I've Got The Music In Me

I got the music,I got the music in me.. I've got the music in me since I was a little kid. Our parents loved music.That love of music trickled down to us and to our own kids. In fact everyone was exposed to some kind of music in the early parts of their lives.Who can forget the lullabies our parents crooned to calm us down,to lull us to sleep. To a Muslim baby,his first exposure to a melody was when his father or grandfather whispered the iqamah (a shorter version of the azan) in his right and left ear. When we could talk,we learned the nursery rhymes and folk songs. When we grew older we develop our own taste of music. Our grandma,Tok Bibi taught us some old folk songs like Trek Tek Tek, Burung Kakak Tua,Anak Ikan Makan Ikan,Ikan Kikik ,Suriram. She could also sing the Malay hits of her time,songs by R.Azmi and P.Ramlee and songs from the bangsawan (Malay Theatre). But she really thrilled us with her rendition of English songs.Our favourites were It's A Long Way To Tipperarry and Oh My Darling Clementine. She was multilingual.She sang some songs in her Ceylonese language. She could sing some Japanese tunes too. My grandma was a diva of her era. Our parents' musical tastes was greatly influenced from their educational background and working environment.Both were English educated. So they prefered western music to Malay music and thus influenced us too. My dad loved dance music (samba,rumba,foxtrot and swing).He was quite a good musician.He played mandoline,banjo and ukelele. His fave singers were Bing Crosby,Eddie Fisher,Doris Day,Johnnie Ray and Dean Martin.My mum lerves Dean Martin. I remember when I was 10 or 11,my dad took me and my big bro Emran to see the movie Jailhouse Rock. That was my first introduction to the King of Rock N Roll,Elvis Presley.I was hooked on rock n roll. My big bro and my older cousins were already into this rock music stuff. My bro Maher and me were soon swept by this rock music. Maher became the Elvis of his school. During school holidays,we gathered in our garage with our neighbors and cousins.Dad bought us a guitar,with some tin cans and a broomstick double bass ,we became a band.We sang all the popular songs,songs by Elvis,Cliff Richard,Paul Anka,Neil Sedaka,Everly Bros.Yes,we thought we were great.Indeed,we were great. In the mid 60s,Beatlemania took over the music world.We were struck too. Our repertoire changed to Beatles,Rolling Stones,Herman's Hermits,Swinging Blue Jeans,The Animals,Dave Clark Five. At the same time,Malay music was changing ,they called it Pop Yeh Yeh. I never cared much about this Pop yeh yeh.It goes like..fast guitar rifts,three or four drum thuds,and then the singer drags his voice singing melancholy lyrics.That's what I think of pop yeh-yeh.Yucks. The music died the day my dad passed away.At least for me,for some time. We had to be serious about our future.We all got to work. When we moved to our new home,we were older,wiser and subdued. We still kept track of our musical interests.No more jamming like before. One by one,we settled down and raised our own families. Most of our kids still keep the music going.We elders try to keep up. My '35 year old' sister,recently asked me,'Do you know The Killers ?' Her son Aqil is compiling a video and has The Killers music as a background. '35 year old sister',I know who The Killers are now. You know you got to help me out Don't put me in the backburner Yes you got to help me out. I got sold but I'm not a soldier I got sold but I'm not a soldier I do keep in touch with the kids' music. I've got the music in me.

Lina turns 15

The girl who was 14 going on 15 finally turns 15 today. Lina Masturah,its your birthday.Happy birthday from Mak,Bapak,all your abangs ,kakak,adik and anak buah. Lina is my only daughter and I feel that sometimes I do dote on her. I guess,all dads are a little soft with their daughters than their sons. This morning,you spent your birthday at the hospital.The doctor said she can't diagnose your problem until she recieves the 'cytology test results' of the liquid that they drained from your neck.So its back to school for you. Your parents' wish for you is that you will always be healthy and happy. Be more responsible,help out in the house whenever you can. Study hard,you're sitting for the PMR exams this year.Spend less time chatting online.Don't neglect your religous duties. We love you very much just as you love us all. Happy birthday my dear. (sorry I haven't given any present yet)

Lina gets warded

Some time in the middle of last month,a bunch of mumps carrying virus were floating in the air looking for a victim.They spotted a 14 going on 15 year old girl.She would be their victim. So this girl was afflicted with the mumps virus.The medical term for it is epidemic paratitis.The word `mumps' was actually coined from the word 'chipmunk'.You know,the cheeks and jawls look puffy like a chipmunk with his mouth full of nuts. The doctor prescribed antibiotics to destroy the virus.The antibiotics did their job well.No more mumps.Something else happened. Our body has several glandular lumps,like near the ears,armpits and elsewhere. These lumps are called lymph nodes. After doing their task,the antibiotics decided to hang around.They camped in the lymph node below the girl's ears,near her neck.It turned into a big lump,just like a bisul (boil).The local doc said the girl has to go to the hospital to remove that lump. So,that girl,my daughter Lina skipped school on Friday the 13th and presented herself to the Seberang Jaya hospital and was immediately warded.She was so scared of the `surgery' that she would have to experience. All that the hospital doc did was prick a tiny hole and pump out the liquid to reduce the swelling.She was discharged yesterday and she has to go to a specialist in BM Hospital for further treatment.The lump is still there but feels a bit hard,because the liquid has been drained out. I don't know what treatment they intend to give.Wait till tomorrow and see.

Hari Raya Aidil Adha

Today 10 th day of Zulhijjah is Hari Raya Aidil Adha (Hari Raya Haji). This season,more than 2 million Muslims from all over the world are performing the Haj,the 5th tenet of Islam. My brother Adyll and his wife Ani are among them. We were quite worried when we heard about the hostel that collapsed in Mecca.Thank God they were not around there.My deepest condolences to the families that lost their loved ones in that mishap. Iwish my brother and my sis-in-law good health, have a meaningful Haj. Most important,come home safely to your family. For the rest of us who are not making the pilgrimage, we have sunat Hari Raya Aidil Adha prayers with the relevant sermons,mostly reminding us on what is Hari Raya Aidil Adha or Hari Raya Kurban is all about. This year I participated in the kurban (sacrifice) at my wife's village in Batu Uban. All the kurban meat was cooked by the village folks and everyone was invited for the kenduri (feast). Selamt Hari Raya Aidil Adha .

Look at this scenario

Look at this scenario. An accident happens.Someone is killed. Oh my God the deceased is a well known person. The scene of the accident, a badly maintained development project. The investigators and the media descend on the scene. They shake their heads and wring their hands.My God,how could such a horrible thing happen to such a decent fellow. The deceased's wife is still in critical condition.The driver was badly injured. The next day.Fingers are pointed here and there.Nobody wanted to take the rap for what happened and what could have been prevented. In the end,the builder was blamed.The enforcement authorities said that this builder has been ordered to improve the safety requirements of his site several times (7 times I heard).It seems 'safety' is not a factor with these characters,only fast and profit. Can we totally blame the builder ? Why didn't the enforcement agencies order work to stop,when they knew he was not complying with safety regulations at the first instant.Is there some more powerful authority that is being protector to these crooks ? Yesterday the harassed Labour Minister finally instructed the builder to stop work immediately.Too late. Too late.This is our govt leaders style.Make a lot of noise and hype after something awful has happened.Especially when that awful thing happens to one of their family,family's friend or business partner.Even the mainstream media are guilty of this.They like to highlight these stories. Other ordinary folks won't make front page news. I would like to ask all civil servants to do your work sincerely (lillahitaala) without fear or favour.And all elected representatives to do your job too. Don't wait for election season. Some of your constituents have never seen your faces.

Reassessing Myself

How time flies.I'm a year older. This is the moment I would reflect upon my past.This is the time to reassess myself. Have I improved my character ? Have I provided well for my family ? Have I been a good father ? Have I been a good husband ? Have I been a good son ? Have I been a good brother ? Have I been a good friend ? Have I hurt anyone's feelings ? Have I offended anyone,was I rude ? Have I been arrogant when I should have been humble ? Have I contributed to my community ,the country ? Have I been a good citizen ? Have I been faithful to God and my religion ? Have I forgotten to thank God for my existence ? Have I counted my blessings ? Have I been fair and just ? Have I kept my promises ? Have I been taking care of my health ? Questions,questions,questions. Only I can answer. I have to look at myself inside and outside to find the answers. Deep deep inside. Allah will guide me.Inshaallah. You my loved ones can tell me some of the answers. It might be sweet.It might be bitter. But its for my own good.Thank you.

Its A New Day

Its a new day.Its a new year. This year we will ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE ELIMINATE THE NEGATIVE AND DON'T BE MR IN-BETWEEN Lets all do it.

May Each Day

Way back in the 60s and 70s,there was this show hosted by Andy Williams.At the end of his show he would sign out with the song 'May Each Day'. Now at the end of Twenty Oh Five,I got to thinking about the song.The lyrics might be 'fluffy' or 'drippy' to you youngsters, but dammit I like it.So shut your mouth. Your mum and dad likes it too. The lyrics shall be my message for this year,next year and many more years.I'm not a poet,I just borrow words. It goes like this: May each day in the week be a good day May each dawn Find you happy and gay. May each day in the month be a good day May you make friends with each one you meet And may all of your daydreams be memories And may all of your memories be sweet. May each day in the year be a good day May the lord always watch over you And may all of your hopes turn to wishes And may all of you wishes come true. The weeks turn to months and the months into years There'll be sadness and joy There'll be laughter and tears. But one thing I pray to heaven above May each of your days be a day full of love. May each day of your life be a good day May the lord always watch over you May each one in your life be as lovely as the one you share with you today. May each day in your life be a good day and good night. Goodbye Twenty Oh Five. Welcome Twenty Oh Six. Happy New Year.