Puasa

I’m so proud of you. Today, on the third day of this Ramadhan month, you began your half day puasa. What I was so happy about was nobody really asks you, it came from you. You really wanted to, and refuse to take your favorite choco sandwich that mbak Irah brought you this morning.

Today you broke your fast at exactly 12 noon with a glass of water and four stack of choco sandwich. You promise that after 1 pm, you will continue your puasa until maghrib. Way to go, honey!

Stages Of Life

Last year, when I was planning to buy my first shortsighted eye glasses, a question popped up in my mind: does this mean I am entering another stage of my life? You know, just like when you first enter school, have your first period, get your first job, get married and so on and so on. Does the fact that somebody begins to need shortsighted glasses mean anything?

That question reminded me of a conversation I overheard some 25 years ago, when I was in junior high, on my way to Bandung with some friends.

We were traveling by the most popular car rental back then, the 4848. It was a big old Cadillac that can accommodate 5 passengers and a driver. My two friends and I sat at the back seat, while another two middle-aged men sat in the front seat. I think we were somewhere in Puncak, my two friends started falling asleep to the sound of raindrops, when I overheard the two gentlemen talking about stages in life.

One man said that there are stages in life that changes every 8 years. This is how he described each stage as I remember it:

0 – 8 years old:

One has just begun to breath; they need a lot of help while trying to figure out about everything that is happening around them. Questions, questions, questions

8 – 16:
This is the period when one becomes more aware of her/himself. They have questions about themselves and a lot of times feel awkward and uncomfortable with their physical changes. Often, they find themselves in trouble, in school as well as at home

16 – 24:

One will fall in love with her/himself. It’s ‘narcist time’. They just love to see themselves in the mirror. Girls just want to be pretty. Boys try to be attractive for girls.

24 – 32:

A period when one has no fear in life. They will try everything, go anywhere, hike the highest mountain. It’s time to proof who they are. By this time, they will get their first job and start a family.

32 – 40:

Life is work. Work harder, earn more.

40 – 48:

Life begins. They would already have a steady career. Those who have a strong family bond will switch their focus to their spouse and children. However, some may have difficulties in marriage and start a new relationship.

48 – 56:

Time to enjoy life with what’s earned from their hard work. It’s time to travel around the world or buy a new big house.

56 – 64:

Life slows down. Time to reflect on oneself and become wiser and more religious.

64 – onwards:

Back to the first stage. They become dependent again while trying to figure out how life and the world have changed right in front of their eyes.

I believe what the man said makes a lot of sense. And knowing about these stages of life will help you understand where your life is going and therefore prepare yourself to face it.

Now, in what stage are you now, honey? Questions, questions, questions? No wonder....

.

.

Picture from here

Getting Old

Used to be that time passed so slow
Now it seems to be so fast

Running fast to get back home
Wondering where which way to go
Wish I’ve seen it thru my mother’s eyes
Now I stand alone…
I’m sitting here getting old

(a lyric of a song your pakde Yogo used to sing, don’t know what’s the title and who’s the singer)

I think one of the signs that you are getting old is when you feel that you don’t have enough time to do whatever you want to do. And that is exactly how I feel right now.

I found a comment from a visitor yesterday, saying that I haven’t been writing for a new post for awhile. Gosh, yes, I haven’t, despite the promise I have made to myself that I would write at least once a week.

This is my wish list: when it comes to how I want to spend my time

1) I want to spend more time with you, playing, talking and helping you with your homework (last night, you refused to finish your homework until I got home)

2) Yet, I’m also enjoying my time in the office, ensuring that everybody is enjoying their work as well (and I still have that 40 pages translation to edit by this afternoon)

3) And I also want to catch up with that good buddy of mine that I recently found after 20 years! (I cancelled the plan to meet this buddy yesterday, so that I can go home early and spend time with you. Yet, I was only able to leave the office at 7pm)

4) Not to mention that I want to chat and gossip with my two best friends, tante Elza and tante Ira, whom I haven’t seen for more than a month (I really miss them!)

5) And I want to tidy up the house, re-arranging my closet and get rid of those old clothes (I think I have been wanting to do this since two years ago….)

6) I also feel that I’m not spending enough time with my mom and dad, they are really getting old (love them, and sometimes I’m worried about them….)

7) And I want to write my short stories, there are so many ideas that are playing on my mind (I just wrote a poem instead, as it is shorter and easier and less time consuming!)

8) And I haven’t even finished reading Jostein Gaarder’s The Orange Girl, after a year! (this is soooo embarrassing….)

The seconds are ticking, there is so much more I want to do…, and I’m watching you grow, and I’m so afraid that I’m losing important and precious moments that I should have had with you. ..

Without Me

Your school held a Parents Class Visit and therefore there’s no class for you today. I was supposed to come, but since I only received the invitation last night, I have to skip it this time. I have to go to work.

Anyway, your bude Vinny called and asked if you would like to join Annisa, Bea, Pancar and Ardhika to go to Ancol, and you jumped out of the bed when I told you the good news. You took a bath on your own, and when I knocked in to say goodbye, you stood still with your big puzzled eyes:

You: Oh, you are not coming with me to Ancol?

Me: No, honey, I have to go to work

You: Oh, I thought you are coming….

Me: No, honey, I’m sorry…. I didn’t know that you don’t have to go to school today. Otherwise, I would probably have asked for a day off

You: Other kids, are their moms coming?

Me: Yes, honey...

You: So, who will I be with?

Me: Mbak Irah will come and accompany you, don’t worry

You: Oh, okay……

With that, you quietly continued your bath. It looked like you took it quite well, yet I felt so sad and wonder what went on your mind. Honey, I know there is no way mbak Irah can replace me.

And with this posting, I want you to know, that I really wanted to be with you and spend a fun day in Ancol with you. But then again, sometimes – a lot of times – things do not happen as what we want it to be.

Thank you for understanding.

Indonesian Science Festival

You are always amused by science experiments and that's why I took you to PIM this Sunday. Not to shop, but because they are holding the 2007 Indonesian Science Festival. Actually, I wasn't really expecting much, I thought it's just going to be the boring science exhibition. Well, I was wrong!

The booths, though not all were ready for the visitors, displayed and demonstrated science in a very attractive way, especially for children like you. There are a lot of experiments that you can try, so instead of listening to the usual boring explanation, children can try and experience the wonder of science directly. Most of these fun booths were organized by DoctoRabbit.

To me, the most interesting booth was the one where they have this 6 grader student explained about various things that happen in our every day life, from how the wind blows in the morning and at night, how food are processed in our body, how a laser pointer works, to the 9 planets of our galaxy.

I was so impressed by Rizki, a very young scientist, who is a student of SD Cilandak Barat 06. The way he explained things were so clear and interesting. No wonder you spent nearly half hour chatting with him.

This is how science is supposed to be, fun and cool.

Picture shows Rizki explaining about how laser pointer works

The 2007 Indonesian Science Festival is officially held from
13-19 August 2007 at the North Skywalk 1st fl. and North Atrium,
Pondok Indah Mall 2.

Father and Son Day Out

Last week-end, your dad took you to a one-day-cruise to Pulau Ayer. The trip was organized by the Jakarta Toastmasters Club #4067, where your dad serves as the Area Governor.

In case you were wondering why I did not come with you and your dad, here are the reasons.

First, I’m not too keen on traveling by boat. I would enjoy the breezy wind, but since I don’t swim, I might feel uneasy every time the sea gets a bit rough

Second, I’m not so much of a beach-type-of-a-person. I’m not too crazy about getting a sun tan, or riding a banana boat (for a very obvious reason!)

Third, I would like you to spend more time with your dad, without me. So it’s kinda father and son day out

Fourth, I also want to have some time on my own, catching up with my good buddies that I haven’t seen for months

Anyway, it seemed like you really enjoyed the trip, you met a new friend - Rayhan - and won several prizes from the games they organized during the trip. And you were so impressed by the Phinisi that took you to the island. So I guess it was a good day for all of us.

XX

Picture of you and Rayhan, with Phinisi as the backdrop.

The Kite Museum

Another three days to go before you are back to school. I called a few friends and relatives, wondering if they’d like to join us to spend the day. But I guess I was a bit late in calling them and everybody seemed to have their own plan already.

Well, what the heck, we’ll have fun even if it’s only the two of us, won’t we? We decided to go to Museum Layang-Layang - the Kite Museum, in Lebak Bulus area. And it turned out to be worth visiting.

The entrance fee is Rp10 thousand per person, a more reasonable price compared to the National Museum which I think is so under-priced. The tour started off with a video show about various types of kite. Then we went in to the display room that showcases different kind of kites, from different places in Indonesia as well as from other Asian and European countries. And we were amused by the tiniest kite in the world, which was only about 1,5 cm long.

Next, you were given a chance to make your own kite. Kak Hendra, the tour guide, was extremely friendly and helped you made one with Ben10's Ghost Freak and Four Arms drawing on it. We also saw how big kites were made in the small workshop they have.

And we found out that there’s going to be a Kite Festival this week-end in Rancamaya. Sounds like worth going too, isn’t it?