Chipping in

Book: for one more day

Mitch Albom's for one more day.

*** spoiler warning ***

As usual, Mitch can write in a sensitive manner. A man meeting his late mom.

I am not sure whether it is the story line or the fact that I kept picturing myself in the character's position and I kept picturing my late dad, or even my mom and the small taken-for-granted miracles she has done for her children.

I can feel what the character is going through. How there are so much we don't know about what our parents have done to put meal on the table or put us through schools. How proud they are about all those so-called achievements in our life. How we let it all pass without noticing or saying thank you to them. And how we just run to them everytime we fall, no matter how old we are now.

I think it is more on the topic of the book that is so close to my heart, which has turned on my restrospect mode. From story telling point of view, I still like Tuesdays with Morrie better though.

I love you mom. I love you dad. And I am so sorry. So sorry.

A year with Rumi

I received my Rumi book today, along with other books, from Amazon.

HAPPY :D

Must promise myself not to by more books in the coming six months, with all the reading backlog I have. Yeah right.

Forced move

Am I using the correct term? How do you say when somebody was forced to move out of his/her own home or had their posession taken away from them?

I was watching a film in TV5Monde Asie. The character of the film worked as an officer whose task was to forcefully take away people's possesions. Probably people who cannot pay their mortgage and thus the collateral was taken away from them. In the film, that 'people' was a middle age lady who looked decent, like she had nothing to hide, or rather, who look like she had nothing, period.

The lady gave in. She packed her stuff and gave it away to the officers. It was sad. I was sad.

And I pray to God that I would never be in any of those people's position--neither the lady nor the officer. To forcefully take away possessions of people who practically has very little with them left--even in the name of law, even if I have the legal power to do so. God forbid.

What would you do if you were the officer?

Get well soon. Stay strong

My friends and I visited a friend whose daughter is in a high-care unit of a hospital.

The daughter is 12 years old. She was not feeling very well but she insisted to go for an overnight trip with friends to the countryside. She went home feeling worse. It got worse and she fell into coma. She has lost so much weight. She has regained her consciousness now. But she is still unable to speak. Her body looked stiff, weak and so skinny.

We stayed for a while at the hospital, trying to bring some comfort to my friend and his wife. Then we went home. Speechless.

This afternoon, he sent a message to us. I deleted the mention of my company--though not sure for what purpose:

"Ibu, please send our greatest gratitude to the management and staff members of the company in all Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang and Surabaya for their considerable attention and contribution to my family. We didn't expect and were deeply touched by the symphathies shown in the form of money donation.

This truly helps relieves some of our difficulties, and the prayers from all of you, I believe, can help speed the recovery of our daughter. We are really proud of the visit of Ibu Nelly, Rosanah, Novi, Eva and Ayu. We hope that all team members will not forget us, as we won't. I hope we always keep in touch."

You don't know him. You cannot imagine the condition of his daughter. But I am sure you can feel his sincerity, sadness and gratefulness. Sadness and gratefulness --two words that are seldom placed side-by-side in one sentence.

Please pray for him, the daughter and his family. God bless.

A small chat

This morning I woke up not feeling up to it for work.

On my way to the office, I closed my eyes and did my invocations, dzikr. I opened my eyes as I was approaching the office. I felt refreshed.

What a difference a small chat can make. Thanks.

Aksa Mahmud

I was listening to Trijaya FM on Friday. They were interviewing Aksa Mahmud. He sounded like idealistic, simple and humble.

I met him several years ago. I was making a company profile for his Group. During my conversation with him, he too sounded like idealistic, simple and humble.

One statement I remembered during our conversation was when we were talking about the social activities of his companies. He said, "Let's just focus on business activities and not talk about the social activities. I don't feel right 'bragging' about our social activities." I went home feeling impressed.

I hope he stayed like that and live that each day of his life, including during his political career. And I hope more and more people will become like that.

FEMALOGRAPHY, 23 Feb-11 Mar, Jakarta

FEMALOGRAPHY: An international photo exhibition by Jerry Aurum, Feb 23 - Mar 11 at Senayan City Ground Floor.

Featuring conceptual pictures of cool females: Rachel Maryam, Dian Sastro, Dinna Olivia, Aline, Endhita, Adella Aletta, Sausan, Sarah Sechan, VJ Cathy, Indah Kalalo and many others.

Come!

-Some things are worth recommending-

We make a living by what we get,

But we make a life by what we give.

Winston Churchill

Forgotten already

The sun and blue sky in Jakarta the last couple of days have made me forget that there are still flood victims; that somewhere in Jakarta there are people with no home, no clothes, no nothing; that we still need to do something to make sure that the recent flood will not happen again.

It's already business as usual in some parts of Jakarta. Not sure whether to say fortunately, or unfortunately.

"Seuluran Tangan" revitalized

I have decided to reactivate my Indonesian blog: "Seuluran Tangan". Just because a friend reminded me about it. Thanks.

Jerry Aurum's Femalography

Jerry Aurum is holding a solo photography exhibition curiously titled "Femalography". The exhibition has been postponed to 28 February 2007 for 10 days in Senayan City, Jakarta. His book with the same title is also available in Kinokuniya (Jakarta and Singapore).

A brilliant young talented Indonesian photographer, which happens to be a friend of mine.

I don't give praises often you see. But drop by the exhibition or peek through his book if you can. Then you might agree with me that he is "A brilliant young talented Indonesian photographer".

ADDITIONAL NOTE: You see that question mark above? I actually put one of his photos there. But it turned into a question mark. Then I realized, it was censored. Which means that somebody might have reported it to blogger and asked it to be blocked. Oh well, all the more reasons for you to visit his exhibition.

He he, silly me. I forgot how different we are in seeing things. I supposed I have to respect that. Thanks for the reminder. Of how far we still need to travel.

Or will you censor even this one as well?

It's Jakarta's turn

I don't need to tell you about the flood in Jakarta. And you don't need to hear my version of flood stories nor more pictures about the flood. They are all over.

But I have just arrived from my trip to Bandung. I went there yesterday. It was an odd feeling to go from such a chaotic place where almost nothing runs normally like Jakarta these last several days to a town that is much drier where life goes on.

I was actually looking out of the window of my office. And I thought about the numerous disasters that happened in various places in Indonesia recently, when Jakarta always acted as if nothing has happened and everything was business as usual.

Perhaps it is Jakarta's turn now, to have this unfortunate catasthrope while life goes on in other cities in Indonesia. So that hopefully in the future, we cannot act like nothing has happened again.

The way it should be

Pic: my sis and her children.

It's now 11am in the tropical city of Jakarta

The longest journey

The longest journey, is the one from your head to your heart.

Beautiful, is it not? I heard this in one of those Discovery documentaries and I promised myself to put it in the blog.

The journey to shift ourselves from depending too much on our logic to your feeling. The journey to learn how to walk the path of life using our intuition and conscience. The journey to learn how to use not only our physical eyes, but also the eyes of the soul.

And I agree, it is a long journey indeed. I mean, how many of us are brave enough to trust our instinct and live life without thinking too much? Will we ever dare? When was it exactly when we start losing our courage to dream and to be spontaneous, because of all the 'pragmatic' and 'realistic' thoughts we have?

We say we have grown up. Perhaps we are going in the wrong direction. It's that way, not this.

The next time we see a child cry, let's not think of how he/she has distracted us, feel the sadness and the need for love. The next time we see the rain falls, let's not think of our way home, feel, enjoy. The next time we sip our morning coffee, let's not think about our day schedule, feel the warmth of the coffee.

Start walking that longest journey. Perhaps we would then realize, it is not as far as we initially thought it would be.

Belated happy birthday, mom

I cannot believe I have forgotten to write this.

During the last muslim's festive season, my family did our traditional sungkeman - where we kneel down before our elders and ask for forgiveness and blessings. During my sungkem to my mom, my mom whispered and thank me for my kindness.

Thank me for my kindness? Honestly mom. If only you realize the magnitude of love and kindness you have poured to me throughout my life. Obviously she does not realize that. Typical mom. Love her.

Belated happy birthday, mom. Thank YOU for your, um, everything.

Pic: me, sis and mom. Straight from the bed. Sis and mom - the two mother figures in my life. I could not ask for a better role model. I wish I can be half as good as they are.

PS: Happy birthday to you too, Ndien. We did not nickname her princess (TP-Tuan Putri) for nothing.

Yoga for chicken

I love yoga. Many friends can tell you that. And I have a chicken stuffed animal that have been with me since I don't know when and often speaks on my behalf. Many friends can tell you as well. And I love books. Almost any kind of books. Many friends can tell you that too.

So what did a friend of mine do? She gave me a book titled Yoga for chicken. There was not any particular reason - it was not even my birthday and she was not even returning from a trip.

She said she saw the book and straighforwardly thought of me. So she just bought the book as a gift for me. Such a simple gesture from a dear friend that shows she really knows me. Love the gift to bits. And it was a hilarious book too.

This thread is dedicated to you Ri. Wherever you are right now. Whatever you are doing. No particular reason. I have just returned from my yoga class and saw Chicken and I thought of you.

Such a sweet character. I cannot think of one single person who does not like you.

The avian flu

Have you been following the news on avian flu? I have. Well, how can I not if they are always on the headlines and on the radio or tv?

The endemic has gotten to a stage where we need to kill thousands of chickens, ducks, and pigeons for the sake of humanity.

Killing thousands of being in the name of humanity. That does not sound right, does it?

I am not against the move. Perhaps it is something we 'need' to do.

My friend's father is a bird lover. I can't imagine him killing his birds. Must be hard. Even harder for those who make a living out of it.

Granted, it is something we need to do. The question is how did we get to this stage? We have killed our forests. Now we are killing the animals.

How can nature not strike back? Perhaps its something THEY need to do as well. An eye for an eye.

Just when we thought it was safe..

A couple of days ago I saw a photo article of people choosing to use trains because they thought it was safer - in light of the recent ship and aircraft accidents.

This morning I saw an article of train derailed and fell from the bridge.

Wake up.

High school reunion, high school reunited

My sister has just returned from her high school reunion. They also invited the teachers. 200+ students attended, 34 teachers came.

They sent a chartered upper-class taxi to pick up each and individual teacher. They provided donation to the teachers (you know how poor the welfare of school teacher is in Indonesia). They greeted the teacher as if they were heroes. They are.

Students and teachers blended in. They ate, laughed, sang, dance and talked about old times. I cannot imagine how happy that time must have been - especially for the teachers - the often forgotten heroes of our lives.

My sister's Class of 82 is truly amazing. They gathered together every two months - for a quran study, a bible study, a social gathering, do some sports or even go out of town together.

They collect money - 40% to fund their activities and the other 60% for social cause. The social cause is either to provide scholarship for some of the current students in their high school or to provide scholarship for the children of their class mates who are not so fortunate financially. Some also volunteered to teach in the high school.

If only each of our small community gather together and do what we can to help those who are linked to our community, those in our immediate surrounding. It does not really take much.

I am just talking here. They are already doing. I am nothing compared to them. Hats off.

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