She wrote a short story about a girl and entitled her prose Laarni, a Dream. But I told her that her name came from an invention of Loreto Paras-Sulit. Laarni explained one time that her mom wanted double letters on the names of her childrenвЂ¦Laarni, Charisse, Rebecca, Dennis, and Jenny. Me, selfishly, had always been the receiver. That is her way of saying Hey! Remember me? But of course generosity is inherent in her being. And every Christmas, she would send heartwarming gifts for me and my two girls. But I always waited for her cueвЂ¦ and she held on, brave and ever understanding that life is never fair, but we must live it nonetheless. There were the few times when I wanted to cry. She didnвЂ™t write me to tell about her adventures but she would softly relate touching and trying moments that happened to her whenever sheвЂ™s home for a vacation. Laarni left for the USA in the early 90вЂ™s. She would just so kindly explain in a few words why things had come to be. I must have hurt her a thousand times with my sweeping statements but she never retaliated nor did she reprimand me.

Actually she was the only one who stood by me. Probably she sensed that I am not very intelligent nor analytical, so she predisposed to be forgiving. In other words, Laarni built the friendship which I never even realized then as something important. I used to like dogs, so she gave me a puppy. I criticized the cutting of roses for bouquets, so she gave me a rose pot to take care. But Laarni called me her best friend, even if my personality was difficult to deal with. In fact I wondered if there could really be such a friendship. I really am not the sentimental sort and really never believed in having a best friend. In many ways Laarni made me open my eyes and view the world. Without LaarniвЂ™s prodding I wouldnвЂ™t have been interested in photography. Whenever I can join her I would and that exposed me to the many fiestas вЂ“ from the Kiping Festival of Quezon to the Sinulog of Cebu. Mentally mathematical, Laarni pursued Accounting and that brought her to various assignments all over the Philippines. Later on Laarni lured me into swimming, bowling, and traveling. On Saturday mornings, Laarni and I would jog the village round. We were members of the junior Legion of Mary. Laarni had been my buddy during the craggy teen-age years. As for me, I am humbled to be invited to this golden celebration.

No doubt though she will be present in spirit. That is, of course, minus Rebecca or Baby, the third child, who succumbed to cirrhosis of the liver in вЂ™05. For the first time in probably two decades, the Merto family will be together again. My best friend Laarni is home for the 50th Wedding Anniversary of her parents.

Laarni A Dream By Loreto Paras-Sulit