Until this day, I still cannot imagine seeing my dad in the condition he was. Lying sick in bed, so weak that he needs someone to hold him while he walk, finding it difficult to breathe. In my mind he was always a healthy man, always exercising, controlling his diet and he doesnt smoke or drink so it really gave me a shock seeing him like this. It was just six months ago when the doctor diagnosed dad with stomach cancer. We were all shock but dad, ever the calm person in our family, told us not to panic. He just said that we will fight this together as a family and we will overcome it. All we can do at that time was to nod our head meekly and agree with him.

After several months of what seemed like endless treatments, fathers body was racked with pain and he was left looking much older and feebler than his years. Then the doctor dropped another bombshell, the cancer couldnt be contained and had spread to his liver. This was too much for poor mother and she broke down weeping the whole night through. The sounds of mothers sobs and the ashen looks on our faces said it all but dad remained as stalwart as always merely nodding in acceptance. What else could we do but hold hands and pray to get through that long and bitter night.

We had settled into the droll of hospital life, then one day as I was whistling my time away watching television I heard my fathers weak voice calling. Son I need a favor. Look for the personalized photo mug that you gave me. Remember it? It took me awhile but then the memories came rushing back. I followed dads instructions and went to retrieve the mug from our house. He kept it safely in a closet in his bedroom, as I held it in my hands my mind wandered back to the day we took the photo so boldy emblazoned together with the words Thanks Dad on the front of the mug.

It was right after the end of my graduation ceremony for my undergraduate degree. We were standing around talking when mum said dad and I should take one picture together since me and mum took one earlier. So we stood together, with the awkward smiles and tried to look as natural as we can. Its seldom that we took photographs together even during family trips or holidays because it was either me or dad taking those photographs so we didnt really took photographs together until now. Till now mum still tease us saying how weird our expressions were that day. But, I can see that dad was really happy for me for finishing my studies, and I felt glad that dad finally has something to be proud of because of me.  Few days later I was walking in our local mall when I saw this booth offering to print pictures on mugs and key chains and all sorts of other stuffs such as personalized baptism photo mugs and so on. I think it was a spur of the moment when I thought of getting one of those photo mugs for dad would be cool, so I got one done with the graduation picture printed on it.

Coming home that day I nonchalantly walked up to dad and passed the mug to him Hey dad I said Heres something for you. He looked up from his television show and accepted the gift with a surprised expression on his face and said thank you. Then it occurred to me that this was the first time that I had truly bought dad a present. As I was about to turn into bed I noticed dad smiling bemusedly to himself, and I could see that he was pleased with the personalized photo mugs gift.

Yup that old personalized reunion mug certainly meant a lot to dad. As I took the mug to him at the hospital, dad flashed a smile at me that practically lit up the room. Son he said When you were born both your mom and me had no clue how to take care of a baby. You were our biggest challenge and also my greatest accomplishmentweve been through a lot of ups and downs together, but on the day you got your scroll I knew we had succeeded and done a good job. A son reflects the father and I am truly proud to be reflected in you, youve become a fine young man who will go on to do far greater things than his old man. At this point I could feel the warmth of the tears involuntarily rolling down my cheeks, dad looked and me and smiled knowingly and I smiled back understanding, he was telling me his job was done and it was almost time for him to take that big bus up to the sky. That moment will always be frozen and framed in my memory forever.

True enough two weeks later dear old dad finally took that great big express up to the sky but not after fighting long enough to settle all his matters. I brought that mug to the funeral and then stored it away in the closet where dad used to keep it. Tucked away neatly but never forgotten.