A moment taken to talk about my grandfather

Today is a day where I stop and try to remember my grandfather. I barely remember him though, but I get lots of stories from my mother about him. She put him in such high standards; funny though, as I get older, even though he is still in high accolades I find out several different things that I never knew about my grandfather.

1) He was a union leader - Something about my grandfather had people trust and believe him. He had the brains and charm to lead the workers of Del Monte. He gave up the chance to live in Hawaii with his family because he wouldn't sell out his own people. I wished I had the drive and push to lead groups and have people believe in me.

2) He was a womanizer - My mother never told me this until recently, how my grandfather did bear some half-brothers and half-sisters. I guess my grandmother kinda left a blind eye on it, but I’m sure she knew. Now I know this isn't one trait that I would have wanted to inherit, but I almost feel as though I have that. Eric already knows that I have a wandering eye, and that was one of my New Years Resolutions: Be more committed. I am... it's just sometimes... I’m not.

3) He was mafioso-esqe - If there was a Filipino Mafia, my grandfather would have been the godfather. I heard of two different stories about my grandfather and people "egging him on" about something or other and the next day the egger disappeared. Heh.

But I wished I had more time with him, apparently he liked me. I always kinda feel like a disappointment since he managed to juggle a job and lotsa children (and half children) and still have time to be social. One belief that Filipinos believe in is that when someone who is born in the family looks kinda like an elderly member, they say that the elderly member has found their replacement. People said that about me. I apparently reminded them of my grandfather and I only spent...less than four years here on earth when my grandfather passed away. If I could just impact people's lives a little, like as much as he did in his town, I’d be happy.

Papang, I'm trying my best here. I really am.
- Me