One of the things I look forward to when travelling, which should also apply when at home, is buying second hand books. The one I purchased a few days ago, is sold old, that its scent is toxic like. I can’t help but presume it hazardous.

In January 2008, I joined a Facebook group called United Colours of Malaysia (UCM) founded by Pravin Pillai and Jennie Yang.

Some weeks after, Pravin (a stranger to me), made me an administrator of the group. Shortly after I initiated a Free Hugs event through the group and Pravin suggested a meeting for the five admins of the group. I became friends with Pravin and closer with Jennie. Later I found out that both of them had worked with Yasmin Ahmad at an earlier point of their career.

I imagine Yasmin had a part, somehow, however little, in the concept and formation of the group. Just as how I attribute the group UCM, the contribution of Yasmin, Pravin and Jennie to the concept and formation of the collective I founded, RA.

Yesterday, after receiving news about Yasmin’s passing, I sent out this message to members of UCM.

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To date, there are 4767 members of this group.

I find myself asking, if 4766 of us accumulated our efforts AND results, in making Malaysia more united in colour, would it match of that one other member we had: Yasmin Ahmad.

We can discuss endlessly. So did she, I imagine.

But more importantly, she turned her views into actions. So we would, I imagine.

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That same evening, I had to tutor math to my sole sixteen year old student. Halfway through the class, I finally made a decision that I’ve been self-rallying at the Roland Garros. I can’t commit any longer to this class, without compromising this boy’s education. It wasn’t clear to me then, that my five year plus ‘career’ as a part time high school home tutor was about to end. The primary source of income that allowed me to travel extensively while I was a university student.

I break the news to him, and although he didn’t take it too well, we were okay. I dismissed any sentiments I had, with the mantra, ‘it has to be done.’ We grew close, in the sense that I was comfortable telling him off with my voiced raised, using colourful language. Sometimes in the most demeaning condascending ways. Depending on how my patience fared. What’s remarkable is that, never once he gave up on me, or himself.

Fact is I have always taught him more about life than I have about math. That wasn’t the reason why I stopped. That was in fact the reason why I didn’t want to. Because as I observed, those lessons did captivate him, somewhat. Best of all, I did see change. On top of that, we did share many amusing moments. The following is one example.

If there’s was one thing that constantly annoyed me, but not enough for him to stop doing it, was how abrupt he was in interrupting my speeches, and cutting corners in his work. I told him, you are so gelojoh and rancak, that you probably ‘arrive’ twice before you take off your trousers to bed your wife. To which he laughed, and then said,

Yea. I think so too.

‘From the weekly Bil’in demo. This is how a soccer ‘match’ between real IOF soldiers and Palestinians really looks like.’

A few days ago, I followed my brother in law to a workshop for him to make a test run and full purchase of the engine he got for the boathouse he is building for his family to live in.

I’ve been meaning to head over to east coast where the boathouse being built right now. To at least be some part, however insignificant, of its construction. That of a home.

I say it is when you don’t know if you’ll ever forget.

LR-KP

At the beginning of my ‘gap year’, due to the things I did on the side for subconscious excitemet, by default I found myself becoming self employed. So I made a name card and the position I gave myself, was Writer, and Freelance MC. Over the next year, I did just about everything but these two. During which, my actual work and portfolio experienced satisfactory progress to the point I started turning down offers, even meetings.

A year later, when it came time to reprint a new batch of name cards, I agreed with an associate that my position is misleading, pointless and should be rid off. It now simply says, Project Manager. Which is accurate, albeit vague.

In the past two months, I have had to MC five events and turn down two. One more scheduled in a month.  A book project recently persisted I contribute a 800 word essay and shortly after a publication house asked me to be one of their writers. In about four weeks time, I start working full time for a sizeable corporation. I was not looking for a job and the offer fell on my lap. The position – Writer.