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Wow, half a century old!

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This article is from both Feyma and Aaron.

Today is a special day for Bob. Would it really be special day? Since he is already over the hill! Do you think he should mourn instead? 🙂 … Ha ha ha… lol…Kidding Hon.

I’ve known him almost half his life now. I’m happy to know him that long. Wow, we’ve been married for over 21 years now. We have had our ups and down, but all in all the ups over weigh the down part. He taught me so many things in life. I used to be a shy type person a typical Filipina trait. He really helped me overcome that. When we used to lived in the States, he always helped me in adjusting in living there. It was not an easy adjustment for me being away with my parents. I’m the youngest and so close to my parents my dad especially. Bob was always there for me.

The adjustment of the food was difficult for me too. 20 years ago the Filipino food that was available in the States were so limited compared nowadays. I so missed our fruits before. Bob tried to get or find some fruits that so similar to what we have here. Sometimes he got lucky and can find some good mango in the grocery stores there. Lots of times he bought kalamansi tree for me to take care of. It was really something. Really simple thing that he did for me in the States before really meant so much to me. He really tried his very best to make my life a bit easier there. To tell you guys, I am not even cooking there in the States. It’s always Bob who cooked for us there. I don’t even know how to cook Pinoy dishes. But Bob really bought a recipe book and tried to cooked it for us, and it turned out good. He is really a good cook.

Although Bob’s birthday is today, February 20, we had Bob’s birthday party on Saturday.  Below are some pictures from the party.  The article continues below the pictures, and please click on the photos to see a larger sized image.

Now payback time. Since living here, I tried to learn how to cook. Thank goodness I was willing to learn. Now I would say I am a pretty good cook. I cooked different dishes here in the house. The kids are learning to cook too. Bob cooks sometimes but he is not forced to do so. I mostly cook Western dishes. My niece, nephew and helpers cooked the Pinoy food. I love to experiment different recipe and use our local ingredients.

Anyway, Happy Birthday to the man in my life. I am so very proud of you. You really are a great husband and father to our kids. I love you with all my heart. I would not be the way I am now if not for you. You really encouraged me to speak whats on my mind. I thank you for that. I am not sure sometimes if you are sorry of the encouragement that you gave, because I think sometimes I speak too much. I really changed for the better because of your help and encouragement. I owe it to you. Words are not enough to described how I felt for you. You really are so good to our sons and daughters. You just know how to talk to them that sometimes I don’t know how to handle it. Our kids adored and love you so much too. They really speak highly of you. I love that we really spent our night routine with the kids. Have movie nights with them and have individual dates with them. Thanks to you, you hardly accept meetings during evening hours, because you really want to spend the evenings with me and the kids. Thank you so much for loving us. I’m sure my nieces and nephews would say you’re a great uncle to them too. I know my parents love you too it shows when they were alive,  and my siblings love you too.

***HAPPY 50th BIRTHDAY HONEY. I LOVE YOU FOREVER EVEN YOUR OVER THE HILL!  🙂  ***

The next part is from Aaron.

Over the 15 years I have been alive, my Dad has always been there to help me and my siblings, he always supports us and trains us to be independent for our future. I know I speak for all of us when I say that we really are thankful to have him as our Dad. I remember when I was young, Dad would always be with me. I also know that I got his interest in computers,  like how he built all our computers before, and also maintained them (I think he did a good job because if you saw us using our computers before, you would be shocked why they were still running since the games we played were somewhat advance for the computers we used), I also like computers, so I think I got it from him. My Dad is my heroes in life, he is always there for me, helping me, teaching me, and maybe even learning from me. People always say that I am similar to my Dad in many ways, although we have some differences, such as, in terms of music, he likes Jimmy Buffet (I also like Jimmy Buffet, but I prefer Rock), while I like Green Day. Even though it’s sometimes a bumpy ride, I really do love my Dad, and the fact that he is already 50 years old is a huge accomplishment for him, time moves really fast when you have fun, which could explain why it felt like yesterday when I was really young and he was always there for me. If i get a chance to change anything in my life, I wouldn’t because Dad and Mom always try to make it the greatest, which I really am thankful for.

I really love you Dad, I hope there are many more birthdays for you to come!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  4. Feyma,

    Please tell Bob “Happy Birthday” also. I can sense that you have a very happy marriage and family. Your son is also very sweet.You almost made me cry reading your story. Both of you had help each other grow. This is what marriage is all about.As for me I don’t have to have a big house, a beautiful car to be happy….I know I can live anywhere as long as I have my family at my side. Who cares if my husband is going bald and wrinkly…..I will enjoy every moment I see those changes in him as we grow old together. The best birthday gift you have given Bob is your presence and continuing love even after 21 years. More power to both of you!!!!!

  5. happy bday mate and may bod bless u with 50 more i hape that u have a good day mate ok…….old man na……peter martin tassie

  6. I have never posted on here before.
    I Just wanted to say thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings.
    I had tears in my eyes reading this…
    For how you and your children feel about Bob,
    is probably the greatest compliment any man
    could ever have.
    I dream to think my wife and children would feel
    the same way about me…
    Time and distance are my greatest foes..
    Happy Birthday Bob!
    May you have many more!

  7. Happy Birthday Bob,
    What a touching story.You are a lucky man to have so much love and devotion in your life.
    It sounds like you have a terrific family there in fili.
    And 50 isn’t over the hill.life is just starting to get good hehehehe.

  9. Welcome to the “Over the Hill Gang” Bob. I have been a member for more than a few years now. 🙂 Congrats!!

  11. Manong Bob,

    Happy Birthday!!!!!!! Age?! nah ! in tagalog we say” Kalabaw lang ang tumatanda!” which means “it is only the carabao that gets old.”with a good heart and a loving family i bet every year is more of an achievement! More birthdays to come.

  16. Happy birthday Bob… it’s all downhill from here :)…….. from another member of “the over the hill” club 🙂

  18. Bob, Mrs Feyma,

    Such a heartwarming story. You guys are so fortunate to have each other. Such a good example of a wonderful loving family. Bob, 50 is just a number and is the beginning of the second half of your life. Take care my friend.

  20. Congrats on the 50th birthday Bob… You are now officially in the over-50-victim-of-fate crowd on the tail end of the baby boomer generation… Hope you enjoy 50 more… I can also tell that you are really enjoying someone’s cooking, whether yours or Feyma’s!!! Is that a by-product of good living in the PI?

    • Hello Keyser – Thank you very much. Actually, the by-product of living in the Philippines is that I am much healthier and weigh about 150 lb less than I did when I first moved here!

  21. Happy Birthday Bob !.

    Feyma and Aaron that was a great heart-fetl write-up.

    I’ll be 50 this September. I think we can’t help but stay young forever seeing as how we’ve such great friends and family in our lives….

    • Thank you Pete! Hang in there and enjoy your 40’s while you still can! Now that I’m on the other side of the hill, I can tell you.. it’s nothing special to look forward to! Ha ha 😉

  22. Wow Happy Birthday SIR BOB!! yep the big 50 exciting times and thanks for sharing those party pictures!! Been there almost two yr ago now myself ha ha not much changes well I like to kidd myself.. you have a wonderful wife, and children to keep you young, and a busy working mind. That is what counts PARTY ON!!

  23. Feyma and Aaron, thanks for sharing your stories with us LIP readers. That’s half-a- century of love.

    Bob, congrats and welcome to the club.

    Mars

  24. Hi LIP Family – Thank you all so much for taking the time to greet and make comments for Bob’s 50th Birthday. We appreciate highly. I think we gave Bob a good and fun party that fit for the over the hill kind of guy.;-)… Ha ha ha… Kidding Hon.

    I think everyone loves the over the hill shirt. We might be selling it on ebay. ha ha ha…

    Anyway, Thank you all again.

  25. Happy Bday mindanao Bob, and many more to come. Great article feyma and kids. I cant wait to start new life there in Davao. Looking forward to the new start in a new place. I learned alot from reading this site. Alot of different views and experience to read about. I know i can make it there without a doubt, with my lovely wife and child. Which i know is all up to the one that goes there and how they put effort and not being negative. Something i learned along time ago in life, was dont sweat the small stuff. And go with the flow. once again great site and Happy bday.

  26. Just come across your blog in google looking for keywords ‘filipina blog’ and I click yours. I am not late yet to greet you a Happy Birthday since our Calender here in US still says the 20th of February. So Happy Big 50th Birthday Bob. Hope you will have many more birthdays to come! Wish you all the best. Nice Website!

    Filipinaaz

  27. Nice article Feyma. You and Bob are lucky to find each other. Here’s wishing many more years of happiness to all of you.

  28. Happy Birthday Bob. You are so very blessed with a loving family and they are not afraid to show their love for you. I look at it this way–I’m not 50 I’m 25 each leg. Haha. Happy Birthaday again and many more to come.

    V/r,
    Greg

  30. Hi Bob – Congratulations and welcome to the club. Life begins at 40 but let me assure you that the real fun starts at 50! May you have many more birthdays to come and enjoy finding out what the fuss is all about.

  31. Happy Birthday, Bob! thanks for giving me space here. I’ll submit. 🙂 . Love the pics. It’s always nice to see happy shots. I like the shirt too! Nice idea. Heart warming post from your wife and son. You’re lucky to have one another.

  32. Happy Birthday Bob, and a huge thank you for all the advice and information I have gotten from reading your articles.

    You are indeed BLESSED to have such a loving and caring family and I’m sure you deserve it. Please keep the great articles coming and I hope you will have many, many more happy birthdays. Mike