To anyone who actually reads this.

Sorry there have been no updates lately. Summer vacation for J and I has been busy and we have had little time to write something on this blog.

So I am gonna tell you this story because I want you all to understand that this story and this man I am going to talk about basically set the bar for how I want to live my life. This man is one of my heroes and if I can accomplish half the things this man has accomplished then I know I have lived a fulfilling life. I am only writing this here right now because I feel like I want to share this but at the same time no one reads this...YET. hehe

Sidenote: (Now that I think about it, this is actually two stories but they both show you how badass this man is.)

The man I am talking about is my Lolo (grandpa) Cesario Saluta.  As a child he helped raise me and took care of me while my parents were off at work.  He dropped me off at school and later that day he picked me up. He always had a smile on his face and RARELY got mad.  But now let me tell you why he is so amazing.

So, first story, those of you that know my dad know that he likes to glorify the truth a bit. All of his stories seem a bit farfetched but at the same time could possibly have some truth to it. So when he told me this story about his dad I couldn't believe it but at the same time it could be somewhat true.  So one day as a child I asked my dad why my Lolo had a metal pipe placed in his leg and he told me this story. He had a metal pipe in his leg because during World War 2 my Lolo was a helicopter mechanic for the USA in the Philippines. One day he was up testing a helicopter when something exploded below him and a piece of shrapnel flew through the cockpit and hit is leg. He survived and that was why he had a metal pipe in his leg.  Badass right? Well I recently found out that was wrong.  My cousin heard another story.

He heard that my Lolo was in a convoy going to the base when the convoy was attacked. Again shrapnel from the attack hit his leg and he fell. He then got up and ran back to base with a broken leg. Still pretty badass right? Well that is not what happened either. During our trip to the Philippines this summer, my cousin and I asked our grandpa what really did happen. He told us this...

He was in a Jeep going to the base. The Jeep hit a mine and it was ambushed.  My Lolo flew from the Jeep and when he got up he said all he thought was "Shit...get up and get to base." While running he saw one of his comrades injured. He picked up his comrade and carried him back to base which was about a mile away. Once there he collapsed in exhaustion. It was then that he looked at his leg and and saw that it was broken. But not only was it broken but there were maggots eating at his flesh! WHAT?! Now after hearing this story from my grandpa my cousin and I looked at each other and realized that the stories we thought were true were pretty awesome and we were proud to tell them to our friends was not even as awesome as the real story. (He showed us proof on his legs of the maggots) Not only did he save himself, but he saved someone else too! My Lolo is AWESOME!

Now the next story is after this whole metal leg thing. He was discharged from the US air force because of the injury. The next story is how he proposed to my Grandma. So now that he was not in the military anymore, he fought as a guerilla against the Japanese. He fought with my grandma's brothers while she and all the women were hiding in the mountains near their barrio. (It was about two miles from where their house is this present day. I actually went to see the area on my trip there this summer.) Now my Lolo proposed in style. He actually came up to the hut my Lola was in on a white horse carrying a fish and coconut as gifts. HAHA! White horse?! Fish and coconuts?! WHAT?! Maaaaaan! How romantic! HAHA! Well, my Grandma couldn't say no to that! Since then, they have been happily married for 60 years and caring for all the grandchildren. (All of this was confirmed by my Lola and Lolo)

I have been meaning to write this because my Grandpa recently passed. It actually was the day after we left the Philippines. This was a HUGE surprise. He was strong. He walked all the time and talked to us all and looked really healthy. But the day after we left, he had trouble breathing and passed away. Asthma. Anyways it has been a little over 40 days since he has passed and now I have come to terms with it. I realized he passed when he wanted to and was happy.  We all saw him while he was strong...it was something he wanted. He got to see everyone. Literally everyone. It was fate. The whole family was not planning on going when we did but it ended up that literally everyone came.

Now...these stories just show how amazing my grandpa is but it really does not justify how amazing he really is was. He helped raise 6 kids and then took care of at least 13 of us grandchildren. He was a quiet man that smiled all the time. He listened and gave us advice when we asked him for some. He would sing songs all the time. He had many little sayings he always said. But his biggest thing was family. By far, family was the most important to him. I attribute a lot of how I am today because of him. I learned chivalry from him. Also respect, the importance of family, to live life with a positive attitude, to smile as much as possibly, and to listen. Because of him me and my cousins and family in general are extremely close. They are my best friends and the best part is we are blood so they can't be mad at me forever! =)

But no...back to my point. My goal in life is to live my life like he did. and again...if I accomplish half the things he did then I know I have lived a good life. So Lolo...just you watch. I am gonna make you proud. (because I am not planning to go and enlist....I cannot get my leg blow up and eaten by maggots and carry someone...sooo I guess I'm gonna have to step up that proposal Lo...Ride in on a tiger with that coconut and fish or something...HAHAHA! Love you Lo...I know you are watching over us all. Just keep watching cause I am gonna make you proud.

P.s. sorry about the random ass post. Maybe this will help you understand where I come from and why I do what I do in later posts? Not too sure. But its out there.

-S