Thursday, 18 April 2013
Do people really change?
Can a leopard changes its spots? Do people really change? Is change consistent? Or is it just a passing phase? After umpteen years, numerous reprimands, talks and discussions .... is change so temporary? Or is it one changes when it suits them and is advantageous to them? Well, we always say that water never stays calm for long. It was too good to be true. The storm will pass. Yet, it still hurts. A blunt pain yet testing the patience. At the end of the day, take a deep breath, istighfar, grind your teeth, keep your peace and silence, smile and life goes on ..... ;-}
Friday, 12 April 2013
The "Completion of Studies" Day
Kedah Matriculation College celebrated its decade anniversary this year. To commemorate this special occasion, it decided to have a mock convocation aka "Hari Tamat Pengajian" or "Completion of Studies" day. It even had special robes for the "graduates" to wear to receive their scroll. What was amusing to Ikram's brothers was that the fact that exams had not even started. Well, Ikram was just lucky I guess, since he had his "convo" earlier than his two older brothers.
"Graduates" walking into the hall resplendent in their robes. I was thinking how young, serious and innocent they were before they stepped into varsity's life where they would change and mould into hardened, wiser, older and perhaps more mature young men. I recalled their "first" graduation with robes back in their kindergarten days. How time flew ... looking at them. Innocence being replaced by adolescence to adulthood ....
Ikram walking away with his "scroll". How solemn and serious he looked. I hoped and prayed that one day it would be a "real scroll" on a "real convocation" for his degree.
Ikram, nineteen years old and will be completing his one year matriculation studies on 30th April 2013. Then, to a university of his choice to further his degree studies in the field of his choice, insyaAllah. So young but so grown up. Matured but childish. I was laughing to myself that however serious they tried to portray they were all grown up, in an instant,when some guys decided to fool around, they broke out into fits of laughter and antics that made you realised that there were still that part of them which would always remain a child. I hoped and prayed that bit of childishness would always remain for them to remember that safe sanctuary when everything was so safe, secured and loved.
"Graduates" walking into the hall resplendent in their robes. I was thinking how young, serious and innocent they were before they stepped into varsity's life where they would change and mould into hardened, wiser, older and perhaps more mature young men. I recalled their "first" graduation with robes back in their kindergarten days. How time flew ... looking at them. Innocence being replaced by adolescence to adulthood ....
Ikram walking away with his "scroll". How solemn and serious he looked. I hoped and prayed that one day it would be a "real scroll" on a "real convocation" for his degree.
Ikram, nineteen years old and will be completing his one year matriculation studies on 30th April 2013. Then, to a university of his choice to further his degree studies in the field of his choice, insyaAllah. So young but so grown up. Matured but childish. I was laughing to myself that however serious they tried to portray they were all grown up, in an instant,when some guys decided to fool around, they broke out into fits of laughter and antics that made you realised that there were still that part of them which would always remain a child. I hoped and prayed that bit of childishness would always remain for them to remember that safe sanctuary when everything was so safe, secured and loved.
Monday, 8 April 2013
It's time to fly and soar ....
Ikram's convocation from matrix college. A year has passed. This year is all about the 3 boys convocation ceremonies. Ikram completed his matriculation course on 30th April 2013. Syafiq has already completed his diploma course from UTM, Kuala Lumpur. His convocation is slated to be sometime in June 2013. Akmal will be completing his degree course in June 2013 with his convo tentative date is in November 2013.
They have grown up. They are going in their own different directions. They are spreading their wings and soar. Different places, different fields from each other and definitely away from us. I have always let them go as I hang on to this adage - let them be free of obligations of you as being free is what ties them to you in the end. Let them go and never make the return journey an obligation. This will make them yearn to come home as they realise that they are always free to leave. Go if you want, but you are always welcome and accepted.
I guess I follow Mak's principles. She let her children went off after Bapak's death ... Adik to US, Hanah to Japan, Sue to Australia ... she never imposed the obligations of her children towards her. It was up to us to be filial about it. We did it not out of obligation or filial piety but the more she let us go, the more we returned to her. I have done my best for the boys. May they give their best to themselves, us and Allah. Our love, prayers and thoughts are always with them no matter where they are.
They have grown up. They are going in their own different directions. They are spreading their wings and soar. Different places, different fields from each other and definitely away from us. I have always let them go as I hang on to this adage - let them be free of obligations of you as being free is what ties them to you in the end. Let them go and never make the return journey an obligation. This will make them yearn to come home as they realise that they are always free to leave. Go if you want, but you are always welcome and accepted.
 |
| The invitation card ... |
Thursday, 4 April 2013
Munir's Engagement ... 30th March 2013
Kak Zizah had been estranged from the family since years ago ... more than 20 years I think. Not due to any arguments or dissatisfaction or anything specific in particular ... She just preferred to be left alone with her family and became reclusive in most family events or gathering. We are such a family that respects and accepts however you wish to lead your life. Yet, we always welcome you back with open arms. Justification or reasons are not necessary. For what it is worth, we are still family. Whatever happens, we are still siblings. However far one has wandered off or become reclusive, we are still of one father. The Aziz clan. Noor met her a couple of times when we first got married and Munir was still a child. They have only one son.
Allah swt works in strange ways. He knew better what were to become of us. Out of the blue, Abang Long called Noor (he never called me) and told him that Kak Zizah would be coming up north next week (30th March) for Munir's engagement. Imagine my surprise when Noor told me. He became the middle man between us. Maybe after more than 20 years, Kak Zizah was not sure of my response. Well, I am a very accepting person. For better or for worse, she is my eldest sister of the same mother. Thus, we told her we would be honoured to be part of the engagement entourage and for the first time, Munir met me again after a long hiatus. He is already working with Petronas now. He is 27 years old. :-))) A nice pleasant young man.
His fiancee was from Jitra and we were happy to oblige them. We went to visit her the night before the engagement at their homestay. Kak Zizah and I talked the night away catching up the missing years. The total acceptance on my part and the warmth of our siblinghood, melted whatever apprehensiveness she had about my welcoming her. We finally left them at almost 1:00 am with the promise that we would come tomorrow and be part of the entourage.
It was a simple, happy and close ceremony. Zuhanis, the fiancee, was very friendly and her family very simple and welcoming. The wedding is set in November this year, insyaAllah.
I told Kak Zizah I would be honoured to be the host for the wedding in November. We may be far apart ...we may not have met since Mak's death .... we may be busy with our lives ... but we will always totally accept one another again wholly. Whatever our parents had done, they had done it right by instilling the strong bond of family, love, respect and honour among siblings. Thank you Allah swt for allowing us to get back together again.
Maka nikmat Allah manakah yang kamu dustakan ? :-)
Allah swt works in strange ways. He knew better what were to become of us. Out of the blue, Abang Long called Noor (he never called me) and told him that Kak Zizah would be coming up north next week (30th March) for Munir's engagement. Imagine my surprise when Noor told me. He became the middle man between us. Maybe after more than 20 years, Kak Zizah was not sure of my response. Well, I am a very accepting person. For better or for worse, she is my eldest sister of the same mother. Thus, we told her we would be honoured to be part of the engagement entourage and for the first time, Munir met me again after a long hiatus. He is already working with Petronas now. He is 27 years old. :-))) A nice pleasant young man.
His fiancee was from Jitra and we were happy to oblige them. We went to visit her the night before the engagement at their homestay. Kak Zizah and I talked the night away catching up the missing years. The total acceptance on my part and the warmth of our siblinghood, melted whatever apprehensiveness she had about my welcoming her. We finally left them at almost 1:00 am with the promise that we would come tomorrow and be part of the entourage.
 |
| The future mother in-law |
 |
| The simple hantaran - 5 trays |
 |
| The two rings as requested - one for" merisik " and one for the engagement |
 |
| The girl's side return hantaran |
I told Kak Zizah I would be honoured to be the host for the wedding in November. We may be far apart ...we may not have met since Mak's death .... we may be busy with our lives ... but we will always totally accept one another again wholly. Whatever our parents had done, they had done it right by instilling the strong bond of family, love, respect and honour among siblings. Thank you Allah swt for allowing us to get back together again.
Maka nikmat Allah manakah yang kamu dustakan ? :-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)