Patronus Charm and the Ninja Hair

Had goosebumps when I stumbled upon this crazy poem I made way back 2007, based on Harry Potter. Back then, this was soooo cheezy but as I read back, I can't believe how every thing I wrote way way back will be something that we can so much relate to now. 

Together, we can do magic.

I always believe we have the power of immortality.

Through your pictures, through my writing…

We have that power in our hands to freeze things,

to make memories eternal,

to bring the gift of the now to the hands of the future

They will then look at our gift and refer to it as the past,

wondering how we used to laugh

how we used to cry

how we used to love each other

They may wonder, "Were they able to live life to the fullest?"

"What were they laughing about?"

Together, we have another power we perfectly do

It’s the ability to produce a Patronus Charm

Mind you, it is not only in Harry Potter or Hogwarts

We have it too.

Amidst all the tribulations, amidst the storms

Amidst this harsh world with dementors in the shape of pain,

of challenges, of being put down, of rejections

of being ridiculed, of being left behind...

We have the power to summon all the happiness within us

I dare you to close your eyes and capture ourselves in this moment of bliss

Enemies, beware! The two of us could be very powerful

For we have charged ourselves with a lot of happy memories:

A shared kiss in an old Benz;

a secret place away from civilization;

sickeningly sweet endearments;

schizo world of more than a dozen kids;

relishing in little things such as watering the plants,

or dancing in the rain or sharing a drink together,

a smile, a laugh, a touch of the hand,

a simple hug and a brush of your palm

the way you look at me....

a shared crying session, planning the future..

a very supportive and loving family.

friends.

talents.

faith.

hope.

love.

all these and more comprise our power.

For it’s as simple as this:

I love you and you love me. Maybe that's all that matters.

Amidst the storm. Amidst our dementors.

I urge you to click and freeze this power.

I dare myself to write all of these down

For together, we can do great magic together.

Surpassing generations. Surpassing the storms.

Expecto Patronum!

August 20, 2007

© Erratum-- Ara’s Drafts 

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It has been an inside joke within Lito's family that male baldness is in their genes. They might be in the form of receding hairlines or what we call the Santo Papa (pope) look, where the baldness starts in the middle of the head and expands outward. Lito's older cousins (male) opted to go with the bald or shaved look before this male baldness curse would get them (I won't say your names, *wink**wink*). 

I used to tease Lito that he's next because of his receding hairline. He calls it McDonald's coz it's like a letter M on his forehead. To make it inconspicuous, he has this secret of a stylist who arranges his hairstyle in such a way that it will not show that much. Sadly, our ninja's battle with the Big C cannot save him from the unavoidable hair loss. Chemotherapy destroys cancer cells because the medicines target rapidly dividing cells. But normal cells in his blood, mouth, intestinal tract, nose, and hair also divide rapidly. No amount of hairstyle could cover that. And as his skin is so sensitive, I am more than sure he will never opt for wigs. 

Based on the poll gathered by our Ninja Soldiers, for him to shave his head was the winning option. So congratulations Ninja Soldiers, your master has heed your call. Earlier today, using Homer's clippers, we used a blanket to cover his IV lines and shaved his hair off. I was having fun, sitting on the sink and making his hair even. We were laughing and arguing in between as our rest room was small for this task. Later on, our friendly nurse was shocked to see a semi-bald patient. Here's his video (sorry for the vid, camera was so heavy and room was so cramped): 

Untitled from Ara Inso on Vimeo.

Music: Waiting for the End, Linkin' Park

(waiting for the end to come, wishing i had strength to stand. this is not what i had planned, it's out of my control..)

It was one of those days that he miraculously came out of his erratic fever and was feeling up and about. He was smiling, we were teasing and laughing. As I was looking at him, I realized how much I love this guy and how much I respect him-- for braving each and every day battling that a-hole of a battle we call the Big C. I have witnessed how tiring it was just to face that monster and yet, he can still smile and make me laugh and give me strength.

I realized that it's not the hair that defines the person that he is, but the character and the strength within. It's the will of each passing day to surpass challenges and make it through, it's submission to a higher Being other than our own will. With no hair and a determination like yours (plus your awesome good looks), I am so proud to say that I still have a very handsome husband, and a brave one at that!  I have never seen a person who could move me as much as you do. You are beautiful (inside and out) and I love you, just the way you are... in whatever form. :) 

Upawan ko nimo, Big C? Unhan tika! bwahahaha...
Cancer does not define who I am.