September 10,2026- My mother would have been 98, today. Aram said, this evening that he sees something of her in Hana. I definitely have seen the same for quite some time. It’s in the intensity of her gaze.

Hana has been quite effervescent, all day. When I turned on the lights in the dining room, this morning, her word was “Light”. She has been in a fun-loving mood, crawling on me and giving me hugs, She has also been very busy standing, a couple of times hands-free, and has been practicing walking, in the playpen, with my help. Daytime naps in the crib have been rather short, but today, when Yunhee came back from an errand, just as I had Hana ready to sleep, the little girl greeted her mother happily, then let Yunhee put her in the crib. She slept for nearly two hours. The top lateral incisors continue to poke through, a bit at a time,

HANA’S NOTE- I was just glad that my Papa was with me for much of the day, even though Mommy is also home.

YEAR IN REMEMBRANCE-2024- This was the year that my mother said goodbye- right in the midpoint of it all, June 30. She had lived an astonishing life, and was the last of nine siblings. She had the most profound influence of anyone on my life. I will be ever grateful to have been there for her, at the end of hers.

I was at her side three times, once in mid-Spring, en route to Newfoundland and once on the way back to Arizona. The third time, which had me sitting with her constantly, over a three-day period, came at end of watch. She would shake her head, at all my travels, over the years, but the last five days of her earthly life saw me travel solely between Bedford and Lynnfield. Ditto for the days up until her interment. Aram joined me for the time leading up to the funeral, and Independence Day, which followed.

The year was otherwise one of constant motion: San Diego and Orange County in February; Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, plus St. Pierre, by way of my usual route, in April and May; homage also paid to Emmett Till and to Fannie Lou Hamer, on the way back to Prescott; flying back to Mother’s side in late June and seeing her off on her timeless journey; northward to Vancouver Island and B.C’s Sunshine Coast, in July; the Philippines, including Baguio, Palawan and Dumaguete, in late September and much of October. My time with a lady I still very much treasure was the finest part of that last journey.

I ended the year pondering whether my Home Base would change, either to Texas or to Metro Manila. The answer would come within a year.