My wife
Since Valentine’s day is nearing, I will like to share the memories of my parents. Both born and raised in the most native yet newly civilised developing countries of the south Pacific island nation called Papua New Guinea. The way our livelihood is built, the leaders of the community always arrange marriages for the next generation believing that quality of life,culture, language and ethics are embedded and upheld.
My dad attain his bachelor’s degree in agriculture and livestock at the University of Technology, Lae. Lae is known as the industrial city of PNG. He returned home in 1980 with hope to find the woman that will compliment his dreams and vision. Amazingly he found her at his mothers doorstep. For only mothers can truly see the desires of his sons needs and fulfill them. Stunned by her presence, he quickly offer her twenty toea(20t). At that time, the value of that coin made a tangible difference in her life. The way of life was simple, conservative and culturally preserved. My mother after graduating from collage in 1983, had to decide between a career or starting a family. She denied her career path and chose to help nurture,protect and build her husbands dreams and vision hence, on Christmas eve of 1983 they wedded.
They were married for 25 incredible years, years that illuminated the essence of joy, pain,love ,respect,dignity, righteous living and everything else under the sun that co exists to make every day living as ordinary in an extraordinary way.
All they ever knew was each other, they became best of friends and adored each others accomplishments. They had three most simple yet sophisticated children and in the mist of all the bliss and celebration in life, my dad wrote a poem to his wife;
If the day light doesn’t clear out the darkness from my yesterday’s sky,let the sparkle of hope in your eyes be my guide for today.
When the four winds howl into my conscious for reasons I cannot comprehend,let your hand assure me that my mild heart is ever within your fond reach.
If my raging words crashes upon the shores as in a thunderstorm, let your whispers of understanding drizzle upon my ears as sweet as melodies of twilight.
When my feet stumbles & misses its step,let your elegant smile carry me.
If situations from seasons blasts my face off,let your beautiful soul endure gracefully despite uncertainty.
When pressure erodes my fate &trust for life,let your echoes of humor become my rock
I’ll cling my final episode til the day I meet my highest point life brings
You be the lasting aroma that diffuses all my fears
As dust and dawn differ in purpose ever unchanging, seasons due change
You be the only valued treasure, my one obsession
The one in whom my legacy lives on. (07.07.11)
I read my dads passion for love and life at the end of his eulogy, 02/10/15. For all its worth, he was her knight in the most noble way when a man truly Loves a woman.