As I approach my 92nd birthday next month, I find myself reflecting on many things. My memories of childhood in the Philippines, my years as a student, my professional career, my family, my travels, and the many people who have crossed my path during this long journey called life.
Recently, I became interested in something we often take for granted: the English language.
Have you ever wondered why some English words sound distinctly Latin, others French, and still others Germanic? Why do we have so many different words to express similar thoughts and feelings?
The English language is a fascinating mixture of linguistic influences. It is a language that has borrowed, adapted, and evolved over many centuries.
A Language with Many Ancestors
English began primarily as a Germanic language. Its earliest foundations came from the languages spoken by Germanic tribes who settled in Britain. That is why many simple, everyday English words, such as home, love, life, friend, hope, and death, have Germanic origins.
Then came the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. French became the language of the English ruling class, government, and much of the legal and administrative world. Over time, thousands of French words entered English.
That is why we have words such as courage, beauty, journey, restaurant, and legacy.
Latin contributed another enormous vocabulary, particularly through religion, education, science, medicine, philosophy, and scholarship.
Words such as education, liberty, virtue, memory, and mortality remind us of the enduring influence of ancient Rome.
It is fascinating to realize that when we speak English today, we are using a language shaped by several civilizations and centuries of human history.
Words and the Passage of Time
As I look at the words themselves, I find that some have a deeper meaning for me now than they did when I was younger.
Take the word education. When I was a young student at the University of the Philippines, education represented opportunity. It opened doors that I could hardly have imagined as a young boy growing up in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo.
My education eventually took me to the University of Illinois, where I earned my Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry. It also brought me to a professional career in the pharmaceutical industry and later to the United States Food and Drug Administration.
Looking back, education was more than acquiring knowledge. It changed the direction of my life.
Then there is memory. At my age, memory has become particularly precious. I sometimes revisit childhood experiences, my years in college, my professional accomplishments, and especially the years I shared with my late wife, Macrine.
Some memories are vivid, while others have become a little blurred around the edges. But I have learned that memories are not merely records of the past. They are part of who we are today.
The word love also carries a special meaning. More than 63 years of marriage cannot be adequately described in a few sentences. Love is not simply romance or the excitement of youth. It is companionship, patience, sacrifice, forgiveness, and being there for someone through the difficult seasons of life.
And then there is legacy.
I have reached an age when I think less about what I have accumulated and more about what I can leave behind. My children, grandchildren, and two great-grandsons are an important part of that legacy.
Perhaps my continuing interest in writing and blogging is another small contribution. Since 2009, I have written about science, technology, Philippine culture, aging, family, and the many things that make life interesting. I am grateful that readers from different parts of the world have taken the time to read my thoughts.
The Words That Matter Most
Among the 20 words I have selected, there are six that particularly resonate with me as I approach 92.
Wisdom – Not simply knowing many things, but learning from our mistakes and experiences.
Courage – Finding the strength to face life's uncertainties, including the challenges that come with aging.
Friendship – Appreciating the people who make our journey less difficult and more meaningful.
Hope – Continuing to look forward, even when the future is uncertain.
Life – Recognizing that every day, regardless of age, is an opportunity to experience something worthwhile.
Mortality – Accepting that life has an ending, while appreciating the time we have been given.
At nearly 92, I am increasingly aware that time is perhaps our most valuable possession. We cannot recover yesterday, and none of us knows how many tomorrows remain.
But I do not consider growing old a reason to stop being curious.
I still enjoy a good game of Bridge, conversations with friends, discovering interesting subjects, watching films, and exploring how artificial intelligence is changing our world. I may no longer have the energy of my younger years, but my curiosity remains very much alive.
Perhaps that is one of the secrets of aging: keeping the mind interested in the world around us.
A Final Reflection
Words have histories, just like people. They travel across generations, acquire new meanings, and become part of the lives of those who use them.
The English language itself is a legacy of many civilizations. Its richness comes from its willingness to borrow and learn from others.
Perhaps there is a lesson here for all of us.
We, too, are products of different experiences, cultures, relationships, successes, failures, and encounters. Each of these has contributed something to the person we have become.
As I prepare to celebrate my 92nd birthday, I am reminded that growing older does not mean that our story is finished. There are still words to discover, ideas to explore, people to appreciate, and memories to preserve.
I may be approaching 92, but I am not finished learning.
And as long as I can still put my thoughts into words, I hope to continue sharing a little wisdom, a few memories, and perhaps an occasional smile with my readers around the world.
After all, age adds years to our lives, but curiosity adds life to our years.
AI Impressions and Suggestions for My Birthday Writing Series
