Today is Monday, 11 Jamadil Awal 1428, 28 May 2007
As promised in my last entry about Mother's Day, I'll tell something about 'mak' this time. Her fullname is Siti Jaliha binti Mat Yusof. Some might call her - Mak Long or Kak Chik. In fact, she's not the 1st child, the 3rd. Even my late dad was also the 3rd but unfortunately the 1st two children of my grandparents have passed away when they were still babies, thus almost everyone assumed my dad was the 1st.
Mom will turn 62 by end of this year (according to Masihi birthdate). I hope 'mak' can still be around for at least 10 years (more is good!). I hope I can still have time to 'balas budi'. My late dad died when he turned 63 in 2002. 10 days before that my 'susuan' parent passed away and not long after my dad died, another 'susuan' parent also be in their way. All of sudden everyone closed to me peacefully died one by one in the same year. At that time, don't know what else to think except I prayed that 'mak' wouldn't be in their way too.
If you look and know at her closely, you hardly know that she's old. You hardly find any white hair. Except through her skin and bones. Previously she was quite 'berisi' but now she's so skinny.
She has been staying with us for almost half a year before she decided to return to kampung. She got a letter from Tabung Haji stating that she has been chosen and confirmed to be one of the pilgrim candidates this year. Thus she should attend the classes nearest to our hometown every Sunday. I've tried to find the nearest to
SU but none except I've to drive all the way to Paya Jaras or State Mosque in Shah Alam. On the 2nd thought, it's good also to let her go on her own as she also missed the house and the memories left by her husband.
I've this heavy feeling that someone will break the house. Yeahh... someone (or 2?) did that in April before we gathered as usual and another one was after that (only recently..). Unfortunately, I can't force her to stay as she also needs her own life. Luckily my 2nd and 3rd sis are around so that they can take a good care of her. God! Please make her safe there..
One thing I inherit from her is sewing skill. Although she didn't attend any formal classes but she managed to learn from looking at the clothes. Try and error. Never give up. She sewed most of my 'baju kurung' and I feel proud to wear them. She also didn't go to school in her childhood. Learnt from environment and mistakes. She also learnt to read from the newspapers! And I was so proud one day when I spoke in English, she did understand what I was trying to say...
To 'mak', though I'm not rich, I want you to feel happy when we're around you... I just want to see you smile... (sian tul dengan cite anak anto mak ke rumah orang tua bukan beragama Islam tu... to her children, tunggulah balasan Allah s.w.t. yang Maha Adil...)
LOVE U 'MAK'
