Like many immigrant kids, I’ve experienced many “smelly weird” school lunches packed by Pa.
But I loved them all and the one I looked forward to most was fried spam on a warm bed of rice.
I would inhale the luncheon meat, its greasy goodness soaked up by the rice.
This weekend is Pa’s death anniversary and I marvel at how quickly 15 years flew by.
Pa was calm, patient, even tempered – qualities I often lack during the eye of the storm of parenting a child with FASD! 😆
My memories of Pa are about the small things that feel bigger today: waking up first in the house to prepare our lunches, prioritizing our academics, role modelling healthy eating and living.
If it wasn’t for Pa who insisted our family immigrate to Canada so my sister and I could have a better life than in the Philippines, I would never have been T’s parent.
All these years later, I still recall weekend walks in our Philippines neighbourhood with Pa. I don’t remember specific sights – but I remember the warm feeling of walking side by side with Pa.
Life moves in full circles and with symmetry, guided by a force bigger than us.
During our bike ride this morning, T wanted to venture out to the main roads – which we’ve never done before as we’ve always kept to the safety of our neighbourhood streets.
Thinking about Pa, I took a leap of faith and said, let’s go beyond our boundaries – and gave T clear directions to stay on sidewalks and to stop at every corner, stop sign and light.
T wanted to bike to our local supermarket, which we usually drive to, and we were out for over an hour and biked over 10 km.
T did an amazing job and followed instructions.
I would like to think that years from now, he will remember the feeling of these bike rides too.
When we got home, I made the hubby and I fried spam and rice for lunch, while T had KD.
We then went to the first session of T’s fall swim lessons. Now in level 4, he has improved so much since starting lessons last Fall.
We then visited Pa, bringing him new flowers, as we do every death anniversary.
When we got home, the hubby and T baked gingerbread cookies, using baking mix T picked up during our Friday night grocery run.
It’s nice to remember Pa in that warm way. Nice plate of food there 😋
The best memories in life often have to do with loved ones, food and travel. 🙏
It’s funny how the older we get the more perspective or understanding we gain for our parents, including some of the decisions they made. Even though your pa passed away 15 years ago, it’s wonderful that you still carry on his memory and some of his traditions today, like rice and fried spam. Glad to hear that T had a successful time navigating a new area by bike. The gingerbread army sounds delicious!
Morning from the bus ride to work. 👋😊😆 Perspective is so important and life is blessed with them as we get older.
The cookies turned out great indeed. T wolfed two down before bedtime on Sunday which was a mistake. 😛 So we had to hide them.
Hope you’re having a good full week. It’s just flying by! Last day of summer. 😞
Happy Friday! Good call on hiding the cookies(which hopefully means there are more for yourself)! Even though it’s the end of summer, at least we’re still enjoying warm weather and sunshine. Have a wonderful weekend.
As a kid we would have fried spam almost every week. It was a super cheap food and great because we didn’t have a fridge
Fried spam is the best. Love corned beef too. Any processed meat in a can, really. 🤣😆
I have never had Spam, fried or otherwise. I did have a lot of fried mortadella sandwiches and I still love it.
Pa would be so proud to see the person and father you have become!
The whole day was a great way to celebrate his memory!!
Blessings!
Thank you for your kind comment. I had to look up what mortadella is. Interesting! I’ll have to look for it in the deli next time I visit.
Food memories are often associated with family and friends – the best kind, at least – and I’m thankful for the ones I have. 😊
Your Pa sounds like a wonderful, caring person and I think you have more of him in you than you give yourself credit for! The spam meal look surprisingly good although I would replace it with salmon 🙂
Thanks Margie. I hope you’re right. 😊
Yes, spam is wonderful. Seriously. The best comfort food. But I also hear you that salmon would be a better and healthier choice! 😆😊
“My memories of Pa are about the small things that feel bigger today.” Since my father’s passing two years ago, this is also what I remember more and more fondly these days: the small things he said or did. I think in the future when he’s grown up, T will certainly remember those bike rides he did with you and cherish the memories. I love how you learn from your own experiences to create new ones with T. In the process, both of you learn more not only about each other, but also about your own self, I believe.
Thanks Bama. I’m sorry about your dad. That is very recent and I can imagine the process you and your mom are going through.
And yes, you and I can both understand that it’s the small things that go the longest one day. 😊
It’s so beautiful that you are creating these memories, & not just for T 😃. I have no doubt that he’ll not only reflect on these moments, but also comfort him when he does.
Good to know my mom & our family weren’t the only ones hooked on spam, lol. Haven’t noticed it in the stores, now I’ll have to check.
Thanks Tammy. It’s about creating the memories as they will what matter in the long run. 😊 And yes, Spam truly is the best. It’s a pantry staple in our home. Always 1 can at all times. 😆 I also love canned corned beef. It’s a traditional weekend breakfast for us, served with garlic fried rice. Ok, now I’m craving some. 😆
🤣🤣🤣
Love the widening circles on f safety with your father as a guide. Sorry you lost him so young but love that he’s still with you!! Sounds like you all are having a great weekend! Enjoy the rest! ❤️❤️❤️
Thanks Wynne. I know you can relate with this. It’s always too soon to lose a parent but thankful for the memories, bits and pieces as they are, to guide us.
Weekends are far too short but this has been a great one. Hope yours was too!
Now you are talking my language with Spam! Lol Dang T is flying through swim lessons! What a wonderful way for you all to honor Pa with flowers every year Ab. What!!!! Gingerbread cookies with cake mix???? I never heard of that one.
Spam is the best! I recall you did Spam recipes before? I think a fried rice one? It really is yum. We actually get a brand of luncheon meat called Holiday. It’s cheaper but tastes just as good! 😊
I looked at the gingerbread packaging again and it actually says Baking Mix not Cake Mix. That makes a lot more sense! 😆 I’ll update my post now. Thanks Diane.
Yes I did a few Spam posts. I might try a Spam cookie recipe I saw.
We usually fry luncheon meat slices with egg. Love it, too!
That sounds delicious too. We usually have this kind of breakfast on weekends, served with homemade garlic fried rice. Yum!