Death- The Order Of The Year 2009 (Yasmin Ahmad.....The Story Teller)

Good men must die, but death cannot kill their names. (Quote by author -- Proverb)

On Saturday, July 25, 2009, more than 48 hours after surgery, Yasmin Ahmad succumbed to her injury and was pronounced dead at 11.25pm.On Sunday, July 26, 2009, Yasmin Ahmad was laid to rest at the USJ 22 Muslim Cemetery in Subang Jaya, Selangor where her husband, Abdullah Tan Yew Leong, their immediate families, hundreds of fans, friends, industry colleagues and personalities gathered to bid her farewell.

If in one sentence I am ever asked to comment about YA's movies what would I say? I was asked this question just after the passing of YA by one of my colleague. I taught hard. I had watched Sepet unknowingly when it was first televised on ASTRO. It was a revelation. An important message depicted so innocently almost childlike. Having watched Sepet umpteen times ( I still watched it again and again on channel 110 YDK when it was recently shown in memory of YA) I made it a point this time to seek out GUBRA in the cinema in Kuala Lumpur in the year 2006. I had to breve the movie alone as no one was interested in watching a movie made by a Malaysian Director. No form of convincing helped so I decided I was on my own. From the time the lights went out and the title of the movie came on till the credits rolled I was mesmerized once again by YA. I had no words to describe what I had just saw. Any word from the dictionary would not have sufficed. I imbibed the movie as one would inhale a favourite cologne. After which my curiosity towards YA mounted and i turned to you tube to watch all the advertisements that were YA branded. I realised over the years I have seen all these touching commercials on TV during festive seasons and how it struck chords in me but never imagined that these were the work of none other than our very own YA. One commercial that stuck on was the one title 'Funeral'. I am married and hubby snores so I can relate to the protagonist that played the wife. Since our marriage we have never stayed apart for more than one day. Yesterday my hubby had to remain in Batam due to some work. Initially i was thinking it was a good break we would get from each other but after a while realised TV didn't seem so interesting without him and his small silly comments, food without him didn't taste so good, and our bed didn't seem so comfortable without us wrestling for the covers.

So if I were to describe YA's movies/commercial in one line it wd certainly be

' An ordinary/everyday message presented through extraordinary brilliance'

Rest in Peace YA.

Death- The Order Of The Year 2009 (Micheal Jackson)

Good men must die, but death cannot kill their names. (Quote by author -- Proverb)

I could not believe what my hand phone screen was displaying on June 25th (Malaysian Time) 2009. It took some time to sink in that Micheal Jackson, the man that the world christened King Of Pop had actually passed on to meet his maker. I had come to know about MJ back in the 80ties when I had accidentally stumbled upon a cassette lying in my uncle's room. It had no label so I had no idea what it was. Being a curious kid I seeked the assistance of the then popular 'walk man' and within minutes of me hitting the play button I heard my first MJ song that until today brings back all lovely memories of being a child way back in the 80ties. I am so very proud that the first 2 songs that endeared me to MJ was none other than Beat It and Billy Jean. What music, what vocals......amazing just amazing. MJ had a hold over me just with those two songs and back then I was just a small kid knowing very little about music. Imagine if he cd have a hold over a child, the magnitude of hold over the rest of the world certainly is befitting with the title 'King of Pop' that he shall forever be known as. Rest in Peace Micheal!

I'd Rather Be A Happy Whale!

From time to time my friends and loved ones send me profound e-mails that touch my heart and I thank them. In the last few years I have myself become heavier by a few kilos. Age tends to drain metabolism and thus weight gain. There have some people who time and again rub my face in it by saying "Gosh loose some weight"......Like I don't want to. This started to get at me. Why should people be obsessed with my weight when I myself am at a stage in life where I am contended with life. I have a beautiful home a loving husband, a good job, wonderful parents and in laws. What more can I ask for in life.........being a supermodel was not what I set out to achieve. I love being me cause I am who I am. I am proud to say I am a happy whale. Sharing this article I found to be brilliant!

Sharmila

Recently, in a large French city, a poster featuring a young, thin and tanned woman appeared in the window of a gym.

It said: "THIS SUMMER DO YOU WANT TO BE A MERMAID OR A WHALE?"
A middle aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match those of the woman on the poster, responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.

To Whom It May Concern:
Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions, curious humans). They have an active sex life, they get pregnant and have adorable baby whales. They have a wonderful time with dolphins, stuffing themselves with shrimp. They play and swim in the seas, seeing wonderful places like Patagonia, the Barren Sea and the coral reefs of Polynesia. Whales are wonderful singers and have even recorded CDs. They are incredible creatures and virtually have no predators other than humans. They are loved, protected and admired by almost everyone in the world.

Mermaids don't exist. If they did exist, they would be lining up outside the offices of Argentinean psychoanalysts due to identity crisis. Fish or human? They don't have a sex life because they kill men who get close to them, not to mention how could they have sex? Therefore they don't have kids either. Not to mention who wants to get close to a girl who smells like a fish store?
The choice is perfectly clear to me; I want to be a whale.

P.S. We are in an age when media puts into our heads the idea that only skinny people are beautiful, but I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with my kids, a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver and a coffee with my friends. With time we gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room it distributes out to the rest of our bodies. So we aren't heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy. Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, "Good gosh, look how smart I am!"

The Paradox

I frequently ask my husband one question, in getting a fatter paycheck, a bigger home, a nicer car and a fat bank balance what are we losing out on? Our average day starts at 5am, my husband leaves home at 6am and i follow suit at 7.30am. I am normally back home by 7pm and my husband follows up at 7.30pm latest 8pm. By the time i get home , clean and straighten out the house, arrange a meal and have my bath my husband is back. We just have enough energy to greet each other, eat dinner whilst watching the idiot box and then retire for the day. Our day ends as early as 8.30 sometimes or maybe if we are lucky around 9.30 max. Weekends don't help either cause there is housework to do, errands to run. As i ponder over this scenario which is the order of the day 5 days a week (MON-FRIDAY), questions are being thrown at me at high speed about starting a family. FAMILY? BABY? What type of quality time would I being a mother be able to give to my child when i have not even enough time for myself and mu husband. I do calculations in my mind counting the time I can devote to my child and that makes me so sad. One of my friends was kind enough to send me this message written by George Carlin which i found profound thus the urge to put it in my blog and share.

Sharmila

Message by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things..

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less.. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait.. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, ' I love you ' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away..

Happy Birthday Mum

MUM'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION ON 3RD JUNE 2009
AT OUR PLACE

I was over the moon when mum announced that she wanted to come down for a visit and spend some days with us. Firstly cause ever since we rented our house, this is the first time mum was coming for a visit and secondly cause she would be with us on her birthday. I began planning her birthday. I took leave and made sure she did not do anything at home on her special day. We took a nice long walk around the neighbourhood while my 2 nephews battled wits for the bicycle. After our nice long walk, we got dressed and went down to the Gurdwara to pay our homage and also to let mum see where we got married.(mum did not come down for the wedding). My mum was very gracious to prepare lunch for us so after temple we went for lunch to my parent's place. After a sumptuous meal, I sent mum and the kids back home and went cake hunting. Needless to say Impian Emas only has one cake shop and that is where i headed directly. After being spoilt for choice I manage to set my mind on a chocolate cake. Well the time to reveal the cake finally came as the clock struck 7.30. My mum being the darling she is offered to cook dinner for me and she arrived around 7.15. We brought out the cake and mum was so shy to pose for pics and cut her cake. Nevertheless I manage to get some snaps of mum laughing and she enjoying all the attention and that was what that mattered to us. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM

Grandpa's Death Anniversary

19th Mei 2009 marked the death anniversary of Sardar Gurbax Singh, my maternal grandfather. Now days when i look at my nephew and niece and my husband's nephew and niece I see how much grandparents love their grandchildren, I sometimes yearn that I still had my grandparents around. I was to young to understand the bond of grandfather-granddaughter. Grandpa or Bapa as we used to lovingly call him, was a handsome man. Having served in the police force, he was a tall broad shouldered man. In the many years I had known him I have never seen him raise his voice or get angry. I still remember I used to sneak into his room every morning in Seremban during school holidays just to hear and see him recite the Jaapji Sahib. I was young when Bapa passed away. I could not even comprehend death and was lost as to what was happening. All I can remember is my dad bundling my brother and me into the car and driving to Segamat (my Dad's hometown) and then continuing on our journey to Seremban the next morning. I can still picture how my mum (who was already in Seremban earlier) hugged me and cried. I saw my grandpa sleeping on the bed which was now put in the hall. All I could wonder was why was he sleeping when so many people are around and also that why was he asleep in the hall when his bed is supposed to be in his room. He looked calm and peaceful. Then they took him away but when they returned he was not with them. I was never to see him again in person except in my memories and dreams. I never understood where they took him at that time but as I grew up everything made sense to me. I knew where they took Bapa.

I know this may sound weird but 2 days later as i stood at the verandah looking out into our kampung house compound, I swear I heard Bapa's voice coming from the Lee Rubber factory lane and he was calling out my aunt's name "Guddi" just as he always used to call out whenever he came home from the market. Alas only the voice echoed but Bapa was gone forever and that was the bitter truth we had to accept and move on in life. The passing of Bapa is more significant year after year because 19th May also happens to be my brother's birthday. So on one side we celebrate life, one the other hand we remember death!

Mother's Day

1. This year Mother's Day on 10th May 2009 was very significant for me. This year I had to plan for both my mum's. We didn't have the chance to go back to KL for Mothers Day but I made sure, my mum in KL receives a bouquet of lovely flowers. All plan in motion the flowers were delivered on the actual day and mum told me she just loved the flowers. I was later sent pictures of mum cutting her mothers day cake with her grandchildren and the bouquet was very nicely placed next to the cake. That made my day!

After making sure my mum in KL had received her flowers, we put our second plan into action. We bought a cake for mum and went over for lunch. Mum didn't expect a cake as she was slightly surprised. However her grandkids were more excited to cut a cake. Give them a cake and a knife and they will do enough justice. This year's mothers day was more significant for me mainly because i was celebrating with my husband and both my mum's. Although one of my mum was far away in KL she was still close to our hearts. HAPPY MOTHERS DAY MUMS!

Honeymooning in Chiang Mai

Its been so long since I updated my blog. I wont lie, life hasn't been easy lately, what with work pressure and household nitty gritties. I awaken everyday with the intention that maybe today I shall sit down with a hot piping cup of coffee and attempt to update my blog but always fail to do so. Its a wonder how we plan to do something but never set out to achieve it. When this happens we console our self and say its okie I will get down to doing it tomorrow. Have we ever sat down and thought what if there is not tomorrow or tomorrow never comes.

OUR HONEYMOON IN CHAING MAI

Thanks to my sister in law Gurjit, our honeymoon in Chaing Mai (8th April-11 April 2009) was really memorable. Our hotel was one far off from town nestled in between mountains and all the greenery one can wish to see. The most remembered part of it was the visit to the elephant farm and the 1 hour elephant ride right across the elephant village. I wish I could take a picture of my hubby;s face when he got onto the elephant. Why u may ask? Well let me put it this way Frankenstein wd have looked less scarier than my husband did when he attempted to sit on the back of our elephant. I was so amused to see my hubby's face when after the elephant show an elephant came n lifted me up with his trunk. If he was a baby i cd have sworn he was gonna cry there and then. After the elephant ride came the ox cart ride. We just sat there being amazed and pondering over the fact of how our ancestors used to travel day in day out on such modes of transport. Once the ox cart ride was over, it was time to don our straw hat and go for a bamboo raft ride. The weather was scorching hot, so hot that half way we decided to take off our shoes and dip our feet into the cold cold water while we imagined we were on a gondola instead of a raft. Once we got off the raft out stomachs were aching for some authentic Thai cuisine so we requested out taxi driver to bring us to where we could feast on some hot hot spicy tom yam. He agreed and drove us to a small hut by the roadside. I was skeptical but my husband kept on urging me to b positive. Well I always tell how can I b positive when my blood group i b negative! Well safe to say, after such a sumptuous meal all we cd do was go back to our hotel and sleep..............................! We were lucky actually because all our meals in Chaing Mai were nice and reasonably priced. The taste out of this world!

Besides this elephant farm adventure, we also manage to catch the night safari. That was interesting. Imagine the animals all around us and we sitting in an open bus like concept for a vehicle. My husband was constantly looking out the window as if a tiger or a lion was gonna make us his dinner and desert. (My husband being the dinner and of course me being the desert). We also manage to visit one of the Buddhist temple in the heart of town. This was amazing because I actually thought the monk sitting in the smaller temple in a glass frame was actually a statute (a replica) but to my amazement, it was actually a life monk who has been meditating and has managed to brings his breathing down to a amazing low. This proves that mind over matter is not just a saying. If we put our minds to it we can achieve miracles! The mind is such a powerful tool and dangerous if residing in a physco.

Finally came time for shopping. Since my husband has been to Chaing Mai earlier he knew exactly where to get good bargains. We had goodies for everyone including our selves also. Lastly we were bankrupt happy honeymooners! But the adventure did not end there. The riots were becoming bad in Bangkok and our worry meter rose to an alarming frenzy as we prayed we could fly out of Chaing Mai the next day which was a waste cause the Songkran festival was beginning the day we were flying out and we did not have the chance to experience it. Its okie we shall try to make it the next time we plan to return to Chaing Mai. By the time we landed in LCCT there was a storm and we had to sit in our aircraft for at least 30 minutes before the plane doors were thrown open. Normally when it comes to an end of a holiday, paces become sluggish and we were no different. Our thoughts were just to hop onto the bus and get home and that is exactly what we did. The only hitch in our plan came when our bus broke down on the highway and we were required to board another bus which were already filled with passengers. Well this brought me back to my college days where i used to push those shoving me and try to get a seat. If getting a seat was impossible I wd just sit on the floor of the bus just to get a load of the feat. That was exactly what I did here. My husband was amused and slightly puzzled but just to tired to say anything so the moment passed without any comments. His thoughts I am sure was just to get home and into his bed.

A BIT ABOUT THE SONGKRAN FESTIVAL
The most obvious celebration of Songkran is the throwing of water. People roam the streets with containers of water or water guns, or post themselves at the side of roads with a garden hose and drench each other and passersby. This, however, was not always the main activity of this festival. Songkran was traditionally a time to visit and pay respects to elders, including family members, friends and neighbors. Besides the throwing of water, people celebrating Songkran may also go to a wat (Buddhist monastery) to pray and give food to monks. They may also cleanse Buddha images from household shrines as well as Buddha images at monasteries by gently pouring water mixed with a Thai fragrance (Thai: น้ำอบไทย) over them. It is believed that doing this will bring good luck and prosperity for the New Year. In many cities, such as Chiang Mai, the Buddha images from all of the city's important monasteries are paraded through the streets so that people can toss water at them, ritually 'bathing' the images, as they pass by on ornately decorated floats. In northern Thailand, people may carry handfuls of sand to their neighborhood monastery in order to recompense the dirt that they have carried away on their feet during the rest of the year. The sand is then sculpted into stupa-shaped piles and decorated with colorful flags. Some people make New Year resolutions - to refrain from bad behavior, or to do good things. Songkran is a time for cleaning and renewal. Besides washing household Buddha images, many Thais also take this opportunity to give their home a thorough cleaning.

The throwing of water originated as a way to pay respect to people, by capturing the water after it had been poured over the Buddhas for cleansing and then using this "blessed" water to give good fortune to elders and family by gently pouring it on the shoulder. Among young people the holiday evolved to include dousing strangers with water to relieve the heat, since April is the hottest month in Thailand (temperatures can rise to over 100°F or 40°C on some days). This has further evolved into water fights and splashing water over people riding in vehicles. Nowadays, the emphasis is on fun and water-throwing rather than on the festival's spiritual and religious aspects, which sometimes prompts complaints from traditionalists. In recent years there have been calls to moderate the festival to lessen the many alcohol-related road accidents as well as injuries attributed to extreme behavior such as water being thrown in the faces of traveling motorcyclists. The water is meant as a symbol of washing all of the bad away and is sometimes filled with fragrant herbs. Songkran is also celebrated in many places with a paegant in which young women demonstrate their beauty and unique talents, as judged by the audience. The level of financial support usually determines the winner, since, to show your support you must purchase necklaces which you place on your chosen girl.

Life Is Short

A death in the family leaves a void that cannot be filled. No one can ever take the place of this individual in the world. We should not try to comfort the family by saying that "it was his time anyway", or, "he was suffering". These may be words of comfort later. However, there must be time to mourn the fact that things will never be the same. One minute he was here and now he is gone. The human mind must be allowed to sit with this reality. Mourning is a necessary part of the human experience. If it is ignored, a general feeling of sadness may pervade.

THE PASSING OF MAMAJI SARDAR SARJIT SINGH

On 2nd August 2009, I received a call from my family while I was out carrying out my office duties. It was most devastating to hear that my mamaji SARJIT SINGH had left us on earth an moved on to be united with his maker WAHEGURU. His death came as a shock to all of us as we never expected him to go leaving us so soon. As I made my way into the room where mamaji laid on the bed, I was haunted by all the memories of him. His smile, the special way he told a joke and most importantly the way he smiled. He had a smile that reached and twinkled his eyes and not many people have that kind of smile as that indicates and innocent heart devoid of any ill feelings for anyone. Such was my mamaji, he touched the lives of many who had the chance to know him. He was 76 years old and his passing is such a loss to our family as he was the parent to my mother, aunt and uncle after their parents passed on. He was always the rock of our family and now we hv to learn to live without him. May His soul rest in peace always.