Merepek

Nov 9 2006

Dear Son,

Today Mama has decided to write you a letter and this is Mama’s first letter to you. All those short written notes and messages on post-it pads and sometimes scraps of paper certainly do not qualify as letters – they were actually reminders to you for chores that needed to be done.

Why Mama has never ever written any letter to you? Perhaps, it’s because you have been by Mama’s side all this while and Mama never saw the need to write. If there is anything that Mama wants to tell or share with you, it’s just as easy as walking into your room and talk as much and as long as Mama wishes. Of course, Mama knew that many a time you were bored to your eyeballs with those boring stuffs that Mama was telling, but you nonetheless showed some measure of ‘interest’. Or at times, when Mama had not too good a day and Mama just came to you and ranted and whine for hours. You being you, who is by nature, a quiet person, just sat there and listened. That’s all Mama needed. Of course, during Mama’s moments of happiness, your kid brother and you were always there to share and son, it means a lot, a lot to Mama. Thank you, son.

Mama has finally put fingers to keyboard and attempt to type out this letter. Today is a significant day. Today, you finished the last paper of your final exams – unofficially, you have completed your first degree eventhough the convocation won’t be until next year. Congratulations, son! Mama is very proud of you. Looking back, Mama is very blessed to have you as my son. You are a good son. So far, you have never given Mama any BIG, MAJOR PROBLEMS. Oh, those times that you hid all your unfinished homework, or those times that you tried to tell some silly childish lies or the one time that you tried playing with the lighter? Nahhh…, no worries, Mama caught you before it turned into anything big and I’m sure you remember the punishment - sore bottoms from the fat rotans and sore knees from kneeling in front of the altar and sore hands from writing lines and on one occasion, burning tongue caused by chilli padi. Hahahaha…. in your child’s mind, you must have believed you had an utterly wicked mother. No apologies here from Mama, though – Mama was and still is, not in any popularity poll. Mama just had to do what Mama set out to do, that is to bring your kid brother and you up the best I could, in ways I believed I should. And today, as I see the fine young men in you both, Mama is very thankful for God’s blessings. Eventhough Mama may not be someone who is very strong spiritually as in ‘kuat sembahyang’, nonetheless, Mama believes in divine help. I’m sure both of you do too.

Tomorrow is a new chapter in your life waiting to unfold. Mama could sense the excitement in your voice the other day when you told of your first upcoming job interview. Ahhh….....Mama was just as excited if not more. Hahahaha….Mama was bursting to tell everybody that Mama came across the other day. Congrats! once again and Mama wishes you all the very best. A word of advice here son, no worries and don’t be too uptight; just relax and be natural and let the gem in you shine through. Seek for the best and the best will seek you in return. Best of luck and may all the best come your way today and everyday.

Loads of Love
Mama