Galau

It was Tuesday late afternoon at Caitlyn Court, Houston, Texas. The wind blew from east side of our house. Our work was still half done. My wife started to fetch all cats to our garage. My hand was full of dirt that later I realized the gloves were not properly functioned.

Spring time was dominating our garden activities. This year, the season was coming late. My wife and I were not sure if the plants would be survive during next Winter season as now practically they only contain less than 6 months to strengthen the roots, the stems, the branches, and to grow the leaves. Those have not yet considered on how to survive against Texas hot weather during Summer season or any disease that may come due to insect, bug or overdose of pesticide.

That evening, surrounding our dining table for supper, we started all conversation as used to have every night. My oldest son commented the question I had about his photo that I have never seen it before. He simply said, “You do not know about the photo’s event? Where were you in my life?”

From his tone, I knew he practically made a joke on me. But the sentence, “Where were you in my life?” was good enough to halt my nerve for a while. How come I do not know his activity while we both live in the same roof? Am I that bad as a father?

That table is practically our hub station place inside our house. After finishing our dinner, everyone was back upstairs to work on their own activities at their own place. For them, they mostly work for homework. And for me? As usual, I was sitting back in front of PC Monitor reading email, googling internet, facebook, and writing blogs. In my fitful gloom, I was asking myself, if this routine done it in daily life, can I expect to have better quality of life? can I expect to have better family relationship? will I know what my kids doing? moreover, can I  be a better parent? Wallohualam (Prahoro Nurtjahyo, April 10, 2013)

Sleepless in Forest

Kalau saya katakan tidur di tenda itu comfy atau physically peaceful, artinya saya berbohong pada diri sendiri. Tidur di hutan itu, jauh dari yang namanya nyenyak. Maka, kalau ukuran sampeyan ikut camping HANYA karena kriteria tidurnya nanti enak atau tidak, maka sampai kapanpun, saya jamin bahwa sampeyan tidak akan pernah ikutan camping.

Paling tidak, saya menemukan tiga (3) alasan mengapa tidur pada saat camping menjadi tidak nyenyak, tidak peduli seberapa-pun besar ukuran airbed-nya atau seberapa-pun tebal lapisan selimut-nya.

Ibu

Hari itu Minggu 13 Januari 2013 ba’da Subuh. Saya peluk lama seorang perempuan bertubuh kurus di bandara Juanda Surabaya. Saya cium keningnya berulang-ulang dan sentuh kulit keriput pipinya. Tidak ada tanda-tanda kesakitan dari pancaran wajahnya. Sedemikian besarnya rasa cinta kasih perempuan ini, sehingga sayapun tidak boleh tahu apa sesungguhnya yang dideritanya.

Satu bulan berselang, perempuan itu menutup hayatnya dengan senyuman di usia 68 tahun. Di usia yang sebenarnya belum terlalu sepuh untuk usia manusia modern saat ini. Beliau mengakhiri lembaran hidup di dunia dengan sebuah renungan yang panjang bagi putra-putrinya. Isak tangis segera menjadi irama yang bersautan di pendopo rumah besar yang menghadap ke arah selatan di pinggiran desa kecil itu.  

Inna Lillahi wa Innaillaihi Roji'uun. Hari itu bertepatan dengan tanggal 8 Pebruari 2013, Jumat Pon sore, waktu Lirboyo, Kediri.

Perempuan kurus itu adalah ibu saya. Seorang ibu yang tidak pernah neko-neko dalam menjalani hidup ini. Dari segi penampilan, beliau bukan sosok perempuan yang suka berdandan, tidak pernah memakai gincu atau lipstick, minyak wangi, cream bath, rebounding rambut, atau semacamnya. Dari segi materi, beliau bukan termasuk dalam character seseorang yang suka menimbun harta benda, apalagi yang berupa gelang, kalung, anting atau perhiasan emas yang lain.  Sepanjang hidup beliau, saya belum pernah menemukan ada perhiasan yang menempel di jari manisnya maupun yang bergantung di lehernya. She was so simple.