Mekarsari

Today, you and I and your bude Diana, went to Mekarsari, a modern fruit garden and agrotourism, located in Cibubur. We arrived at about 10.30, went around a bit with our own car before a security guard asked for a dispensation card. Apparently, personal vehicles are not allowed to drive inside the compound.

So, we went back to the front office and bought a ticket for a tour ride around the 264 hectare complex. Our first stop was the melon nursery, where you can actually hand pick the melon of your choice straight from the trees. You were quite thrilled and tried some samples of different kinds of melon. We also stopped at the salak (zalacca palm) nursery, where I bought a kilo of your favorite fruit.

Along the way, we saw several other fruit nurseries, greenhouses and also the Puri Tirto Sari Waterfall Building, some spotted deer and a beautiful, colorful Lotus Garden. There was also an outbound arena where they have flying fox and other stuff. You wanted to stop there but unfortunately it is open only on weekends.

The tour ride took us about an hour, and we were back at the front office just in time for lunch. Thank God they have KFC there, so it was quite convenient for us. Before going home, we bought some merchandise and some other fruits at the fruit store.

All and all, I think Mekarsari is an “ok” place. It’s quite clean and in order, but not as exciting as I expected. But most importantly, you had a good time there. I can tell by the way you keep on talking and giggling along our way home. I’m glad I decided to take another day off today. It’s worth it.

Letting You Decide

I think it is so natural for children like you to stall when they are asked to quit playing and do other things. But I have a very good trick that never fails me: I let you decide when do you want to quit!

Just like today, we spent the day at Circuz Circuz Playground at PIM. I was beginning to get worried when one hour after your usual lunch time, you still refused to quit. So this is what I did. I asked you to determine the time you want to quit. After a tough negotiation, we agreed that you would quit playing 20 minutes later, at.1.30. And it never fails. At 1.29, I showed you the time, and you voluntarily went out from the playground without a fuss.

I use this same trick when you are reluctant to get a bath, refuse to turn off the tv or don’t want to eat up your meal. I think it makes you feel appreciated that you are being involved in the decision making and therefore also learn to honor your own decisions.

The only problem is when you try it on me: “So, mama, what time are you going to get home? At which number the little hand is pointing at…..?” Hahaha, smart kid…..

Don't know what you've got till it's gone...

I found a beautiful posting, while I went blog-walking on this beautiful Sunday morning. It belongs to an RCTI’s reporter who recently launches a semi-biography of Tukul Arwana.

This is what she wrote, in August 2005, one and a half years after her mom is gone:

"Dont know what i've got till it's gone..."

Satu setengah tahun yang lalu Mama ku pergi menghadap Tuhan. Sangat banyak hal2 yang belum sempat aku sampaikan kepadanya....

"Ma...akhirnya ira diterima kerja...ini berkat doa Mama"
"Ma...ini gaji pertama ira ...semuanya hadiah buat Mama aja"
"Ma...ira bentar lagi dapat bonus ..nanti gajian kita jalan-jalan ya"

Juga, pada saatnya nanti, tak bisa lagi aku sampaikan kepadanya...

"Ma...kenalin, ini calon suamiku..."
"Ma...mohon do'a restunya, ira mau menikah..."
"Ma...ini cucu Mama, ajarin ira jadi ibu yang baik seperti Mama ya..."

Arti seorang ibu seperti udara bagi kehidupan manusia. Begitu besar arti kehadirannya... namun seringkali kita tidak menyadari....Sampai saat kita harus kehilangannya

I can perfectly understand how she felt, and I feel so lucky that I still have my mom and dad by my side throughout the important stages of my life. But then, as Ira said, “Begitu besar arti kehadirannya... namun seringkali kita tidak menyadari....”

I guess this is what most children feel about and do to their parents. They love them, they know they should spend more time with them, yet there are a zillion kind of other things to do before they have time to express their love and care, to visit them, to spend time listening to their blabbering stories, or even just to give them a mere “how are you today” phone call.

Hmmm, gotta make that call now…. (after uploading this post…..)

xxx

(Picture of your eyang kakung and eyang putri - reproduced for their 80th birthday in 2004. Isn't she beautiful?)

The Net, now from Home

We now have access to internet from home! No limit access, for only Rp150 thousand per month! Now this is what I call a fantastic deal: with that amount of money, the service is excellent while the access speed is amazing.

So today, we spent the afternoon surfing the net. We visited the sites of all your favorite characters, from Ben 10, Jimmy Neutron, Danny Phantom, Spiderman, Chalk Zone, Totally Spies and many more.

You have also learned to look for information in Google. You even looked for sites that have your name. And there it was, the Wikipedia says that your name can be translated into English as effort, vigor, diligence, and zeal. Hm, isn’t Google wonderful? Isn't the net the most brilliant thing men ever invented?

Being On Your Own

As usual, when I wake up at night and can't go back to sleep, I browse the net from my O2. Last night, my blog-walking brought me to Di Sini, that belongs to my colleague, a young talented writer to be. She wrote a nice posting about my posting.

Just to remind you, she is the one who gave you that dinosaur and alligator eggs that hatched and grew bigger when you put them into water. You were so amused and kept on asking how it could happen. And until now, you still have them in the bathroom, refuse to put it away though they have become so wrinkled.

And just like you, she is also the only child in the family. I once asked her how it felt to be one, does she ever want to have siblings. To my relief, she said she has always enjoyed being the only child, never really feel alone and lonely - something I'm always afraid you would feel. In fact, I think she has become such a creative person because she has a lot of time on her own.

So honey, I hope being the only child will only make you a stronger person. Not always having me around would make you a decisive and creative person, somebody who knows what he wants and is not afraid of taking risks.

But of course, the world is not a place where you can find all answers. So when things are getting too much for you, when you are not sure which door to open, you know you can come to me. I may not be able to give you answers nor direction, but at least I will always be there, and here, for you. That's what a mother is all about.

xxx

Picture taken from here

Story Telling: Who is Telling Who?

Last night was funny. As usual, as soon as I turn off the tv and dim the light, you would shout “tell me a story!”. And I would ask you “What story do you want to hear tonight? Batman? Ben 10? Spiderman?” And last night you wanted a combination of the three characters: Ben10, Jimmy Neutron and Danny Phantom

And so I began: “One day, Ben10, Jimmy Neutron and Danny Phantom were studying in the class room when something happened….,”. And then, before I could say another word, you continued the story for about five minutes, before saying ”Ok, mama, now you tell me the story…” So, I continued with few sentences, before, again, you interrupted with your version. And this happened repeatedly until I felt so sleepy hearing your voice and close my eyes. I fell asleep until you woke me up “Mama, open your eyes and continue the story….” .

Hahaha, I felt it was so funny, as if you were the one who was telling me a bed time story. Hmmm, this is the kind of moments with you that I would always treasure. And you know what, when I am getting really old, I would really like you to tell me a bed time story. I think it would be very nice.

Picture taken from here