I was thinking in the midst of world global issue today concerning Palestine,
As I consume more and more literacy regarding the issue,
And develop a new fascination with the world history,
I found another connection with my late father.
I remember him almost vividly.
Sitting in front of the television in his sarong and white singlet (bapak-bapak Indonesia style)
Watching the evening news report “Dunia Dalam Berita”
Those newscaster were reporting the Intifada movement propelled by Yasser Arafat.
My Dad has a fascination with foreign language, culture and world history.
He’s an avid reader. He reads loads of literature he could get his hands on.
He study Czech language and teach himself Arabic, English, and some Turkish.
He left the world at the right time as God intended.
But it was when I barely have a strong sense of identity.
When I was fifteen.
Sometimes I do feel that when I read one of his book collections that I maybe yearn for a connection with him.
I feel elated when I see his train of thoughts written in the margins.
I feel that his writings were meant for me to read.
Just a few days ago, my sister said that her love to drive were taken after our dad.
After my dad did Subuh prayer, he would take us kids to drive around in a car aimlessly while blasting to a music. (Among his favourite are Gypsy King, Beatles, and Nat King Cole).
Its also her way of making a connection with him.
And us trying to preserve his legacies.
From the limited memories I have of him,
I remember some and held on tightly to it.
When I first started to do daily prayer,
He praised me by saying that he felt really grateful seeing me performing shalat without being told to.
Ia also remember,
One day I read one of his recently bought books which he put on the table.
I think it was written by Sayid Qutb about Islamic World History.
Seeing me reading that, he told me it was too heavy for me to digest it.
Which was true as I was only 13 at that time but still was intrigued by it.
The next day, when he went home, he brought with him a Gadis magazine which I and my sister devour it with pleasure.
But as I grew older now and as I close more gap in our age before his passing,
I couldn’t help but wonder that if we see each other again,
Will he feel proud seeing how his daughter grew up to be.
That I am well-versed and that I can hold a conversation.
I do like to pick his brain about the world issues of today.
He was born in 1937.
Definitely he has seen a lot of history taken place in his lifetime.
What would he do? What would he say?
When I choose to join a political cause back in university what would he think?
I have divert from that path way back when, but didn’t regret it.
I knew that I need to find my own path by stitching the missing pieces.
I must confess that although he left a hole in our lives, he passed on so many legacies that we treasure and maybe just aware of recently during our grown-up phase.
Its 2023 now Dad.
I am sad to say Palestine-Israel is still the world core issue in todays world.
But arent you proud that I am standing in the right side of history?
Hope you are.
Missing you today.
*sendingAlfatiha