Reflections and Resolutions

As the midnight draws nearer, I couldn’t help but reminiscing all the things in 2006. Few are best forgotten, but most are fondly etched in my heart. There are no such things as bad experiences, only hard lessons.

If I measured the passing year with a weighing scale that had ‘failure’ plate on the left, and ‘achievement’ plate on the right, I could say that, overall, this has been a good year. I’ve had chances to go to new places and meet new faces. My work has been filled with new experience and adorned with a satisfying year-end work assessment from my boss. Surprise, surprise…

As a mere mortal, I inevitably stumbled upon failures and obstacles throughout the year. It’s a good thing that I remember more of the good things than bad ones, as this indicates a positive-thinking attitude, I guess. Thinking back, I only manage to recall one scholarship application that went up in smoke and one romantic request turned down. Nothing catastrophic, I got to keep my single status. LOL… Hey, at least I still have the second best thing in life.

My little sister got married, and it was one of the best things in 2006. My only regret was that I did not specifically express my wish when she asked what I’d wanted for her wedding, and ended up with a traditional knife and a piece of ulos.

On the grimmer note, there was some reality shock that gave me harsh reminders of mortality. A friend of mine died, and my father went through a cardiac surgery. Not pleasant memories, but everything happened for a reason.

Resolutions for 2007? There are many, as I am an ambitious person with the Grand Plan. Practically and realistically speaking, here are some things:

1. Getting my car to the garage and having it "remodeled". This is top priority, as my beloved car is making new, mysterious noise every week. 2006 has been - almost- a mechanical breakdown-free period, but I don't want to push my luck.

2. Finding a new place to live, where I can go home at any ungodly hour as I damn please.

3. Avoiding in every way possible to be reappointed as "Seksi Keamanan" or given the role of a drug-induced bouncer in Christmas play/celebration. Not good, might expel me from Santa's list. Moreover, I don't endorse violence, especially not on le plus beau des jours de l’année.

4. Retrieving the willpower to get up early every Saturday morning for my French lesson. My French did not progress significantly last year, and it might eventually ruin my next lesson: learning Spanish. On with the Grand Plan!

The ultimate resolution for 2007 would be getting myself en route towards adding three-letter label behind my name, with a major that is relevant to my current line of work. And, bien sûr, to tip my scale a little bit further to the right.

Happy new year, everyone! I hope your 2006 has been as good as mine, and may your 2007 be even better.

Le Plus Beau des Jours de L’Année

Noël est là! Ce joyeux Noël, des cadeaux plein les bras, qui réchauffe nos cœurs et apporte la joie, jour des plus beaux souvenirs, plus beau jour de l'année. -W.I.-

Joyeux Noël, tout le monde!

Happy Commuting in Jakarta

As recent as 1 month ago, I was still one of very few people in Jakarta who were blessed with convenient commuting. It usually took me 15 minutes – 20 minutes tops – in the morning to get from my place to the office, encountering only one traffic light. At night, I even got to choose from 2 alternatives: step on the pedal and speed through the deserted roads, or roll my window down and cruising lazily, puffing a cigarette. Eventually, either way will kill me, I guess. LOL.

How the good ol’ days are missed.

These days, I have to hustle and bustle for more than 45 minutes throughout the heavily packed roads, cursing other drivers with disturbing animosity and pounding incessantly on the horn to gain way.

It’s a good thing that nowadays motorcyclists are obliged to switch on their lights during daytime, as they are easier to spot in the rearview and side mirrors. Nonetheless, there were times when I felt an urging desire to hit a reckless motorcyclist on the face just for the heck of it. People, you are not immortal. And I don't have an insurance.

What amazes me even more; there are neither road works nor problems that could serve as bottlenecks. It just seems that more and more cars are pouring into less and less roads, and there will come a day when walking gets you somewhere faster than driving.

Until then, I wish everybody a happy commuting!

Until I Suffer Some

What is the most precious yet all-pervading?
What is the most selfish yet giving?
What is the most intoxicating yet humbling?
What is it that we all are searching?

To think that it is never impossible
To think that it endures
To constantly seek the love of someone
To be acquainted with, to be captivated
To venture, to enter
To persevere, to hope

The other half is a destiny
The reunion is a journey
My foresight is not the paramount
The courage is the jewel of the crown

I don't know know where I'm going
But I'm on my way..

American Pie

A long, long time ago...
I can still remember
How that music used to make me smile.
And I knew if I had my chance
That I could make those people dance
And, maybe, they’d be happy for a while.

But february made me shiver
With every paper I’d deliver.
Bad news on the doorstep;
I couldn’t take one more step.

I can’t remember if I cried
When I read about his widowed bride,
But something touched me deep inside
The day the music died.

So bye-bye, miss american pie.
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
And them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye
Singin’, "this’ll be the day that I die.
"this’ll be the day that I die."

Did you write the book of love,
And do you have faith in God above,
If the Bible tells you so?
Do you believe in rock ’n roll,
Can music save your mortal soul,
And can you teach me how to dance real slow?

Well, I know that you’re in love with him
`cause I saw you dancin’ in the gym.
You both kicked off your shoes.
Man, I dig those rhythm and blues.

I was a lonely teenage broncin’ buck
With a pink carnation and a pickup truck,
But I knew I was out of luck
The day the music died.

I started singin’,
"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye
And singin’, "this’ll be the day that I die.
"this’ll be the day that I die."

Now for ten years we’ve been on our own
And moss grows fat on a rollin’ stone,
But that’s not how it used to be.
When the jester sang for the king and queen,
In a coat he borrowed from james dean
And a voice that came from you and me,

Oh, and while the king was looking down,
The jester stole his thorny crown.
The courtroom was adjourned;
No verdict was returned.
And while lennon read a book of marx,
The quartet practiced in the park,
And we sang dirges in the dark
The day the music died.

We were singing,
"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye
And singin’, "this’ll be the day that I die.
"this’ll be the day that I die."

Helter skelter in a summer swelter.
The birds flew off with a fallout shelter,
Eight miles high and falling fast.
It landed foul on the grass.
The players tried for a forward pass,
With the jester on the sidelines in a cast.

Now the half-time air was sweet perfume
While the sergeants played a marching tune.
We all got up to dance,
Oh, but we never got the chance!
`cause the players tried to take the field;
The marching band refused to yield.
Do you recall what was revealed
The day the music died?

We started singing,
"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye
And singin’, "this’ll be the day that I die.
"this’ll be the day that I die."

Oh, and there we were all in one place,
A generation lost in space
With no time left to start again.
So come on: jack be nimble, jack be quick!
Jack flash sat on a candlestick
Cause fire is the devil’s only friend.

Oh, and as I watched him on the stage
My hands were clenched in fists of rage.
No angel born in hell
Could break that satan’s spell.
And as the flames climbed high into the night
To light the sacrificial rite,
I saw satan laughing with delight
The day the music died

He was singing,
"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye
And singin’, "this’ll be the day that I die.
"this’ll be the day that I die."

I met a girl who sang the blues
And I asked her for some happy news,
But she just smiled and turned away.
I went down to the sacred store
Where I’d heard the music years before,
But the man there said the music wouldn’t play.

And in the streets: the children screamed,
The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed.
But not a word was spoken;
The church bells all were broken.
And the three men I admire most:
The father, son, and the holy ghost,
They caught the last train for the coast
The day the music died.

And they were singing,
"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
And them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye
Singin’, "this’ll be the day that I die.
"this’ll be the day that I die."

They were singing,
"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye
Singin’, "this’ll be the day that I die."

-Don McLean-