Thursday, May 22, 2008

I thank you, Sir

I thank you, Sir

How often do we forget something, which we think we mustn’t? 


Some time last year I met someone whom I always wanted to see. I bumped into him in a friend’s kenduri. He didn’t quite recognize me but I made known myself to him that I have always wanted to see him. For one reason, he was one of the guys (government officers) who at that time recommended me to be given government’s scholarship. 

The last time I met him was 1975 now 2008, that must be about 33 years ago. It wasn’t just because he passed my written assignment among the criteria, but because of his bravery in arguing which his peers didn’t see at that time. Non academic criteria might also be useful to determine for possible award. He said. Perhaps mine was the worse case scenario, having come from very poor family, filthy a good for nothing orang darat. Very ugly and dirty didn’t have proper attire to see government officials and worse again lacking of protocol. I would simply say you’re rubbish if I felt you’re rubbish at that time. 

This man probably imagined that a guy like me if not looked after properly could turn nuisance at any given moment, more so with my expertise in using lastik-a slingshot popular among kampong kids in those days as handphone today’s. 

Wonder what would happen to a person like me with no education. It surely is a liability to the newly independent country. 

I thanked him. 

I was sitting next to him during the baca doa, and until the dinner was over we were still reminiscing the past. 

From that day on wards we’ve been smssing each other, but I’ve not always available to meet. I always feel bad. 

Today I remembered my promise, and I had no appointment to make, I hurriedly took my shower and smssed him minutes before went to shower room checking him if he is available around 3pm for a tea tarik in City Mall. 

City Mall is nearer for both of us. It’s least chaotic and easy to park during weekdays. 

The Datuk was already there ten minutes earlier than me, I noticed his sms while I was looking for parking space but wouldn’t consider economical to reply when you are only inches away from each other. 

We talked verities of subjects. One of the most important subjects whom no one will miss today is about former Prime Minister-Mahathir resignation from UMNO. 

So the Datuk thinks that Mahathir is crazy. Nine out of ten that I met say Mahathir is crazy. Now I have to think differently I have to be ready with counter response why Mahathir isn’t crazy. Don’t be surprise; I have much attentive audience by the fact that they think I have new things to tell them. 

By the way it was a lovely meeting with him (he looks fragile and forgetful) I could be worse by the time I reached his age. I wish him in good health and we shall be seeing each other again.

I handed him my book-he said, it’s always a nice feeling meeting the author. I heard this many times already. Thank you.

      
Posted by Amde Sidik's Anecdotes in 14:09:47 | Permalink | Comments (3)

Saturday, May 10, 2008

All but kids

All but kids

Today I had my lunch, as usual late. Must be around 2′oclock something. Was just come back from the nearby mosque. 

I was about to leave when two old friends came, they too late for lunch. I hang on for a while, as I felt impolite to ignore them. They looked happy when I came to their table; after all I had already cleared my bill.

We chatted.  
 
I realized of lately, the most common topic to talk about at our age is about kids. For example, how many of them have worked, how many are still at universities, if they work what kind of jobs they do. All but proud.  

One of the guys was no exception. His opening talk was about his son at great length; wonder if he ever thought I paid attention to him. He grumbled that sending his kid to study in UK, Australia or New  Zealand is expensive but have to lah! Now one kid is doing an MBA. He chooses UMS instead of Perth. It’s easier to watch him, and the daughter is working, she earns a decent salary. 

What do you expect me to say in situation like this? I decided not to say anything. He gave me a blank look. Was he thinking I now turned a holy man? While the other perhaps read my body language. I wasn’t interested in that subject. Not that I don’t have kids. You see if I start talking about mine I could be sounded like challenging or competing with him. In the end I might end up in bullshitting. How do I know my daughter and my son were smart, I didn’t correct their examination papers?   

This kind of talk is akin to saying I’m the best father in the whole universe, because all my kids have gone to university.   

Before this in a different occasion, a friend asked me why do people keep on talking about their kids, they seldom talk about their wives. If they do talk it must only be briefly. The more wives they have the less they talk about them! 

My answer was, I didn’t say anything.         
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Friday, May 9, 2008

A bit of showing off

A bit of showing off

Get this; I met my old friend recently at the wet market in Kota Kinabalu. He was with his wife and the daughter. He didn’t introduce me to them even though this was my first time seeing them. Weird.
The first sentence from him was this, ”Oh! Here you are, I want to invite you to my youngest sister’s wedding on blabla and at blabla. You must come. I have run out of invitation cards, everybody will be there, YB so so…will be  there too”  

This is the third time I heard in a week, that (they) ran out of invitation cards.

Something stung-a stingray needle poke my head, if I were to attend any body’s wedding, including your sister’s wedding. Then,  I shall be there, regardless who the other invitees are. Whether President Bush, Prime Minister Brown or Prime Minister Abdullah, they are none my concern. My coming to your sister’s wedding is not because of the YBs and pompous VIPs. 

I’m not impressed  by your showing off.  

Some of  my kampong mates would say ah!  I’m too urbanized or westernized. Also I don’t care. If the old kampong folks are the ones who said this to me, I may take it. But not you folk, a time is up for childish game.      


 
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Monday, May 5, 2008

Welcome to my anecdotes column

Welcome  to my anecdotes

I have already two active blogs, the Kadayan Journal which is mainly for articles on politics, and The Borneo Rainbow (managed together with friends) is devoted to writing about cultures and ethnics.

Active means I post new article may be once in a forthnight.

And in this blog? I think I shall be writing anything minus those topics already written in the two blogs

I can’t say this is not for public to see but I treat this blog as my dairy. If anyone stumbles over it and stumble you must, don’t expect to read properly written materials. 

When I say a dairy, I mean a little paper note book usually we keep in our back pocket. I want you to imagine that you are traveling by train heading to wherever. This is the only available time you have to jot something in your note book. So you write hurriedly, sometime you cross it, and sometime you’re short of space or your pen runs out of ink. You look around to borrow one but none looks friendly; you find one but asleep. Sometime the train is jerky and noisy …tot tot, you’re disturbed by your neighbour, who asks you for direction, he wants to know how long more to reach Timbuktu.


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