other Women Who Have Touched My Life

This is my response to the inquiry on the other women who have touched my life for the StoryWorth Book of Memories. The following photos are some of the other women that have touched my life besides my Mother ( Paz Barrido Balleza Katague-RIP) and my spouse for over 63 years ( Macrine(a) Nieva Jambalos (RIP).

These photos are not deepfakes( my article the other day) but real from my extensive photo collection compiled for the last 4 decades.

Macrine( bride) and Sister Guia ( bridesmaid), Katague-Jambalos Wedding May 8, 1957

The Four Sisters( Fe, Sister Guia, Charro and Jean) of Macrine and First Cousin, Angie Jambalos Aulds, 2015. I love my four sisters-in-law and Angie too.

Dinah and Elaine, 2014

Ditas and Carenna, 2016

Grand Daughter, Alix Katague at Cornell University Gardens, 2014

Grand Daughter, Marina Katague High School Graduation Photo

Grand Daughter, Carenna Katague Thompson, 2016

Daughter Ditas and Me, 1982

Grand Daughters Marina and Alix Katague-Daughters of Dodie Katague-my oldest son, 2014

Dinah and Elaine, 2016

Carenna with her guitar getting ready for her singing weekly night club gig

My Three Sisters, Myrla, Agnes and Amor, 2014

Macrine's niece, Yuka Maeda Chilan-Had been very thoughtful during Macrine's passing away for this whole year along with her family.

Mama Elena with her step-Mother ( Lola Elving Sarmiento) and Step Sisters and Brother ( Tito Wil)

Last but not least my Nanny: I do not have a photo of my yaya (nanny), who took care of me when I was 2 years old( a polio victim) until I turned 7 years old. When the Japanese-American war started in 1941, we have to move from the city to the ancestral town of my mother in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo. It is still fresh in my memory how overprotected my Nanny was. She will not permit me to play with the other children in the neighborhood, because they were dirty and rough. I remember her to be in her 50's and a large woman but with a gentle voice. I cried for days when we she was not able to join us and she had to go back to her own hometown. The day we separated was the last time I heard of her!!

No comments:

Joys of Retirement at Chateau De La Mer, Marinduque, Philippines

I have been retired from USFDA since 2002. At first, I feel I have lost my identity as an individual or have lost my contribution to society. However, within a few weeks all these feelings were gone. It started when my wife and I started baby sitting one of our grandchildren. As some economics professor states: "Your children are your capital investments, but your grandchildren are your profits. That is why you love your grandchildren more than your children". I really agree with the statement. Retirement also gives you lots of time to do things you like to do, such as your hobbies and of course travel. In my case, I turned my hobby of gardening and landscaping into a small business in the Philippines. This endeavor was planned about five years before 2002. That year my wife and I started construction of our retirement home in Boac, Marinduque , Philippines. The next year we built a beach house, followed by a Conference Hall two years later. Needless to say, planning and executing the landscaping was a challenge and very enjoyable. With the help of local labor, I not only enjoy the time gardening and landscaping, but also help improved the economic situation of the province by providing work and jobs to the local residents. With plenty of time, I have engaged into two specific activities as follows: First, I created a website for my small business. By trial and error, I created and design the website, www.chateaudumer.com I have never been a computer nerd or expert. But with plenty of time and patience, the fruits of my labor could be enjoyed if you visit the website above. The second activity, I have not done before was to utilize on-line activities, such as shopping, paying bills ( save you stamps) and playing computer games in the Internet. I really enjoyed playing duplicate bridge on line. You play with players all over the world and can chat in between games. But be careful, you are not spending too much time in the computer. It is very addictive. With a lots of time, my wife and I devoted more time on our favorite humanitarian project. For the last 15 years, we have been involved with medical mission to the province of Marinduque. For details please visit the website: www.marinduqueinternational.org As a summary, the joy one gets on retirement is very specific for an individual. Some enjoy their free time by learning new activities, getting involved with humanitarian projects or spending more time with their grandchildren. Others hate it, since they missed their former jobs and co-workers. Others with no children still enjoy retirement by traveling, turning their hobbies into business or more community involvement. Of course those that retire and hate it, is believe to die earlier than those that enjoy their retirement years. So, plan your retirement as early as you can. The happier you are on retirement, the longer you will live.

Friday, October 22, 2021

The Other Women Who Have Touched My Life

No comments:

Post a Comment

LinkWithin