angels in my hair

angels in my hair by lorna byrne.

this was the last book that my dad kept on prodding me to read. if there was one passion that me and my dad shared, it would be reading books. we were the type who would read about anything that catches our fancy.

after my dad’s passing, i finally picked it up, determined to do what he wished me to do. it is not that i do not believe in angels. it was just that upon scanning the book, i often saw passages about the dead and dying. this was something that i did not want to entertain, especially with dad being sick and being in and out of the hospitals.

upon reading and finally finishing the book, i think i know understand why dad looked so peaceful when he passed on. despite being intubated and connected to a ventilator for the last hours of his life, his face was so calm and happy and even smiling to a degree. it was as if he was just sleeping.

months before, i could sense that he was still not ready to leave us. despite being weakened and hurting, he wanted to live and would be very cooperative when it comes to his medicines. i would often catch him though in his chair, reading this book.

the book tells of angels being around us to help us, if only we ask them to. it tells of angels being asked to comfort those who grieve and long for their loved ones. it tells of angels joining a soul as he/she moves on to another plane, towards a light.

the book in a sense provides comfort to the dying and to those who are left behind.

one of the last (meaningful) conversation i had with my dad was when we were going home from church on new year’s day.  he had heard of his friend finally passing on after weeks in coma.

DADDY: “happy new year’s day man ta pero sad man kay namatay akong amigo” (translation: it should be happy new year’s day but it is sad since my friend has just died.)
ME        :   we should be happy for him dad since he will no longer suffer and be in pain.
DADDY: “you are right. it is always harder for those who are left behind. they have to accept and move one. but we have to let them (the dead) go.”

this book may have been dad’s way of telling us how we can move on.