I enter the kitchen the next morning with Pop-Pop on my mind, fully aware that it’s Ancestor Day—and that I only have one more day of vacation left. After staring at the rice cooker for the past two days, I finally decide to try it out, armed with an easy recipe I found online. While…
I’m so sad to say goodbye to Kai Banks (Day 13.2 – Day 3.5). Growing up with a single mother, Kai met his father only once, but he vowed that his own children would be the center of his life. He fulfilled that promise and always went above and beyond as a father to his…
I wake up the next morning after receiving some bad news about my Pop-Pop passing away. If I got the message, I know Daddy did too. I leave my bedroom, walking like I suddenly weigh a ton, and go to find him. He’s in the front room, fully dressed, with his suitcase on the dining…
It feels like a miracle after the heavy thunderstorm—the sun is out, and the beach is calling. As soon as Daddy and I arrive at the rental, I change into my swimwear and head out to the water. This is the part of Tomarang I’ve been looking forward to experiencing, and it doesn’t disappoint. After…
Daddy and I arrive in Tomarang the next morning, right in the middle of a scary thunderstorm. It’s awful. We can barely see a few feet ahead of us, and my umbrella is already broken by the time we reach the vacation rental. Tambara: Did you check the forecast before you booked the trip? Wade:…
Daddy is standing outside his business when I arrive. We hug. It’s always nice to see him. He’s grinning from ear to ear as he steps back to get a good look at me. I twist from side to side so he can see my dress from multiple angles. Wade: I can’t believe you’re officially…
The last time my parents threw me a birthday party, it was a disaster. They got into a big fight, and the next day they separated. Now they’re divorced, and my dad lives across town. So when my mom asked what I wanted to do for my birthday, I lied and said I had plans…
Tambara is a rich girl in every sense of the word—spoiled, entitled, and sometimes a little mean. She was raised by two very different parents whose marriage ended in divorce. From her father Wade, who had a hard time saying no, Tami learned the value of money—what it could buy, and what it could help…
