From Beboy

 

RHETT:
Radical, Hype, Evolutionary, True...Trustworthy!

Numerous memories and adventures we had together that I want to tell but I have decided to keep the “Tall Tales” (stories from “too {2} short kids”) and save them for future family and friends gatherings for I am sure you will be there listening and laughing lol.

When family members or friends say your name your voice continues to linger in back of my head and I hear you calling “Boy...Boy”...from that moment endless tears keep falling from my eyes. I’m sure in the future it will continue do so, as you will never be forgotten. You have forever molded the kindness, generosity, hospitality & friendship which bonds in our hearts. Your laughter I miss already...

I do recall and cherished the fun times and tiny unfortunate times we had together...all we can do is smile, joke, laugh, hug and do our brotherly shake.

In 1987, we were playing hide and seek with the cousins, you climbed the fence of Tito Jun’s house and as you were descending, your shorts got caught on the tip of the fence and you got stuck...I said to myself, oh man this kid has determination, I will pick him on my team going forward.

Every time Tito, Tita, Marian, Matt and you would come down and visit..it’s was childhood V-cay for me. When my parents told me you guys were coming down and to stay for the week I already wanted to be off from school because I couldn’t wait lol.

Life in PI with You...NOTHING in this world can compare. The freedom we had during our adolescent years together, no words can describe. We sat on top of the world and we had it in the palm of our hands!

I remembered you gave me a necklace bead in 1997 and we decided to put in my car’s rear view mirror....man, until this day its stays intact with the current car I drive....those beads means a lot to our friendship and it’s a reminder to myself that you will always be with me wherever the wind takes me.

In the PI, you gave me a dog and we named it Trixie. She made Lola Lourdes and her household happy as it was a loyal companion for 12 years. In fact, I loved the name so much that I named my next dog Trixie lol.

As board-mates at Tito Den’s place it was the best of times. I remember Jon2 would come by each minute to try and annoy us hahahahahah and of course the game of chess each night, sometimes I lose on purpose, I’m joking man!

There were times too, when I had the urge to drive home to Passi from Tito Den’s residence. I would make a sudden U-turn on Plaza Libertad and you would open the gate at Tito Den’s place, I would tell you “I think I forgot something” and after after a few minutes I  would say “never-mind Rhett, I think it’s in the trunk”...I never got a chance to tell you, but I actually pretended that I forgot something, for I was only checking and wanted to see your face; if you were going to be OK without me for the weekends.

During my courtship with May you were always there as a I trusted you like no other..sharing those thoughts of the woman who later came to be my wife. I cherished the times when You, May and I spent times at Punong Hills as it served as hide-away from the rest of the world.

In 2007 when we stayed at your home during Pol-Pol’s wedding you told me to quit smoking the Marlboro brand and you introduced me to the Parliament brand...U know what Rhett until this day I kept the same brand like you have suggested... I am going to have a hard time quitting for sure hahahaha!

Every time I go home to PI, our friends in Passi would always say: “how’s Rhett?..I could never forget his English/Kinaray-A/Sina-Hiligaynon accent”...so true you made your own language buddy, hahahaaha we will surely miss!

When you moved to SoCal in 2020, you and I had plans to see each other often, as if we were in PI, you in Iloilo while I was at a short distance away like Passi...we still had various plans and we had talked about sharing new ventures that we have gained and  learned over the course of 20+ years...really breaks my heart we can’t rewrite and relive our past days. I was looking forward to seeing you come by and to sleep over at the house on the weekends. I even told you, I want the bathroom remodeling to be finished so it is presentable for you to use.

How I wish, how I wish you here...we’re just two lost souls swimming in fish bowl, year after year...running over the same old ground but have we found the same old fears. Wish YOU were here...

Oh, by the way I already know what to say to you when we see each other again. However, it will have to wait dear cousin/friend...but I know you will because you are always understanding.

All I know is..life will be a challenge without the physical presence of my “BFF Cousin” on my right side...I will keep you in my prayers always while you rest assured...eternally.

I Love You RHETT️.

*Beboy