Dear Laila and Zul,
When I received the sms earlier today, I was perplexed. The message was short “Aisyah meninggal” but it made me wondered a hundred questions. Which Aisyah? Why? When?
So I called Laila up to ask for clarification. What I got was a heartbreaking answer in a broken voice – “Baby aku, Aisyah, meninggal. Ni aku nak pegi Hospital. Petang ni atau Maghrib nanti nak solat jenazah.”
I was speechless.
I’ve known how you have waited for a princess in the family. After a succession of three boisterous boys, Aisyah finally made a grand entrance in your life a few months back. I remember how happy you looked, Laila, cuddling a precious little sweet girl in your arms. You were delighted when I visited you not long after Aisyah’s birth and presented you with a pink towel. Yes, towels have became my trademark gift for your newborns, unlike others who often receive baby clothes from me.
I did not have the heart to ask you why Laila – it was shattering enough to listen to your voice quivering with pain and dismay as you told me that you were going to the hospital to get some things cleared up. So I only uttered the next cliché that came to my mind – be patient. Be strong. And quietly I added – my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family always.
Aisyah, being your first girl, was unique, special and irreplaceable. I know children are not interchangeable and the fact that you can have other children does not lessen the grief of losing her. I know that there is nothing to compare with the loss of an innocent child, and only those who have known such a tragedy can truly understand your sorrow. The pain that you are going through right now is beyond my comprehension. Though words may be meaningless right now, I hope and I pray that both of you will find some comfort in the love of family, the warmth of friends and the sympathy of all who care for you.
And may it be a source of inner strength to know that Allah, Most Loving, Most Merciful, is watching over you and your daughter and that throughout it all, as you keep on being patient, He’ll stay close by your side.
Dearest Laila, I'm here. You can call me any time of the day or night. I'll cry with you, I'll listen to you and I'll always have tissues.
Al-Fatihah…
Monday, July 11, 2005
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Why it's better to be street smart
Tok is rather fond of telling others on how she has raised her kids to be successful and that most of them went overseas to study. What she missed telling others was that her eldest son who worked hard to send his siblings to study abroad had never been to a university himself.
Yes, Ayah, the eldest in the family, worked hard right after he left school to help the family. He’s always been a big believer in operating own business rather than makan gaji. So, never in his life had he ever worked for someone else, rather, he’s always been answerable only to himself. He saved a lot and worked hard to find scholarships for his siblings, so that they could study abroad (back in the 80’s, Ayah trusted the education system in UK and US more than any of those provided at the local U). But as for his own qualification – he only studied up to Higher School Certificate level (akin to A-Level or STPM) and never found time after that to pursue a degree.
My younger brother, Abang, had gone to a lot more learning institutions than I did. He could declare himself to be former student of UUM, UiTM, KDU and the latest, MMU. But he’d never graduated. I guess when it comes to making money, Abang is too much of Ayah’s son, so he simply could not wait to begin his own enterprise and earn his own money. I’m glad to share that despite never finishing his studies anywhere, Abang is now rather successful as a producer of a few TV series. Yes, it goes without saying that he earns a lot more than his sister who managed to graduate in law does. He owns quite an impressive animation studio and has a team of creative staff working under his supervision, and I guess that’s quite an achievement for someone below the age of 30.
A friend of hubby’s is a successful financial planner and has a remarkable client base. He stopped studying after form five. Instead, he has gone for a lot of short courses, armed himself with learning and improving his English, kept polishing his skills to influence others and win a lot of new friends along the way. He works hard, perseveres, keep on persevering until he reached the level of Manager and now has travelled to a lot more places around the world than most people. He still works hard and now earns a lot than hubby who not only owns a Bachelor’s degree, but also a Masters degree.
Yes, education is important. But education does not necessarily comes from book or proven by that particular piece of paper ones get after three or four years of slaving over books, thesis and exams. A person can educate himself by having the ability to learn things from life and from experiences. In fact, sometimes, it’s vital to be more a street smart person than simply a book smart person. Being street smart often means that one has good judgment on life situations, on other people, and on himself, thus one is more sensitive to the environment and quick to adapt to it.
And I guess those abilities often make a better man, a better survivor than those who are proud of owning a degree yet do not possess similar qualities. Not to mention - earning more too ;-)
Yes, Ayah, the eldest in the family, worked hard right after he left school to help the family. He’s always been a big believer in operating own business rather than makan gaji. So, never in his life had he ever worked for someone else, rather, he’s always been answerable only to himself. He saved a lot and worked hard to find scholarships for his siblings, so that they could study abroad (back in the 80’s, Ayah trusted the education system in UK and US more than any of those provided at the local U). But as for his own qualification – he only studied up to Higher School Certificate level (akin to A-Level or STPM) and never found time after that to pursue a degree.
My younger brother, Abang, had gone to a lot more learning institutions than I did. He could declare himself to be former student of UUM, UiTM, KDU and the latest, MMU. But he’d never graduated. I guess when it comes to making money, Abang is too much of Ayah’s son, so he simply could not wait to begin his own enterprise and earn his own money. I’m glad to share that despite never finishing his studies anywhere, Abang is now rather successful as a producer of a few TV series. Yes, it goes without saying that he earns a lot more than his sister who managed to graduate in law does. He owns quite an impressive animation studio and has a team of creative staff working under his supervision, and I guess that’s quite an achievement for someone below the age of 30.
A friend of hubby’s is a successful financial planner and has a remarkable client base. He stopped studying after form five. Instead, he has gone for a lot of short courses, armed himself with learning and improving his English, kept polishing his skills to influence others and win a lot of new friends along the way. He works hard, perseveres, keep on persevering until he reached the level of Manager and now has travelled to a lot more places around the world than most people. He still works hard and now earns a lot than hubby who not only owns a Bachelor’s degree, but also a Masters degree.
Yes, education is important. But education does not necessarily comes from book or proven by that particular piece of paper ones get after three or four years of slaving over books, thesis and exams. A person can educate himself by having the ability to learn things from life and from experiences. In fact, sometimes, it’s vital to be more a street smart person than simply a book smart person. Being street smart often means that one has good judgment on life situations, on other people, and on himself, thus one is more sensitive to the environment and quick to adapt to it.
And I guess those abilities often make a better man, a better survivor than those who are proud of owning a degree yet do not possess similar qualities. Not to mention - earning more too ;-)
Monday, July 04, 2005
New banner, new look
I know this is late - but I was away for the past few days; not feeling quite well for two days due to sore throat, running nose and some fever plus two non-working days. But the banner looks great, right? Done by Maknenek & installed by the Super Blur Makcik a.k.a. Kak Teh - I really owe these two wonderful ladies!! Arigatou gozaimasu!
Anyway - Look Again has been around for over a year, so please consider the banner as an attempt of a revamp of some sort. I'm thinking of making some changes on my links too - but am too busy right now to re-organise the blog template. Maybe someday... we'll see, insya Allah.
Anyway - Look Again has been around for over a year, so please consider the banner as an attempt of a revamp of some sort. I'm thinking of making some changes on my links too - but am too busy right now to re-organise the blog template. Maybe someday... we'll see, insya Allah.
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