There’s Beauty In A Kick

I secretly got a soft kick at my feet under the table to warn me not to take the offer out of his plate, as he, our son had the flu.

Another time she whispered during a break of our choir training, to me: “Don’t take it”. The (bakwan jagung) corn cake, she, a choir member, offered me was so tough and not nice at all. Can you picture our choir, old agers silently nibbling on it. No one dared complain, though it was torture, suffering.

I said I would take it home as not to offend her. I didn’t ate it but gave it to my dog, - instead of my old cook, who certainly would curse it - to chew. And on top of it, she assured, she would take the rest that’s left, to gladden her even older choir members the next day. Ha. Ha. What madness.

There is beauty in a kick, in a whisper, ...

Hers is a subtle way to warn me without compromising the good intentions of the benefactress, of which am I grateful and will always remember. So said Opa Johan.

June 2013

This is my book. You can read it.

• http://blookup.com/en/blookshop/blook/leisurely-reading-14566/

Except They Want It At Their Own Risk

Except They Want It At Their Own Risk

Do you know why I wont add my dearest, best friends as my facebook friends? I don’t want to confide, share,  burden, torture, torment, weary them with my writings, except bad friends or they want it at their own risk. Ha. Ha.

May 2013

This is my book. You can read it.

• http://blookup.com/en/blookshop/blook/leisurely-reading-14566/

 

May We Not Meet Again

May We Not Meet Again

“Thank you, Good bye” she said to the nurses, who nursed her during her illness in the hospital. “Till, eh ... ‘semoga engga ketemu lagi’, may we not meet again.”  So said the wife of Opa Johan laughing when she left.

May 2013  

This is my book. You can read it.

• http://blookup.com/en/blookshop/blook/leisurely-reading-14566/

 

I Don't Regret My Punishment

I Don’t Regret My Punishment

There’s a very high government official who was charged with, ... They confiscated his huge properties. The investigation also mentioned that he had also captured, bought him a lovely angel, a former “Putri Solo”, a beauty princess, you know? He might be sentenced to 20 years in jail or more, but then it occurred to me that were I him would I still be happy, glad and not be sorry nor regret my punishment, as I remember Mr. Chew’s Poem about his Lorelei.

Her eyes are lovelier, brighter than the most precious stones.

Her whisper divine music

When she comes I forget all

And I don’t care whether tomorrow is Doomsday.

Sure, I would leave you, you little fool for her. Ha. Ha. So said Opa Johan to his wife.

And I, i.e. me, imagined our late, the handsomest President Soekarno on his deathbed thinking: “I’ve not lived in vain, I don’t repent my fall, I’ve got many lovely official, unofficial wives, men would envy, make women jealous.”

Though Indonesia might be ranking lowest in civilization to international standards, yet, we, Indonesians are humane, not prudish. We didn’t impeach him.

May 2013

This is my book. You can read it.

• http://blookup.com/en/blookshop/blook/leisurely-reading-14566/

 

Who Is Old, Who Is Young?

Being old or young is not measured by years, you know, but by  one’s own feelings. Were you feeling as a timid, decrepit old man though you might be a youngster who’s very strong and healthy, then you’re a very old decrepit man.

Were you feeling as a young healthy, daring man, then you’re young, even you’re as old as Methusalah, who, were I not mistaken, lived some nine-hundred years or even you can’t walk anymore and move with a wheelchair.

I mean, eh ... what I really want to say is: being young is being capable of loving. 

Were there no love, what’s the use of living then? I don’t want to be born. 

  So don’t you ever stop loving your husband if you want to stay as young as ever even in old age, except you very eagerly want to become an unendurable, insufferable, decrepit, old woman, you little fool. Ha. Ha. So Opa Johan teased his wife.

May 2013

This is my book. You can read it.

• http://blookup.com/en/blookshop/blook/leisurely-reading-14566/