Thanks for New Year Eve, 2015

All of my aunts has a handsome husband. Since my mother and my father are the oldest children in their family, I have several aunts from both family. Like what I have said, all of them has a handsome husband. That is why when one of my aunts asked me what is my criteria for my future husband, I answered that he has to be handsome too like my uncles (husbands of my aunts) --> inspired by aunts. haha. Handsome in this case is not always physically like model or cover boy in the magazine. In my perspective, handsome can be the effect of charisma, behavior or intelligence. Sometimes, boys with very handsome face look uninteresting at all if they have bad attitude. In the other hand, boys with ordinary physical appearance will look interesting because they are smart, kind and charismatic. Those criteria are owned by my uncles. They probably kind, smart, religious, or charismatic.

All those couple (my aunts and their husband) has their own unique love story. My favorite aunt, little sister of my mother had her first date with her husband in junior high school. Before marriage, they had relationship for about 11 or 12 years. She is so beautiful that several boys in her junior high tried to chase her, but she just only chose my uncle. Even, she is so overconfidence in one case. There is a neighbor who passed away in Batam Island because of sickness. A man. I do not know about him. He had been in Batam since long time ago. That day I visited my aunt's house when she just came back from that man's house for ta'jiah. She told me that the man who just passed away was her friend in junior high. He also one of boys who chase her that time. Unfortunately she chose my uncle. That man was broken heart. My aunt questioned why that man did not marry after he was successful and wealthy in Batam. Confidently my aunt said, "He still love me, even he still love me until the end of his life. Cintanya padaku sampai dibawa mati." Whattt??? totally over confident. ZZzzz... 

Let's move to the main story: the other couple. My aunt, little sister of my father and her husband. Her husband named Pujo Bandono. He is very handsome both physically and behaviorally. He is smart too. Even, I often write about him in my motivation letter of scholarship as one of my families/relatives who work in education field like my parents that inspires me (a little bit) to probably work in the same field--education. He is a teacher in one of senior favorite state high schools in Madiun.

My first meeting with him was in an afternoon several month before the marriage of them. Unlike my aunt who has been in relationship with my uncle since in junior high, this aunt just had a short time relationship with my uncle before marriage. Friend of them introduced them each other. That afternoon I was in my grandma's house. Watching afternoon TV series with my cousin. He came to meet my aunt in living room. In tv room, my cousin and I peeped them through the space of cupboard just to know the face of this man. We found out that this man is very handsome. Black straight hair, white skin, tidy in his office outfit. He just went home from office. At that time he was just honorer teacher in private school. My first impression about him is that he is very handsome, kind person and polite. After TV series, my cousin and I seemed like never stop talking about that man in water gate of the river, favorite place to play in the afternoon, near grandma's house. That man is so handsome, kind, and polite. His name Pujo Bandono.

My next meeting with him was in my house. He and his friend who introduced him to my aunt discussed further serious relationship and marriage with my parents as my aunt's oldest brother and sister. Same with the first meeting, I just listened their conversation from tv room while watching TVRI broadcasting Mbak Wuri (daughter of my elementary school teacher) performed traditional dance in central park of the town. I still remember what tv show I watched that time.

Several moths later, he married my aunt. I became putri patah (little girls who sit beside bride and groom bringing kipas, sorry I don't know the term in English) in their wedding. In just married situation, they came to the wedding of my aunt who I told has long time relationship since they were in junior high. Those two aunts are in the same age that they married in almost same time. I also became putri patah in this wedding. After party, my aunt for the first time asked me to call her husband to go home. She said, "call Om Pujo, we will go home." At that time I know for the first time how to call him: Om Pujo.

After marriage, Om Pujo passed the test of civil servant recruitment. I read from the Holly Qur'an but forget what ayyat about rizki after marriage. The essence of the ayyat if I am not mistaken, do not worry about rizki when you want to marry. Allah may guarantee rizki for you. That is I proved, he got a good position in good state high school after patiently became honorer teacher in private ordinary school.

They have 3 children. One girl, named Dea and two boys (twin), named Fauzi and Fauzan. Dea is my favorite cousin since she is so loyal to me, always do whatever I told her. haha. 2nd grade of junior high school. She voluntary accompanied me to the tourism destination when I asked. She is obsessed to buy or take Edelweiss Flower in Lawu Mountain when I took her to Sarangan Lake and Strawberry Garden. I told them I wanted to buy beautiful plastic flower sold by one shop around Sarangan Lake, she told me, "Ih, aku gak seneng mbak sama bunga plastik. Aku sek pengen bunga edelweiss, bunga abadi. Kamu mbak senengnya yang palsu-palsu, bukan yang abadi." Zingg... Okay, then I stop to like fake one, for example boy with fake feeling and fake intention.

I like their family since they are idealist one unlike my other families who are realist. They love art and culture too. Even, this aunt bought me good-quality "sampur" (long fabric with accessories in both of its end used for dancing in java dance) from other city without I asked. Om Pujo also has several costume like various mask and traditional cloth. This family also since first time supported me when I participated in the contest of tourism ambassador in my hometown. Firstly, I did not told my mom that I participated since she will think that those kinds of contest are something useless. My aunt and my uncle supported me so much, starting from lent me motorcycle to go to one-week training after chosen as top-10 contestant because all motorcycle at my home used by my parents, I couldn't drive car yet; tried to borrow kebaya (traditional dress of Java) from neighbor; lent me best-quality jarik (traditional fabric with batik motive) for session of art and culture performance; and finally attended grand final of that contest until midnight. Little disappointed because I just get 2nd winner.

They also like to do something fun. Not too serious like the other adult people. Lately, they had plan with me to go hiking in Lawu Mountain and go to Pacitan to visit beaches and caves. However, those plans are not executed yet since it is still not proper yet to go hiking because of the rainy season and going to Pacitan in new year will make us desperate because of heavy traffic. What I want to emphasize is that this family is the proper one to talk about extraordinary ideas like applying a position in united nation or buying an island in pacific ocean may be. Ideas that may be my parents will laugh out loud and tell me to get up. I really did the first one, applying united nation, took test, and still waiting for the result and probably will do the second one someday, buying an island in pacific. :D

In new year 2015, I spent change of the year in grandma's home. So quiet. It is surrounded by rivers. Various plants grow there. Many pot with beautiful flowers. At night, we can hear the sound of the water in the river. Fresh air. Family with member whom I can talk about extraordinary ideas. Several of my friend in Yogyakarta sent me message, asking to spend new year eve together. For me, like tabaruj, new year party is something I'm bored already. Every year I joined new year party. This year I enjoyed new year in grand ma's house with little cousins, grandma, parents, aunt, and uncle. They made cuisine Rica-rica at that time. Me with my loyal cousins who voluntary do whatever I told (haha) had conversation in front of tv. Fauzi and Fauzan had new bikes. I asked Dea to teach me Arabic language since she studied in Islamic junior high school and learn this language. With my aunt and uncle, we talked about plan to go to Pacitan for picnic. That was peace new year so far without party.

We still have unpaid plan to go to the top of Lawu Mountain and Pacitan. One I haven't told in this writing is that Om Pujo little bit has a strange behavior. It is related to his sickness. I do not really know what it is, probably asthma or heavy flu or something like that one. He is really careful related to food. Even, a lot of family talking about this behavior. They sometimes hurt when Om Pujo do not eat food served in certain house. He had to make sure about the origin, process and ingredient of the food before he eat. I think it is no problem. Me, my self, also selective about food related to my mag disease. Why they are so mind.

I do not really know what exactly Om Pujo's disease. Several week ago my mom text me that Om Pujo was in the hospital. I think it was just ordinary. Even, one day my father hospitalized because of certain disease, I did not even go home, still stay in Yogyakarta for many business. My father went home, healthy until now. Everybody can be hospitalized and healthy again I think. My little brother too. Except me, I never have heavy disease that make me stay in hospital. I think it is because I am selective in choosing food. haha. I am over slim but never sick. I will write the tips someday.

I still continue my activity as usual. My mother text me again one night that she just came back from grandma's homevisiting Om Pujo who just went home from hospital but he still felt problem in respiration system. Oh, it is just common I think. My father also has respiration problem. Even, my friend who is younger than me also has that kind of problem.

In the next day, afternoon, as usual I neglected my cellphone and it was off because out of power battery too. I am not the kind of person who always checked cellphone every time. I hate situation when I talked to somebody and that person looked at his/her phone. I prefer to stop talking and waited until that person finished with his/her phone. 

After turning my cell phone on, among several text, I got one text from my mom. She told me that Om Pujo was hospitalized again. Then next text arrived. My mom. She told me that Om Pujo passed away.

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That time, I was in the car with my friends, automatically I said loudly Astagfirullahaladzim instead of Innalillahi wa innaillaihi rajiun.

It is just unbelievable. So sudden.

"knowing him is like driving a new Maserati down a dead-end street
Faster than the wind, passionate as sin, ending so suddenly"

Stranger, who finally become the husband of my aunt. Father of my cousins.

I never know what disease you have. Always selective for choosing food is Ok. Totally Ok. I also do that for my digestive health. And for all, please take care of yourself. Finally, all is the destiny of Allah. It is written already.

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After several days, my mom asked me whether I have free time or not. I did not go home in the day my uncle passed away because nobody could pick me up in the train station far away from home because all family was busy with funeral, etc. Today my mom told me to go home if I have free time. She told me to visit my aunt. I questioned why, what for, everybody has visited her and the agenda of Tahlil every night after uncle's death already completed. Then I rethink, it is to help her relief her broken heart probably. I still can not imagine what her feeling.

Dear the family that I can share my extraordinary ideas. Thanks for the new year eve 2015. That time was the last time I met Om Pujo. Last words I heard from him were when he told me to have dinner with Rica-rica that he made. 

We also still have plan to go hiking to Puncak Lawu. May be someday I will go there. Go to the place above the cloud, enjoy fresh air, and pick several Edelweiss Flowers--Dea's favourite.
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Like Valerie Minner who write about her family in her book "The Low Road", I write this for Om Pujo, may be someday people who know him accidentally read this and know him memorize him. View from my perspective of course.