Last Letter to Dodong

Dodong and I grew up together in Truk. He is a permanent fixture in my memories, as far back as they begin. Our late Lolo Cen used to force feed us – well, me at least, as I loathed it! – V8 from the little can, and made us take naps in his 2nd story quarters at Christopher Inn. As soon as he left, we got into mischief. Once, we tried to moon the neighborhood kids down below through the high window by jumping as high as we could on the bed. Of all the times to get caught, that was the day! I wasn't as nimble as Dodong was, so Lolo discovered us "sleeping" unnaturally straight and rigid on the bed, me with my pants at my ankles. 

Once, his family took some neighborhood kids swimming at the jetty in Tunnuk. I watched in horror as his dad flung him far into the deep water. Flailing like a sinking dog, Dodong splashed his way back to the rocks, and proudly announced "I can swim!"

The last memory I have of him in Truk was in our tweens, at the airport, climbing the flame trees at the Japanese stone memorial. I had just started my hobby of photography, and took pictures of everybody. I had cousin Inday snap a photo of me with the tree in the background. In those days, I had to send the 35mm roll out to be developed. I was aghast to find that Dodong photo-bombed my solo, jumping out from behind the trunk of the tree with his arms extended high, face contorted in a silent scream, as if to scare me. 

We reconnected in Guam. It was a common sight for him to smear camouflage wax on his face, and done Army green fatigues with a heavy pack of survival gear on his back. "If you don't have a can opener, just rub the can hard on a surface of concrete until you can pry the lid open with your knife," he offered. 

He and I made it on a page in the Pacific Daily News once. We were wading in the low tide in Agat, and he found a grenade! We called the Police. The news crew showed up shortly as well. During the interview he pulled me next to him for the picture, and declared "WE found it." (My foot could have been within an inch of it, and all I would have seen was a fist-sized rock.) I never saw or read the article. 

When I moved stateside, we corresponded by pen on paper. He composed with such eloquence and grace, many times covering the front and back of 5 sheets of paper. 

[Kimmie, I wonder if you might find any of my letters and the PDN article amongst his belongings?]

The dawn of Facebook ended our letters. Time and distance came between us. Then, in a manner of euphemism, he left. I imagine that he knew I was coming. 

I composed my last letter to Dodong, and placed it in his right hand. I am nowhere near as eloquent a writer as he was, but I hope it honors him fully.

Dear Dodong,

          What irony to compose my last letter to 

you on a church leaflet, IN church!  The Church 

was never your choice for a place to seek solace, 

peace, or encouragement. The last time we 

prayed together was in song, as we laid in the 

forward hull of the Mary Jane, Lolo Toto’s boat, 

motoring through the lagoon toward Fonukuk, 

“Jones Island”, as Lolo Toto called it. Deep and 

Wide was the song that stands out to me. The 

only other time you mentioned religion in 

my presence was when we ran into each other at 

Circus Bruno in Paseo; you actually sang to me 

this snippet

 

        That's me in the corner

        That's me in the spotlight

        Losing my religion

        Trying to keep up with you

        And I don't know if I can do it

        Oh no, I've said too much

        I haven't said enough

        –R.E.M., 1991

 

If you sought God’s company, you found Him 

elsewhere. In the ocean. In the jungle. In the 

nighttime sky. 

            I relish the memories of our childhood 

together. How glad I am that we shared that 

most impressionable part of our lives. When I 

miss you, I read your letters that spanned 

four years of correspondences. You wrote of 

unrequited love, unaccomplished goals, and 

unreachable dreams. But always, you closed 

with undying hope and positive affirmation. 

For this, I admired you so! Your trust in me 

gave me solace, knowing that I was your 

anchor. Your attention in me gave me peace, 

reminding me that I was important to you. 

Your faith in me gave me encouragement, 

feeling that I too, could take punches.

            Go! Glide into the ocean. Take rest in the 

shade of the jungles! Fly amongst the stars in 

heaven. 

            Go! Be the soldier you wanted to be.

            Know, wherever you are, that I always felt 

your adoration, your loyalty, and your blessing.

 

 

                                Always,

                                Your Loving Cousin in Mischief, 

          and in Adventure!

 

Click Link to Watch Dodong Wendell Kenneth Labella Alba  

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