a salute to my siblings

my siblings and i grew up in a family that just had enough, never too much, neither less. when we were younger kids, our father worked abroad to provide for us, but not long after our youngest brother was about to enter school, he came back home. at times, we had what other kids didn't, but at times too, we didn't have what other kids had. but we were always thankful we had parents who provided for us, we never had to take care of each other because our parents did that for us, we never had to think about what to eat, because food was provided for us, we never had to think how to go to school, because that's what our parents worked hard for. but then again, change is the only thing constant in this world, and life is a wheel of fortune, sometimes your up, sometimes your down. and so it was when we were a little older that tides have changed. never did we blame our parents though because we had a taste of a good life, and so much of that good life prepared us for what there is to come. i guess it's fair enough to say that my parents deserve a pat on their backs for they have raised us with our feet on the ground, well enough that we never feared what was on our way. at 30, my sisters ais and mae, at 29 and 28, and our brother digs, at 22, have had a fair share of life's hardships. and throughout these hardships we knew that we had no one else to hold on to but each other. from unpaid house bills, to love problems, to work troubles, to personal responsibilities, to hopes of a better life, we held on to one another...and we held on tight...because it was certainly not just a piece of cake, it was more that what we could have handled alone. perhaps among the four of us, i was the one who needed them the most. i held on to them for so many times in my life that i can't imagine having lived my life without them. when i was down, they were the hopes that kept me high. when i was weary, they were the courage that kept me going. when i had something to be proud of, they were my greatest fans. and so while the world continues to throw troubles upon me, i never worry, because i know i will never go through it alone....i have my siblings and they got my back!