strawberry field

It was a perfect day,
perfect weather,
perfect view,
perfect shopping,
perfect crowd from many different nationalities
and colors (including many nice dogs),
perfect song,
but without perfect persons...,

I was in the Central Park, Manhattan, New York, walking by myself, tried to enjoy everything: nice puppies and dogs, cute looking children, runners, cyclists, tourists with their cameras and funny actions, sellers like kaki lima found in most streets in Jakarta, and small bicycle-carts, I don't know the name, but it really like becak, which went by and made Manhattan more crowded.

I walked along the West part of the park, from Colombus circle to the place called Strawberry field. If you are a fan of John Lennon, you must know this place. John Lennon was used to hang out there and was shot dead there too (If people gave me correct stories...). Its a shady circle area, surrounded by trees, where it has three paths from West, North and South. I sat in one of benches surrounded this small area, looking to the middle of the circle, on the ceramic tile where “imagine“ was written and became focus of attention of all people there. I was about to cry, not remembering how Lenon died, but moved by many roses set there. It is how wonderful the way people show their love and affection. About ten meters from that circle to the West, another crowd singing happily. They sang together with the street musicians who were about 12 persons bringing guitars, bass, and small drums, Beatles songs! The place is only ten meters from Lenon's (well, Yoko Ono's) apartment, its just separated by a road.

I joined the crowd and enjoyed few songs. I watched the surrounding. People of different color, gender, age, ideologies, nationalities, sang together with passion. The atmosphere was wonderful. One song that most crowd sang loudly (not included dogs... for sure!) was “all I need is love..., all I need is love..., all I need is love, love. Love is all you need.“ Passion and love united peoples no matter they have differences.

Well, its almost a prefect song, if my beloved ones were with me there.
I miss you, Amir, Elka and Farhan.

a tribute and prayers for my beloved brother

It has been so long since the last time I wrote in this blog. What made me write again is my admiration of my brother, mas Oce, for the way he fights his leukemia and his love to family, and also his nice writings/stories. I like his writing. He should publish his writings, I believe, not only because they are beautiful, but also because they are important lessons and knowledge about life and leukemia. I cried many times when I read his stories.

Telling you the truth, I just knew him well recently. Even though we went to the same Islamic boarding school in Jakarta in 80s. I knew he was such a rebellious person, but has very good heart. At the school I was not shame to the fact that my brother was notorious person, haha. I remember the moment he lent his arm to my shoulder when I was afraid of his friends who yelled to him and me. I knew he complained many times to my parents as he knew that I should have more clothes, etc. It seems that each of us in the family did not know each other. I began to know him well since he married to mbak Harni, and specifically when he was diagnosed with leukemia. I heard that in 2004 when I was in Melbourne.

I like his dedication and attentions to his wife and children. I think his small family is very strong one. Harun and Zahra know well what happened to his father. Mbak Harni is very strong woman. May this family are blessed.

Well, shortly, I would like to pay a tribute to him. He is a hero to me. I hope he keeps strong to fight the leukemia in his body, and gives his love to his family and friends, and keep writing!

See his writing entitles *Ruang* in his blog: http://ocekojiro.wordpress.com/

With love from New York.