Waktu semalam beresin inbox dan liat2, ternyata emg keluargaku itu sms nya suka konyol2 -____- Apakah aku yg paling waras di keluargaku..

#1
dimas – adikku yg konyol suka tiba2 sms ndak bermutu
“Ger, mbak astri gemuk kyk Teddy Bear.”

#2
dimas – waktu kirim sms ultah, a real nice birthday greeting
“Met ultah. Da 24 ya? Kalo umurnya mbak astri dibagi 4 lalu dikali 10 jadi berat badan mbak astri, kalo belum turun (ato blum naik) “

#3
bapak – si om2 konyol
“Halo Supermodel qya qya qya nyam2 uenak…”
bener2 sms yg ndak jelas… -____- setelah diselidiki, ternyata wktu itu keluargaku lagi makan sate super mahal

#4
mas dityo – kakakku yg nge-reply message ku
astri : “huwa..kangen cabi..”
mas dityo: “makanya pulang. jgn cuma nangis. dasar si gembil “

Kalo lewat telpon, tetep sama aja
astri : “induk kalo ke bali, bawain burung dara goreng yaa..”
induk : “ok , mbak”
dimas: “jgn. dibawain jamu galian singset aja”

Bener2 bikin aku sering kangen rumah..

#1
induk : “cah ayu kapan pulang ke jogja?”
hiks…. T___T kangen indukku

 
#2
induk : “cah ayu, kalo pas selo (senggang) bisa minta tolong tanyakan rate hotel Haris tgl 13-16 Juli?”
astri : “ntar pulang kantor aku tanyain. skrg pulsaku lagi sekarat he2″
…5 minutes later…
858   : “anda mendapatkan pulsa Rp 50.000 dari simPATI 081XXXXX (nomor induk) “
hiks…indukku baik bgt… T___T
induk : “mbak, induk udh transfer pulsa 50 ribu ya”
astri : “hiks..hwaaa…induk kok baik bgt..hiks..uhuks..terharu..hweee”
induk : “hahaha..mbak kmu tuh lucu kyk cabi deh”
cabi itu si anjing nakal di rumah  -______-

It happened while I was in Jogja, actually :p
Majibu makes me post it now

Jogja, January 3rd 2009

I went to my friend’s house to celebrate Christmas. I put my motorbike in front of her shop, which had already closed coz it was evening. I reached my cellphone and called her so she might know I’ve come and she could open her shop garage. After made the call, I walked around, waiting for her.

Then a foreigner, hm..not sure if he’s a bule since his hair is black, asked me “Do you need any ham?”

He?

“Do you need any ham?” he repeated while I still gaped at him. “Apakah kamu butuh… ah..what is it in Indonesian..” he continued, trying to find a proper word.

I was a bit scared. If a stranger ask you about something unclear, isn’t that quite suspicious? Ham? With my a-bit-fat-body I was so sure I didn’t resemble a starving girl. Hey! Maybe I misheard.

“Ng..what do you mean? Ham or help?” I replied, couldn’t help wondering, maybe he’s the one who needed help.

Instead of replying my question, he threw another question “Are you American?”

. . . . .

LoL.. In what point of view do i look like Americans? I do look more like Japanese in dark skin LoL. But maybe in US, the race varies.

“No, I’m Indonesian” I replied again, starting to feel funny.

“Oh..and do you need any help?” his gestures described the way I stood in front of a closed shop garage, doing nothing but holding cellphone.

Just in time when I opened my lips to reply, my friend opened her garage.
“No, I’m fine. I’m waiting for my friend and there she is. Thank you” I walked (actually kinda run) to my friend.

So it was my ear’s fault in transmitting his word. Made the situation strange LoL.

In Bali, it’s a common thing you meet a bule, but in Jogja? And… are foreigners more friendly than locals? Me myself wouldn’t care if someone put their motorbike and looked confused. Maybe people are just getting selfish (or is it me?) Well..it’s sure nice to have someone helping you when you are in need. At least, dear foreigner, thanks for making me smile afterward.

Oops! I realized something

I forgot to smile at him :p

I was from my way back from Yuan’s boarding house in Karang Tenget. In the Jl Kediri’s intersection, I wanted to cross the street to gang Bhineka Jati Jaya. Next to my motorbike, in my left, there was a dog. It went back and forth. Maybe it wanted to cross the street but scared (sotoy mode). So i asked it, “Pochi, do you want to cross the street?” (hohoho..just call the dog Pochi). Pochi remained silent.

Hm…I thought maybe Pochi was just wandering around just like many other dogs. Then i continued observing the traffic that came from my right, looking for a chance to cross the street. When the traffic’s empty, I crossed it.. and..Pochi was also crossing the street following me! So i had a correct guess about Pochi’s intention, hahaha.. We stopped in the middle of the street. I looked at my left. There was a car, but quite far. We can still make it. Pochi stepped back in doubt. I told it, “Come on, Pochi”. and Pochi ran before me! Pochi made it to cross the street.

I happily watched Pochi. and…do you know the purpose of Pochi crossing the street? It wanted to meet it’s friend! Aw…so sweet >.<

Woke up in the morning, felt dizzy, still sleepy. Too lazy to move. Nevertheless, had to get up. Work was waiting. Problems were still existing. Had no spirit left to fight. Heart mumbled, “I wish it was weekend.” A have-ever-experienced scenario for everyone, I guess.

I was in one.

Continuing that morning, despite my (old) habit of taking motorbike to office, I prefered walking. Might be because of the gloomy sky. Perfect. My mood got a friend.

I was walking alone, staring at my steps, thoughts were flying in and out, when an old man passed me by. A foreigner. (Note: in Bali you can find foreigners as easy as finding shells in the beach sand)

His voice startled me. “Good morning!” I lifted my eyes, and there, I saw a big smile on his face. He transfered a joy. I couldn’t help but reply “Good morning.” And there, was a smile on my face.

A total mood change for the rest of that day. Just because someone cared to leave a smile and a greeting to brighten up one’s day.

How about today?

Ever heard that smile is contagious?

It made my day!

Note (again) :
The meaning of “make my day” from (http://www.answers.com/topic/make-one-s-day) is to “give one great pleasure”

I found this story on the internet. I read the English version and the story was so nice that I wanted to translate it into Bahasa. The English version along with the source is enclosed. Enjoy!

Appointment with Love

Jam 6 kurang 6 menit, kata jam besar di atas stan informasi di stasiun Grand Central. Seorang letnan muda berbadan tinggi baru saja datang dari arah rel, dia mengangkat wajahnya yg terbakar matahari dan memicingkan mata utk melihat waktu dgn tepat. Hatinya berdetak dgn kecepatan yg mengejutkan. Dia tidak dapat mengontrolnya. Dalam 6 menit, dia akan menemui gadis yg memenuhi tempat spesial di hatinya selama 13 bulan, gadis yg blm pernah dia temui, namun sudah menuliskan kata-kata yg selalu menemani dan menyokongnya.

Dia berdiri sedekat mungkin dengan stan informasi, tepat di luar antrian orang yang menyerbu penjaganya.

Letnan Blanford mengingat suatu malam, pertempuran yg paling buruk, ketika pesawatnya terjebak di tengah-tengah kumpulan Zeros. Dia melihat seringai di salah satu wajah pilot musuh.

Dalam salah satu suratnya, dia mengaku pada gadis itu bahwa dia sering merasa takut, dan hanya beberapa  hari sebelum pertempuran itu, dia menerima surat balasan : “Tentu saja kamu takut…semua pria pemberani merasa takut. Bukannya raja Daud tahu rasa takut? Itulah kenapa dia menuliskan Mazmur 23. Lain kali kamu merasa ragu, aku ingin kamu mendengar suaraku menceritakan padamu: ‘Ya, biarpun aku berjalan dalam lembah kekelaman, aku tidak takut bahaya, sebab Engkau besertaku.” Dia ingat. Dia membayangkan suara gadis itu. Dan itu memperbarui kekuatan dan kemampuannya.

Sekarang dia akan mendengar suara nyata gadis itu. Jam 6 kurang 4 menit. Wajahnya menjadi tegang.

Di bawah atap yg besar, orang-orang berjalan dgn cepat seperti benang warna warni ditenun dalam jaring abu-abu. Seorang gadis lewat di sebelahnya, dan Letnan Blanford terkejut. Gadis itu mengenakan bunga merah di bajunya, namun itu adalah sweet pea merah tua, bukan bunga mawar merah kecil yg mereka sepakati. Lagipula, gadis itu terlalu muda, sekitar 18 tahun, sedangkan Hollis Meynell sudah mengatakan bahwa dia berumur 30 tahun. “Jadi, kenapa?” jawab Branford padanya. “Aku 32 tahun”. Dia sebenarnya 29 tahun.

Pikirannnya kembali pada buku itu – buku yg pasti Tuhan letakkan sendiri ke tangannya dari sekian ratus buku perpustakaan tentara yg dikirim ke training camp Florida. Of Human Bondage, judul buku itu; dan di sepanjang buku ada catatan yang ditulis dengan tulisan tangan wanita. Dia selalu sebal dgn kebiasan menulisi buku seperti itu, tapi kata-kata ini berbeda. Dia tidak pernah percaya seorang gadis sanggup melihat ke dalam hati laki laki dengan begitu lembut dan penuh pengertian. Nama gadis itu tertera di label nama buku: Hollis Meynell. Dia meminjam buku telpon New York dan menemukan alamat gadis itu. Dia menulis surat padanya, gadis itu membalas. Hari berikutnya dia telah dipindahkan, tapi mereka tetap saling mengirimkan surat.

Selama 13 bulan, gadis itu dgn setia membalas, dan lebih dari membalas. Ketika Blanford tidak mengirim surat, gadis itu tetap mengirimkan surat, dan dia menjadi yakin bahwa dia mencintai gadis itu dan gadis itu mencintai dia.

Namun gadis itu menolak untuk mengirimkan fotonya. Rasanya cukup menyebalkan, tentu saja, namun gadis itu menjelaskan: “Jika perasaanmu untukku adalah nyata dan jujur, seperti apa rupaku tidak akan jadi masalah. Misalkan aku cantik, aku akan dihantui perasaan bahwa kamu memanfaatkan keadaan ini, dan cinta yg seperti itu menjijikkan. Misalkan aku biasa-biasa saja (dan sebaiknya kamu menerimanya karena  sepertinya begitu) maka aku akan selalu takut kamu hanya menulis surat padaku karena kamu kesepian dan tidak punya siapa2. Tidak, jgn minta fotoku. Sewaktu kamu kembali ke New York, kamu akan melihatku dan kamu boleh membuat keputusan. Ingat, kita berdua bisa memilih untuk berhenti atau terus melanjutkan setelah itu – apa pun yg kita putuskan”

Jam 6 kurang 1 menit – hati Letnan Blanford membumbung lebih tinggi daripada yg pernah dilakukan pesawatnya.

Seorang wanita muda berjalan ke arahnya. Perawakannya tinggi dan langsing, rambut pirangnya tergerai ikal dari telinganya yg indah. Matanya sebiru bunga, bibir dan dagunya mempunyai ketegasan yg lembut. Dalam baju hijau pucatnya, dia tampak seperti musim semi yg hidup.

Letnan Blanford berjalan ke arahnya, benar-benar lupa memperhatikan bahwa gadis itu tidak mengenakan bunga mawar, dan ketika dia berjalan, sebuah senyum mungil terukir di bibir gadis itu.

“Searah dengan saya, prajurit?”, bisiknya.

Tanpa dapat dikontrol, dia berjalan lebih dekat lagi satu langkah ke gadis itu. Lalu, dia melihat Hollis Meynell.

Dia berdiri nyaris tepat di belakang gadis itu, seorang wanita di atas 40 tahun, rambut abu2nya menyembul di bawah topi tuanya.Dia lebih dari sekedar bundar; pergelangan kakinya yg lebar dibungkus sepatu berhak rendah. Namun dia mengenakan mawar di mantel coklatnya yg ditekuk.

Gadis berbaju hijau berjalan menjauh.

Blanford merasa dia dirobek menjadi dua, sangat ingin mengikuti gadis berbaju hijau, namun begitu merindukan wanita yg jiwanya sudah menemani dan menguatkan jiwanya sendiri. dan di situlah wanita itu berdiri. Wajahnya yg bundar dan pucat terlihat lembut dan berperasaaan; dia bisa melihat sekarang, mata wanita itu mempunyai sorot yang hangat.

Letnan Blanford tidak ragu-ragu. Jarinya mengambil buku mungil dan tua berjudul Of Human Bondage, sebagai penanda dirinya. Ini mungkin tidak akan menjadi cinta, namun mungkin ini akan menjadi sesuatu yg berharga, sesuatu yg mungkin lebih langka dari cinta – persahabatan yg dia jalani dan sangat dia syukuri.

Dia menegakkan pundaknya, memberikan salut dan menyerahkan buku itu kepada sang wanita, meskipun ketika dia berbicara, dia sendiri merasa terkejut dgn nada suaranya yg pahit karena kekecewaannya.

“Saya letnan Blanford, dan anda – anda nona Meynell. Saya sangat senang anda bisa menemui saya. Bolehkah..bolehkah saya mengajak anda makan malam?”

Wajah wanita itu melebar dengan senyum pengertian. “Aku tidak tahu ini tentang apa, nak” dia menjawab. “Gadis muda berbaju hijau itu – yang tadi engkau lewati – dia memohon padaku untuk mengenakan mawar ini di mantelku. Dan dia berkata jika engkau mengajakku untuk pergi bersamamu, aku akan memberitahumu bahwa dia menunggumu di restoran besar di seberang jalan. Dia mengatakan bahwa ini adalah semacam tes. Aku sendiri punya 2 orang putra di Amerika, jadi aku tidak keberatan untuk membantumu”

———————————————————————————————-

Appointment with Love

Six minutes to six, said the great round clock over the information booth in Grand Central Station. The tall young Army lieutenant who had just come from the direction of the tracks lifted his sunburned face, and his eyes narrowed to note the exact time. His heart was pounding with a beat that shocked him because he could not control it. In six minutes, he would see the woman who had filled such a special place in his life for the past 13 months, the woman he had never seen, yet whose written words had been with him and sustained him unfailingly.

He placed himself as close as he could to the information booth, just beyond the ring of people besieging the clerks…

Lieutenant Blandford remembered one night in particular, the worst of the fighting, when his plane had been caught in the midst of a pack of Zeros. He had seen the grinning face of one of the enemy pilots.

In one of his letters, he had confessed to her that he often felt fear, and only a few days before this battle, he had received her answer: “Of course you fear…all brave men do. Didn’t King David know fear? That’s why he wrote the 23rd Psalm. Next time you doubt yourself, I want you to hear my voice reciting to you: ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for Thou art with me.’” And he had remembered; he had heard her imagined voice, and it had renewed his strength and skill.

Now he was going to hear her real voice. Four minutes to six. His face grew sharp.

Under the immense, starred roof, people were walking fast, like threads of color being woven into a gray web. A girl passed close to him, and Lieutenant Blandford started. She was wearing a red flower in her suit lapel, but it was a crimson sweet pea, not the little red rose they had agreed upon. Besides, this girl was too young, about 18, whereas Hollis Meynell had frankly told him she was 30. “Well, what of it?” he had answered. “I’m 32.” He was 29.

His mind went back to that book – the book the Lord Himself must have put into his hands out of the hundreds of Army library books sent to the Florida training camp. Of Human Bondage, it was; and throughout the book were notes in a woman’s writing. He had always hated that writing-in-habit, but these remarks were different. He had never believed that a woman could see into a man’s heart so tenderly, so understandingly. Her name was on the bookplate: Hollis Meynell. He had got hold of a New York City telephone book and found her address. He had written, she had answered. Next day he had been shipped out, but they had gone on writing.

For 13 months, she had faithfully replied, and more than replied. When his letters did not arrive she wrote anyway, and now he believed he loved her, and she loved him.

But she had refused all his pleas to send him her photograph. That seemed rather bad, of course. But she had explained: “If your feeling for me has any reality, any honest basis, what I look like won’t matter. Suppose I’m beautiful. I’d always be haunted by the feeling that you had been taking a chance on just that, and that kind of love would disgust me. Suppose I’m plain (and you must admit that this is more likely). Then I’d always fear that you were going on writing to me only because you were lonely and had no one else. No, don’t ask for my picture. When you come to New York, you shall see me and then you shall make your decision. Remember, both of us are free to stop or to go on after that – whichever we choose…”

One minute to six – Lieutenant Blandford’s heart leaped higher than his plane had ever done.

A young woman was coming toward him. Her figure was long and slim; her blond hair lay back in curls from her delicate ears. Her eyes were blue as flowers, her lips and chin had a gentle firmness. In her pale green suit, she was like springtime come alive.

He started toward her, entirely forgetting to notice that she was wearing no rose, and as he moved, a small, provocative smile curved her lips.

“Going my way, soldier?” she murmured.

Uncontrollably, he made one step closer to her. Then he saw Hollis Meynell.

She was standing almost directly behind the girl, a woman well past 40, her graying hair tucked under a worn hat. She was more than plump; her thick-ankled feet were thrust into low-heeled shoes. But she wore a red rose in the rumpled lapel of her brown coat.

The girl in the green suit was walking quickly away.

Blandford felt as though he were being split in two, so keen was his desire to follow the girl, yet so deep was his longing for the woman whose spirit had truly companioned and upheld his own; and there she stood. Her pale, plump face was gentle and sensible; he could see that now. Her gray eyes had a warm, kindly twinkle.

Lieutenant Blandford did not hesitate. His fingers gripped the small worn, blue leather copy of Of Human Bondage, which was to identify him to her. This would not be love, but it would be something precious, something perhaps even rarer than love – a friendship for which he had been and must ever be grateful.

He squared his broad shoulders, saluted and held the book out toward the woman, although even while he spoke he felt shocked by the bitterness of his disappointment.

“I’m Lieutenant John Blandford, and you – you are Miss Meynell. I’m so glad you could meet me. May…may I take you to dinner?”

The woman’s face broadened in a tolerant smile. “I don’t know what this is all about, son,” she answered. “That young lady in the green suit – the one who just went by – begged me to wear this rose on my coat. And she said that if you asked me to go out with you, I should tell you that she’s waiting for you in that big restaurant across the street. She said it was some kind of a test. I’ve got two boys with Uncle Sam myself, so I didn’t mind to oblige you.”

– The original English version was taken from http://storiesthattouch.blogspot.com/ –

The definition of love…as told by children 4-8 years old.

Love is…When someone hurts you…even when you hurt terribly…you don’t cry because you know it will hurt the person who has hurt you! Matthew – 6 years old

Love is…When my Granny had athritis, and couldn’t paint her nails…my Granpa did it for her, even though he had athritis too… Rebbecca – 8 years old

Love is… When a girl uses perfume and a boy uses after shave…and they go out together…and smell one another. Carl – 5 years old

Love is… When you know that your older sister loves you…because she gives you all her old clothes…and has to go out and buy new! Lauren – 4 years old

Love is…When an old lady and an old man…are still good friends even though they’ve known one another for a long time. Tommy – 6 years old

Love is… When someone loves you…the way they say your name… It’s different! Billy – 4 years old

Love is… When you go out and offer your potato chips to someone, without waiting for the other person to offer you his! Chrissy 6 years old

Love is… If you want to learn to love better…start with a friend you don’t like! Nikka – 6 years old

Love is…When you tell someone…something bad about yourself…and you are scared that, that person won’t love you because of what you said…then that person surprises you by loving you even more! Samantha – 7 years old

Love is…When Mommy sees Daddy all sweatty and dirty…but still tells him…”You are still more handsome than ROBERT REDFORD“ Chris – 8 years old.

Love is…When you tell a boy that he is wearing a beautiful shirt…even though he wears the same one everyday! Noelle – 7 years old

Love is…To hug…to kiss…to say NO! Patty – 8 years old

Love is…When your pet dog licks your face…even though you have left it all alone the whole day! Mary Ann – 4 years old

Love is… When you love someone…your eyes roll up and down…and little stars shine from them! Karen – 7 years old

Love is…GOD could have said magic words to be released from the nails on the cross…but HE didn’t…That is LOVE! Max – 5 years old
(Yep, the best definition of love I have ever heard)

Kejadian kemarin Rabu, waktu mau nyari camilan sore. Pulang kantor, saya naik motor menyusuri gang-gang di karangtenget, bermaksud motong jalan ke tukang gorengan. Eits…ternyata ada gang di situ yang buset ancurnya. Jalannya bolong-bolong, dan dengan lincah saya menghindari lobang-lobang tersebut, ndak sadar kalo terlalu ngambil jalan terlalu ke kanan. Tepat di pertigaan depan saya, ada motor yang mau ke kiri, ke arah saya. Ckiiitt…untungnya saya dan si mbak pengendara motor yg mau belok itu ngerem tepat waktu. Sempat terjadi keheningan. Si mbak liat saya sambil bilang, “anj**g!” trus dia tancap gas dan pergi.

Saya? Sempat shock 1 detik trus pergi, hehe.. Bukan apa-apa, baru kali ini saya dikatain kayak gitu di depan muka (kalo di belakang, ya ndak tau lagi). Maklum, saya kan gadis terpelajar dan lemah lembut (peranakan Jogja – Solo yang terkenal dgn putri-putri keratonnya yg halus dan manis) wkwkwkwkwkwk… Marah sih ndak, lha wong saya yg salah. Puji Tuhan, ndak sampe tabrakan, hehe..

Padahal dulu saya sering ngeluh kok di bali ini banyak sih yang naek motornya ngawur, di gang-gang kecil pada ngebut, di jalan nyalipnya gak karu2an, ternyata saya sendiri ndak tertib :p
Hehe, mulai sekarang saya akan belajar tertib berkendara

Just a joke ^^ No offence for dog’s and cat’s lover. In another way, this joke may remind us, have we been thankful today? How do we see the world around us? ^^
The English version is enclosed after the translated version

Buku Harian Seekor Anjing
08:00 pagi: Wow, makanan anjing – kesukaanku!
09:30 pagi: Wow, naik mobil – kesukaanku!
09:40 pagi: Wow, jalan-jalan – kesukaanku!
10:30 pagi: Wow, naik mobil lagi – kesukaanku!
11:30 pagi: Wow, makanan anjing lagi – kesukaanku!
12:00 siang: Wow, anak-anak – kesukaanku!
01:00 siang: Wow, halaman rumah – kesukaanku!
04:00 sore: Wow, anak-anak lagi – kesukaanku!
05:00 sore: Wow, makanan anjing lagi – kesukaanku!
05:30 sore: Wow, Mama – kesukaanku!
06:00 sore: Wow, main bola – kesukaanku!
08:00 malam: Wow, nonton TV bersama orang-orang – kesukaanku!
09:30 malam: Wow, tidur di tempat tidur tuanku – kesukaanku!

Buku Harian Seekor Kucing
Hari ke-183
Para penangkapku terus mempermainkanku dengan benda-benda berjuntai kecil yang aneh. Mereka makan malam berfoya-foya dengan daging segar, sementara aku hanya diberi sereal kering. Aku bertahan dengan harapan bisa melarikan diri dan dengan sedikit kepuasan yang kudapatkan dari merusak beberapa perabot. Besok mungkin aku makan tanaman hias lainnya

Hari ke-184
Hari ini aku berusaha membunuh para penangkapku dengan menyelip-nyelipkan tubuhku di antara kaki mereka yang sedang berjalan. Hampir berhasil. Harus kucoba di puncak tangga. Untuk membuat mereka jijik dan membuat penindas keji ini mundur, aku sekali lagi muntah di atas kursi kesayangan mereka … harus kucoba di atas tempat tidur mereka.

Hari ke-185
Untuk menunjukkan sikapku yang kejam, aku memotong leher seekor tikus dan membuang tubuhnya yang tanpa kepala di lantai dapur. Mereka hanya berkata lembut, mengelus-mengelus kepalaku kemudian memanggilku kucing kecil yg hebat. Hm…tidak berjalan sesuai rencana.

Hari ke-186
Aku akhirnya mengerti betapa sadisnya mereka. Tanpa alasan yang jelas, aku dipilih untuk penyiksaan dengan air. Kali ini melibatkan larutan kimia panas berbusa yang dinamakan “shampo”. Pikiran gila mana yang menemukan cairan semacam itu. Satu-satunya penghiburanku adalah ibu jari mereka masih tersangkut di gigiku.

Hari ke-187
Aku yakin tangkapan lainnya adalah penjilat, mungkin pencuri. Anjing itu selalu dilepas dan tampaknya secara naif senang untuk kembali. Jelas ia bodoh. Burung itu terus berbicara dengan  manusia. Pasti informan. Aku yakin ia melaporkan setiap gerak-gerikku. Karena tempatnya di sangkar besi, keamanannya terjamin, tapi aku bisa menunggu. Ini hanya masalah waktu.

————————————————————————————

The Dog’s Diary
08:00 am: Oh boy! Dog food! My favorite!
09:30 am: Oh boy! A car ride! My favorite!
09:40 am: Oh boy! A walk in the park! My favorite!
10:30 am: Oh boy! A car ride again! My favorite!
11:30 am: Oh boy! Dog food again! My favorite!
12:00 pm: Oh boy! Kids! My favorite!
01:00 pm: Oh boy! Played in the yard! My favorite!
04:00 pm: Oh boy! Kids again! My favorite!
05:00 pm: Oh boy! Dinner! My favorite!
05:30 pm: Oh boy! Mom! My favorite!
06:00 pm: Oh boy! Got to play ball! My favorite!
08:00 pm: Oh boy! Watched TV with the people! My favorite!
09:30 pm: Oh boy! Sleeping on my master’s bed! My favorite!

The Cat’s Diary
DAY 183
My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal. The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the mild satisfaction I get from ruining the occasional piece of furniture. Tomorrow I may eat another houseplant.

DAY 184
Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded, must try this at the top of the stairs. In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once again induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair … must try this on their bed.

DAY 185
Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body, in attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little cat I was … Hmmm. Not working according to plan.

DAY 186
I am finally aware of how sadistic they are. For no good reason I was chosen for the water torture. This time however it included a burning foamy chemical called “shampoo.” What sick minds could invent such a liquid. My only consolation is the piece of thumb still stuck between my teeth.

DAY 187
I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches. The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a half-wit. The bird on the other hand has got to be an informant, and speaks with them regularly. I am certain he reports my every move. Due to his current placement in the metal room, his safety is assured.
But I can wait, it is only a matter of time…

I heard this story from yesterday’s sermon in the church. It’s an awesome parable. I enclose the English version after the translated version. Enjoy the parable! ^^

This Too Shall Pass

Suatu hari Salomo ingin menguji Benaya Bin Yoyada, salah seorang menteri kepercayaannya. Dia berkata, “Benaya, aku ingin engkau membawakan suatu cincin untukku. Aku akan mengenakannya ketika Sukkot, berarti engkau punya waktu 6 bulan untuk menemukannya.”

“Jika sungguh cincin tersebut ada, Yang Mulia”, jawab Benaya, “Aku akan menemukannya dan membawanya ke hadapanmu, namun apakah yang membuat cincin ini begitu spesial?”

“Cincin ini memiliki kekuatan ajaib,” jawab raja. “Ketika orang yang sedang berbahagia melihat cincin ini, dia akan menjadi sedih. Sebaliknya ketika seorang yang sedang sedih melihatnya, dia akan berbahagia.” Salomo tahu bahwa cincin seperti itu tidak pernah ada di muka bumi, namun dia ingin mengajarkan rasa kerendahan hati pada menterinya.

Musim semi berlalu, musim panas berlalu, Benaya belum berhasil menemukan cincin tersebut dan bahkan tidak tahu di mana dia bisa menemukannya. Malam sebelum Sukkot, dia memutuskan untuk berjalan-jalan di salah satu kawasan termiskin di Yerusalem. Dia melewati seorang penjual tua yang baru saja menggelar barang dagangannya di karpet yang lusuh. Benaya bertanya padanya, “Apakah engkau pernah mendengar tentang cincin ajaib yang membuat pemakainya yang berbahagia menjadi lupa akan sukacitanya dan pemakainya yang bersedih hati menjadi lupa akan penderitaannya?”

Benaya melihat sang kakek mengambil cincin emas biasa dari karpetnya dan menuliskan sesuatu di cincin tersebut. Ketika Benaya membaca kata-kata di cincin tersebut, wajahnya menjadi cerah dihiasi senyuman lebar.

Malam itu seluruh kota merayakan libur Sukkot dengan pesta besar. “Sahabatku,” kata Salomo, “apakah engkau sudah menemukan cincin yang aku minta?” Semua menteri tertawa, dan Salomo sendiri pun tersenyum.

Namun mereka terkejut ketika Benaya menyerahkan cincin emas kecil dan memberitahukan, “Ini dia, Yang Mulia!” Segera setelah Salomo membaca ukiran cincin itu, senyumnya lenyap. Tukang emas itu menuliskan tiga huruf Ibrani di cincin: “gimel, zayin, yud”, yang dimulai dengan kata-kata “Gam zeh ya’avor” — “Ini pun akan berlalu.”

Pada saat itu Salomo menyadari bahwa seluruh kebijaksanaannya dan kekayaannya yang luarbiasa dan kekuasaannya yang sangat besar hanyalah sementara, karena suatu hari dia akan kembali menjadi debu.

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This Too Shall Pass

One day Solomon decided to humble Benaiah ben Yehoyada, his most trusted minister. He said to him, “Benaiah, there is a certain ring that I want you to bring to me. I wish to wear it for Sukkot,  which gives you six months to find it.”

“If it exists anywhere on earth, your majesty,” replied Benaiah, “I will find it and bring it to you, but what makes the ring so special?”

“It has magic powers,” answered the king. “If a happy man looks at it, he becomes sad, and if a sad man looks at it, he becomes happy.” Solomon knew that no such ring existed in the world, but he wished to give his minister a little taste of humility.

Spring passed and then summer, and still Benaiah had no idea where he could find the ring. On the night before Sukkot, he decided to take a walk in one of he poorest quarters of Jerusalem. He passed by a merchant who had begun to set out the day’s wares on a shabby carpet. “Have you by any chance heard of a magic ring that makes the happy wearer forget his joy and the broken-hearted wearer forget his sorrows?” asked Benaiah.

He watched the grandfather take a plain gold ring from his carpet and engrave something on it. When Benaiah read the words on the ring, his face broke out in a wide smile.

That night the entire city welcomed in the holiday of Sukkot with great festivity. “Well, my friend,” said Solomon, “have you found what I sent you after?” All the ministers laughed and Solomon himself smiled.

To everyone’s surprise, Benaiah held up a small gold ring and declared, “Here it is, your majesty!” As soon as Solomon read the inscription, the smile vanished from his face. The jeweler had written three Hebrew letters on the gold band: “gimel, zayin, yud”, which began the words “Gam zeh ya’avor” — “This too shall pass.”

At that moment Solomon realized that all his wisdom and fabulous wealth and tremendous power were but fleeting things, for one day he would be nothing but dust.