Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts

Thursday, 13 January 2022

never too late to start a new family's tradition

If my memory serves me correctly, I've been attending Potter's House Christian Ministry since 2018. My first pastor, an Australian, arrived in Kupang with his lovely wife and four children. His mother church in Australia sent him here. I got to know this family well, and we became friends as they helped me in getting back on my feet and working on my spiritual life. I witnessed how they come together strong as a family to reach out to the lost for God while living far away from their comfort zone. It wasn't easy but they held each other dearly and their strong bond has inspired me. 

One time they asked me to take their family photo for their annual Christmas card which they needed to send out early for their loved ones abroad. Despite the fact that I didn't perform a really good job, they were extremely gracious and thanked me for my assistance. Later on, I realized that my family never took a proper family portrait together and I figured it was the right timing to do it. Previously, my younger brother just graduated from university and he needed to take nice graduation photos as well. Basically it was like throwing one stone and hitting two birds. I proposed this idea to my family and they approved. My other younger brother suggested a little photo studio run by a friend, which we liked. We decided on a dress code of white or red. We had a lot of fun during the photo shoot, and we probably caused the photographer a lot of stress because we were too noisy and wanted to try so many various poses (sorry photographer-nim). I ended up making DIY Christmas cards for my families and good friends by printing out copies of one of our best portraits. 

I am glad I proposed that idea to my family and they came along, we now have a family tradition, taking family portraits for Christmas. We started in 2019 and it has been three years in total, with new faces joining us each year. My brother's friend joined us in 2019, my cousin joined us in 2020, and my sister's soon-to-be husband joined us last year. I used to envy my friends' walls covered in photo frames; now I'm scared that my parents' walls will be covered in our portraits; yet, it's a nice kind of fear because I'm truly happy about it.
First family portrait back in 2019

Not really happy with the background but still we had fun (2020)

We may or may not look like minions hehe (2021)


Monday, 10 January 2022

They Grow Up Too Fast

One day, I was in Jakarta to see an old friend. He's been away from his family for a long time. It had been more than three years since I had returned home to see my family. He then stated that he wished to return home because he realized how time had passed, his parents had grown older, and his sibling had grown up. He resented the fact that he had missed seeing them grow older and more mature. That struck me as well; previously, I didn't want to return to my hometown; instead, I wanted to return to Bali from Jakarta and look for work in Bali. That conversation, however, changed my mind. I made the decision to return home, to my people, to my family. 

My friend was correct when I got home. My younger siblings have grown so much that they are now
Had fun at Paradiso beach, Kupang
(ignores the trash floating)

almost as tall as I am. Before I left home in 2013, they were just little babies to me; small, skinny kids who I used to beat up when they got in my way. They, too, cried a lot but also laughed a lot. I recall being assigned to babysit my youngest sister one day, but I promptly fell asleep. I awoke to find her having cut half of her hair with scissors, thanking God she hadn't hurt herself, but she was so amusing. Perhaps she copied me because I, too, liked to secretly cut my hair back then because long hair was too much work for me. Today, my youngest sister takes better care of herself than I did when I was her age. She looks exactly like me, only less crazy. She sings beautifully and even plays instruments. She excels in school and also enjoys sports such as Kenpo and badminton. 

Awkward pose, beautiful smile though 
My younger brother was a goofy kid. He enjoyed fooling around and making people laugh. We'd tell him to put on glasses and pose for pictures, and he'd just do it, even making funny faces for us. He is now the tallest member of our family. He's such a cool, calm kid. He prefers to spend his time at home, learning languages, reading books, playing instruments, and singing karaoke. He is a very social person who likes to hang out with his friends until late at night. Fortunately, we can still easily find him at home most of the time. He's also a good cook, even better than my older sister, hehe. 

Hi, I am the tallest in my family
I'm thankful that they're both maturing into such wonderful children. They listen well most of the time and give us fewer headaches than their older siblings did. The majority of their age group is known for being spoiled brats and troublemakers. They are, however, good kids at heart.


I am cute and I know it :)

Tuesday, 5 May 2015

Dearest #2

Hei dad,
Do you remember the day when I got first rank in my class and you came to take my school report? You bought me sweets and small presents. I was so happy and proud of myself. I like it when you and mom would go to parties and you also tried to dress up nicely. You always look good dad. Thanks for the time you spent with me to finish my homework at your office even till very late. I am grateful that you always came and picked me up at the Internet cafe without complaining even though it was midnight. I thank you that you kept trying to advise us no matter how stubborn we were. Thanks for the delicious dishes you made for us when you had the time, you are a good cook (better than mom, sorry mom, I still love you). Thanks for all the beautiful songs you made, I love all of them, even though Nori is your best fan. Thanks for always playing the Sasando beautifully, the best lullaby ever. Thanks for riding me to anywhere I needed to go and coming back to pick me up again, you are the best rider ever, I always felt safe if it was you who rode me everywhere. Thanks for buying me the cream for my face as you realized how careless I was about my own face problem, even you suggested me to go to the beauty expert, that was sweet dad. Thanks for teaching me how to ride motorbike, it was the first and the last but Im grateful I had that moment with you. Thanks for all the good food you always tried to provide for us at home, I loved the snake-fruit you brought home and it was a lot of them, you diligently cleaned them and served us after. Thanks for teaching me to be a good poem-reader that I might be able to win all those trophies at home. Thanks for letting me performed all your great plays, I loved working with you dad, you are sooooo talented. Thanks for keep believing in me thou I betrayed your trust. I realize how hard you try to be the best father for all of us. You sometimes act hard but it's just because you love us sooo much. I never told you this so I want to tell you now. You are the best dad. Dont try so hard because we, I, love you the way you are. With all your silliness and craziness, we cant ask for anyone else to be our dad. You are so talented and I always admire your talent. Nori may be your best fan, but Im your best admirer. Im soooo grateful that you are my dad. Stay amazing dad. Thanks for being my dad. I cant thank you enough. I love you dad.

Sunday, 3 May 2015

Dearest

Dear mom,

I remember the day when you held my left hand and walked along my side on my first day to school. Wish I could tell you how I loved that moment. I was disappointed that I should went to school on my own for the next days. Wish you could hold my hand again with such love. Im grown up now and been so strong that makes it so hard for me to feel loved or to love. I dont blame you because I know you were raised the same way. Must be hard for you also. Im sorry mom that I failed you. Life is hard and I only make it harder for you. Im sorry.

Saturday, 21 March 2015

Dia sebenarnya menyayangi aku, aku hanya tidak tahu saja

Christin adalah nama kakak perempuanku dan satu-satunya kakakku (tentu saja, karena aku anak kedua). Dia lahir dua tahun lebih awal dariku pada 7 Agustus 1990 yang berarti dia berzodiak Leo. Aku tidak percaya akan zodiak tapi mengenal kakakku dan zodiak yang dia miliki berlambang singa itu membuat sebuah pengecualian. Yes, bagaimana tidak? Dia seorang pemarah dan pemangsa. Persis seperti seekor singa. Emosinya seringkali meletup seperti bom berskala kecil yang tidak mematikan tapi cukup bisa membuatmu terluka. Kalau teroris seringkali memberi muatan tajam pada bom yang dibuatnya agar saat meledak benda-benda itu akan melukai orang di sekitarnya maka yang harus dihindari saat Christin "meledak" adalah kata-kata tajam yang keluar dari mulutnya. Hahahaha. Butuh bertahun-tahun bagiku, dan tentu saja menjadi lebih sangat mudah bagiku setelah aku menerima Yesus, untuk menahan kesabaran agar tidak bertengkar sengit dengannya karena tersinggung setelah mendengar kata-katanya. Yah, pada dasarnya dia tidak akan begitu marah kalau kami adik-adiknya patuh pada dia. Tapi, seperti yang semua orang tahu, tidak semua adik bisa berlaku manis. Memiliki satu adik keras kepala sudah bisa membuatmu pening, apalagi saat kau memiliki enam dari mereka. Orang tua kami selalu meminta dia menjaga kami saat mereka akan pergi. Titin atau Empeng (begitu kami memanggilnya karena porsi tubuh kecil dan kurusnya) akan bersikap memerintah sebagaimana seorang komandan yang diberikan mandat oleh jenderal untuk memimpin prajurit dan menjagai markas selama mereka tidak ada. Masalahnya adalah para prajurit tidak suka menuruti komandan dan cenderung melawan. Komandan pun marah karena merasa tidak dihargai (yang adalah wajar) dan mulai mengamuk. Dia berpikir saat dia mengamuk para prajurit akan mulai mendengarkan dan dia benar. Para prajurit (dengan bermalas-malasan) lebih memilih melakukan perintah komandan daripada mendengarkan ocehannya. Tugas yang diberikan sebenarnya cukup mudah dan memang adalah tugas harian kami, tapi sejak kapan anak-anak suka mengerjakan tugas rumah. Aku sangat ingat bagaimana perasaanku setiap saat orangtua kami mulai bersiap-siap akan pergi. Layaknya perasaan anak kecil yang menanti datangnya hari ulang tahunnya dan tidak sabar ingin menerima dan membuka kadonya. Kado yang kutunggu adalah "kebebasan" saat orangtuaku pergi. Kebebasan tidur-tiduran, kebebasan menonton tivi, kebebasan mengobrol dengan temanku di telepon, kebebasan membaca komik atau novel. kebebasan melanjutkan menonton film di komputer dan lainnya. Tapi, tentu saja mamaku tidak akan pergi tanpa meninggalkan mandat apapun. Tiap kami diberikan tugas untuk dikerjakan selama mereka pergi dan Titin akan jadi pengawasnya. Jadi, demi mencicipi sedikit kebebasan yang kami inginkan, kami pasti akan melawan perintah sang "komandan". 

Hingga poin ini aku berhenti sebentar untuk memikirkan alasan kenapa aku ingin membuat postingan tentang kakakku. Terlepas dari fakta bahwa aku merindukannya dan beberapa jam yang lalu kami baru saja saling mengirimkan pesan BBM yang cukup panjang, aku juga berusaha mengingat momen-momen yang pernah kuhabiskan dengannya. Aku berusaha menggali bagian otakku yang berfungsi menyimpan momen-momen yang kuhabiskan bersama anggota keluargaku khususnya bersama Titin (seandainya aku punya folder khusus untuk menyimpan itu semua) dan sayangnya aku tidak memiliki atau tidak terlalu mengingat banyak hal tentang itu. Itu membuatku sadar betapa sedikit waktu yang kuhabiskan bersama dia dan aku menyesalinya. Aku memang menghabiskan 20 tahun hidupku tinggal di bawah atap yang sama dengan dia, aku berbagi oksigen dengan dia di kamar yang sama, kami memiliki ruang ganti pakaian yang sama, kami saling bertukar pakaian atau celana (dia sering memarahiku karena membuat longgar pakaiannya atau memakainya tanpa ijin), kami menonton tivi di ruang keluarga yang sama, dan seterusnya. Lalu, kenapa aku hanya mengingat sedikit hal berkesan tentang dirinya? Sejenak aku berpikir dan lalu aku mengerti. Kami tinggal bersama bahkan tumbuh bersama tapi tidak pernah benar-benar berusaha untuk saling mengenal satu sama lain. Lebih tepatnya kami tidak pernah ingin saling mencampuri kehidupan pribadi masing-masing, terutama saat kami mulai beranjak dewasa dan memiliki teman kami masing-masing. Contohnya, aku tahu dia memiliki pacar (dulu) tapi aku tidak pernah bertanya bagaimana mereka bertemu, kenapa dia menyukainya, kenapa dia marah padanya, kenapa dia menangis karenanya, kenapa dia membanting handphone saat berbicara dengannya, dan masih banyak kenapa yang lain. Lalu, kenapa aku tidak bertanya? Well, aku tidak melakukannya karena menurutku (pada waktu itu) itu bukan urusanku. Pemikiran ini seharusnya hanya ada saat aku melihat orang lain mengalaminya, tapi jika itu adalah saudara kandungku dalam hal ini Titin semestinya aku tidak boleh berpikir begitu, bukan? Maksudku dia saudaraku, kami berbagi darah yang sama, seharusnya aku lebih peduli dan tidak ragu mengusik kehidupan pribadinya. Bagaimana bisa aku begitu tidak peduli? Jawabannya adalah karena aku tidak begitu menyayanginya. Karena bagiku dia adalah seorang pemarah yang menyebalkan. Karena yang kuingat dari sosoknya hanyalah dia yang sedang memarahi dan mengomeli aku dan adikku yang lain. Aku tidak menyukainya dan menyalahkannya karena begitu emosian dan membuatku tidak suka menghabiskan waktu bersamanya. Tapi itu aku. Apakah aku pernah tahu atau bahkan memikirkan perasaannya? Aku sedang melakukannya sekarang. Aku ingat dia pernah begitu terlihat depresi dan marah saat kami tidak mau mendengarkannya. Dia terlihat sangat sedih. Aku tidak begitu peduli saat itu karena mempertahankan keegoisanku untuk bisa "bebas". Sekarang saat aku punya banyak waktu untuk memikirkannya aku menyesal. Seharusnya aku bisa menjadi adik yang lebih penurut dan tidak menyusahkannya. Dia sudah berusaha keras memikul tanggung jawab sebagai seorang kakak untuk menjagai kami adik-adiknya. Apakah kami pernah menghargai itu? Jarang sekali. Apakah aku pernah mengucapkan terima kasih karena dia sudah membantu mama merawatku saat aku masih bayi? Apakah pernah aku berterimakasih padanya karena telah mengipasi aku dan adikku saat kami tidur dan cuaca begitu panas? Apakah aku pernah memujinya karena tampil begitu cantik saat kami hendak ke gereja bersama? Apakah aku pernah berterimakasih karena dia merelakanku membuat longgar pakaiannya? Apakah aku pernah dengan tulus berterimakasih padanya karena telah berusaha sebisanya menjadi kakak yang baik? Tidak. Aku tidak pernah. Aku hanya terlalu egois dan tidak pernah melakukannya. Aku tidak menyukai diriku yang seperti itu. Memikirkan diriku yang begitu egois membuatku muak. Seharusnya kami berdua menghabiskan lebih banyak waktu berdua. Kami bisa menjadi partners in crime yang luar biasa. Dan, sekarang saat aku tinggal jauh darinya aku baru menyadari betapa aku merindukan omelannya. Yes, dia memang menyebalkan tapi dia menyayangiku, aku hanya tidak tahu saja.