Hi Michael - This website is just phenomenon!  I'm glad to see your dream
come true - it's great to see an idea blossom into a reality for you.
I'm very happy for you.  I do have an experience that I want to share:

Yesterday, I got a phone call from my father.  He seldom calls but this
time he stuttered on the phone telling me that he was in town from Long
Beach, looking for a place closer to us the children.  The last time I saw
my parents was right after the holidays and only because my younger brother,
used to care for them, relocated with his family because of work.  So
my parents got themselves an apartment.  The last time I saw my parents was
about a year ago at a funeral service.  Things needed to be mended at home
and so when we all grew up and left no one returned home.

I was hesitant and the same time anxious about meeting my parents.  The
last time I saw them, I realized my dad was no longer able to walk on his
own.  He had to use a walker.  He grew old somehow and no one would know
that he was only in his mid 60s by the way he walked and talked.  He
looked like this fragile 80 year old man.  His speech was unclear most of the
time.

During our dinner conversation, I watched him intently because he ate
slowly then the rest of the group.  He chewed his food carefully.  I
started thinking about this man who was once a very strong, prideful, and
bold man, who was once a fierce champ at chess and checkers, who was once
an inspirational to many of his friends, who was once a well articulate
orator in the cultural and social events of the Samoan community, who was
once a respected high chief amongst the villagers, who was once a
ruthless rugby player, who was once a hard working welder, who was once a guitar
player.  And now to see him in this condition almost brought tears to me.
This once great man was now reduced to someone fragile and an 'unknown'
to many people.  It was a sad ending.

But those thoughts were immediately washed away by the fact that this man
was a great visionary.  He sacrificed many of his material possessions to
ensure that his family moved to America.  This man made it possible for
us to live in this country.  And now I want him to move closer to me.  I
want to help him and to care for him.

I soon realized that who and what I am I owe to my father.  He is the
reason I live in this country.  He is the reason I have an education.  He
is the reason I have a beautiful family of my own.  He is the reason my
faith in God strengthens.  He is the reason I want to foster a healthy
and spiritual relationship with my boys.  He is the reason I have strong work
ethics.  He is the reason I can appreciate and value my culture for what
it represents.  Indeed, He is the reason of my being.

He is truly my hero - I guess I've known it all along but somehow right
here right now I can finally articulate how I feel about my HERO.  He
truly is my HERO.  And although physically he looks different but I know in my
heart that he has not changed.  I'm proud to be part of him.  It's time I
return the favor for my HERO.

God Bless,

Sane