Erasing Old Memories, Starting New Ones

Memories are a funny concept.  I was just telling your Baba, how I've lived 36 years of life with Nenek, but the strongest memories I have of her involved her stay at the hospital during the last two months of her life.  The last 2 months were filled with memories of hope, recovery, routine visits and care.  But most profound image of all was her staring out of the ICU ward window.  God knows what was going though her head.

I don't know how long that memory will stay.  Perhaps forever till my last breath.

So now, I focus on adding more meaningful memories especially surrounding you and our loved ones.  Right now, its specifically focused on Atuk.  Atuk doesn't ask for much in his age now.  Just to feel he is needed and able to care for his family - even if Mama and Pak Long has passed that age already.

I'm arranging a holiday for him to Vietnam.  A trip he will take i n October with some friends.  I hope he will have good memories to keep from that trip.

Mama

Understanding Others

There are times in life when it is really important to be super understanding of other people's situation.  Well, come to think about it, not just certain times, but ALL THE TIME.  Being emphatetic of someone's condition helps you think and be thankful of the blessing you have from Allah.


Hidup ini singkat. Don't let it be too complicated than it needs to be.  Kalau kita senangkan hidup orang hari ini, esok-esok ALLAH akan membalas nya dengan memberi kesenangan pada kita.  Tapi, janganlah mengharap kesenangan itu datang.  Biarlah diberikan kesenangan pada saat Dia ingin berikan.

The End and New Beginning

As I write this, its the end of 2011.  The next entry will be in 2012, and we are celebrating that new year with a new addition to the family, Aishah Zahirah.  


She's the second child to Pak Long and Maklong, and sister to Ahmad Danial.  Yesterday, Mama and Baba brought Atuk to see Aishah and Maklong at the labour ward. Today, Pak Long has just sms-ed Mama to say that both mother and child will be coming home.  Seronok nanti ada baby dalam rumah.


Khadijah must be a good sister okay? You must help take care of Adik Aishah.  Petang nanti you will meet her.  So, till then be good.


Mama.

A Somber, But Real Reminder...

Bila Waktu Telah Berakhir

Bagaimana kau merasa bangga

Akan dunia yang sementara

Bagaimanakah bila semua hilang dan pergi

meninggalkan dirimu

Bagaimanakah bila saatnya

waktu terhenti tak kau sadari

masihkah ada jalan bagimu

untuk kembali mengulangkan masa lalu

Dunia dipenuhi dengan hiasan

semua dan segala yang ada akan

kembali padaNya

Bila waktu telah memanggil

Teman sejati hanyalah amal

Bila waktu telah terhenti

teman sejati tinggallah sepi...

~OPICK~

A somber yet true reminder that we are all merely servants of ALLAH S.W.T.  Dari Dia kita datang dan kepada Dia kita kembali....

Haircuts

You've had various types of hair cut up till now.  But since your hair is the chinese straight kind, its fairly easy for me to care for your hair.  The one above you had it right after mama "cukur" your hair off after 7 days being born.

\

This one was one of your first formal hair cuts, tapi sebab Mama dah malas nak fikir, I just brought you to a Mamak hairstyle salon named "Ruba Hair Salon" near our old house in Kajang.  Your Tok bising because I had your hair cut like a boy..Teeheehee.

This hair style, Mama did the haircut for you.  Simple.  Just cut the back and front.  Luckily you were good enough to sit fairly still.  Well, you did manage to swallow a strand or two I think.

This one, you were already almost 2 years old.  This hair cut was done at a hair salon near Atuk's house.  Mama had to pay RM20 for it.  I thought it was a bit pricey, but considering the lady had it done fairly good (better than if I had done it for you), I suppose it was okay.

This picture was taken last Hari Raya Aidilfitri.  You looked really cute! And for once you allowed the hairclips to stay on for more than 10 minutes.  In fact, you allowed it to stay on for almost the whole day.  But, sekali tu jer la pun. Sighhh....

 This is a fairly recent picture, but even then I had already cut your hair again.  So its much shorter now.  I decided, until you can look after your own hair, I'll keep it short. You have rather active sweat glands, and your hair becomes "mushuk masham" bila dah peluh sangat-sangat.

God knows how different you will look in the coming years. But at least, for now, you remain with the look captured in this entry.

Love, 

Mama

Atuk's 2nd Eye Operation

Mama did not write about Atuk's first eye op.  He has to date undergone two eye operations, basically to replace his current eye lenses.  With the operation done, Atuk no longer needs to wear glasses for reading, and is able to see better when driving.

It was a day operation.  I brought him to PPUM, and later Pak Long came to also be with us.  The entire procedure from pre-op to post op took only half a day, and most of the care was done at home.  The doctor prescribed eye-drops, and Atuk had to go in a few days after the op to check on the lense and make sure the eye was recovering from the surgery.  

This is Atuk resting on the hospital bed, all ready to be called into the procedure room.

He's happy to go through the procedure.  But then again, Atuk is a big believer of getting himself checked medically first rather than some other methods of healing.  I did not take his post-op photo, but the eye-patch he had to put on sure raise some curiosity with you and Ahmad Danial!  Ahmad even volunteered to assist with administering the eye-drops for Atuk.  He was made to be in-charge on holding the eye-drops and handing them over to either Pak Long or Mama (depending on who was around to help Atuk).

Now, Atuk has better vision than Mama!

Our Home..For Now

I know.  I know.  Mama takes the longest time to update this memoir for you.  But I least I am updating it yes?


Today's entry is about our home, or at least how it looks like for now.  Mama and Baba has decided to take our time to decorate and furnish the house, making sure we have enough money to get only worthwhile items.  So, what you see of the house now are mostly items we brought over from our Kajang apartment.

Our dining area.   Tudung sajis mama bought at Simpang Empat, Alor Gajah, a shop next to the Petronas Service station.  Mama thinks, if we have extra money we can replace the petite dining table with a round one, and get some nice comfy dining chairs. The ones you see here are from Baba's bachelor days, one he had in his bachelor pad.

This is your room.  You still fit in the baby court (which used to house me as a baby).  But of course, you insist on sleeping with Mama.

This sofa set is from the Kajang house too.  Very comfy.

More of the living area.  The orange curtains are hand-me-downs from late Nenek.

Our current TV/Family area.  TV and TV cabinet from the Kajang house too.

Aaaa...this is the scene I wish most to change.  Our Kitchen.  Still the old cabinets from our Kajang house.  It's still usable, so it was hard to just not use them.  Also because we are saving money to get a really deserving kitchen cabinet installed so that we can use it for a long-long time.

Its hard to settle down on what design is best since the kitchen layout is kinda funny with the door smacked down right in the middle.  But I'll think of something I guess.  For now, our home is cosy enough as long as I have you, Baba and our loved ones around.

Love, Mama.