childhood grasp

june is the chosen month in our household. the hubby's birthday, my birthday, my dad's birthday and his death anniversary all fall in the month of june. my dad passed away three days before he turned fifty seven two years ago, a day before my birthday. i have questions, lots and lots of queries about the timing of his passing. if others have could have longer lives, why not my parents? our nuclear family may not be rich and privilege nor us, the children, grew up being driven to school in cool pajeros or a benz. but certainly despite being short of cash, we were not that bad. i could grasp the simplicity, the honesty of labor as inculcated to us when we were kids. our parents taught us the importance of values education. we simply knew how to behave in public and in any social situation. both our parents were very well-read and cerebral. it was a daily ritual of discussions on the issues of the day, flicking books, newspapers and magazines. my mom was good in crafts and used her acumen as a former teacher to teach us the basics of the three R's. one thing they frown upon i reckon was the art of facade. whether we admit it or not, generally in life, relatives or even friends compete in one-upmanships or comparisons. it shouldn't happen but underneath the goodwill, there's a brewing rivalry amongst siblings, cousins and even friends. i hated that concept and environment when they were alive. i could read between the lines of snobbery. they got hurt by the side comments. but the end product with us their kids is that we know how it is to be humble because our parents managed to keep their feet on the ground.