Hari Bapa 2009--> remembering Bapak pt 1

Assalamualaikum,

Sedih sungguh hari bapa tahun ini. Selalunya ibu akan awal-awal pagi telefon Wan. Ucapkan terima kasih atas segala kasih-sayang yang selama ini Wan curahkan pada kita semua. Tetapi tahun ini merupakan tahun pertama kita sambut hari bapa tanpa Wan. Terasa benar kehilangan Wan dalam hidup ibu. Tiada lagi panggilan telefon pada waktu pagi terutama kejutan untuk solat subuh pada hari minggu. Semuga ruhnya ditempatkan bersama-sama dengan para mujahidin, Ameen...

Let me tell you more of my father, but let it be in English..

Bapak was born in Alor Setar Kedah on 9/10/1936 to Shafie bin Saad and Andam binti Ahmad. He was the eldest of 9 siblings. He became a teacher when he was 13 (I was told that it was a norm for boys his age to work at that time). I was also told that Bapak sat for his SPM and STPM during his 'sekolah malam' and 'gaya pos'. He was offered to further studies in University Gajah Mada way back in the '60s, but he declined. Probably because of the young children and family that he need to leave behind. But that did not stop him from excelling in his career. He was promoted to become a headmaster when he was not even in his mid-30's. He was very much passionate in Malay Literature and politics. As far as I remembered, Bapak has always been somebody active in PAS Kedah. We had our fair share of in justice just because Bapak's involvement in PAS. Alhamdulillah, rezeki kita di tangan Allah.

Bapak loved to read. He will read from his start of the day (in the toilet) till he sleeping time. I discovered books all around us when we are still small. Going to the book store with Bapak when we are growing up was one of the best moment of my life (dia ada kerja kat Pej Pelajaran di Tingkat 2, so he will leave me at the bookstore at the Ground floor. Masa tu tak ada kes-kes anak2 kena culik, alhamdulillah. Dia pernah tinggalkan kami sebab dia terlupa!)

Another habit that Bapak has (until his passed away) is writing his journal. I dare not read his journals since I could not bear to read what he wrote about his feelings towards me especially related to my difficult years and towards the latter stage.( ni nak tulis blog everyday pun tak boleh...)

Did I mentioned that he wrote to me in Jawi when I was in the States? Yes... everyweek I'll received an aerogram from Malaysia from Bapak on news related to everything from Malaysia in Jawi. How I miss his surat....

He liked my cookings especially the Asam Pedas. For him, the best gulai ikan is from Mak, but I make a mean asam pedas. He will have seconds everytime I cooked asam pedas.

I hope I make him proud, regardless the pain that put him with my marital situation. It's not that I do not want to share the pain with him, it's just that I do not want to bother him with my issues especially bila dah besar2 ni. For him, I plainly forget about him. For me, I want to spare him from my issues. I am a little bit embarrased with all the hu-ha2. I know he loved me very much that he want to be involved in everything. I guess he really loved me very much.

I need to break from this entry... my tears are rolling now...

I'll put up the 2nd part of this topic....

TTFN.