A Farewell To Arms

The first thing that I learned from him is how to shape some stone which after that I knew as ‘Batu Akik’ with a grindstone.


Hearing every single thing from his voice about his military experience in Congo with overwhelmed expression, especially during the part he recounted, “I jumped out of a plane and landed with a parachute.” How memorable thing he’d carve - how my imagination goes to the places I've never been.


But love story had always been my favorite. Things about riding classic scooter in East Java’s streets that they called as ‘cuma keliling-keliling’ with his beloved one. They were just a young couple at that time and painful things as a flavour of a love story when their second son always got sick time after time, about how his wife should be selling cake cause his salary was not sustainable enough to endure the living cost when he has far far away in Dili, Timor Timur.


During family time, with one kretek cigarette in his left hand, we’ve sung several Keroncong songs as his favorite genre. I asked about the Netherland song Als De Orchidien Bloeien, even with stammering lyrics and false chords, the singing session would still continue. Not too tunable but still laughable.


When he was visiting my house with 1982’s Kawasaki Binter Mezy KZ200 along with fishes that get caught from the river when there’s no food at home was always favourite to be seen.


Great when he had once ordered me to cut his white hair with speculation tricks, great to saw him finished his cigarettes, great to hear about his patriotic history.

Great to be his grandson


Farewell

Farewell

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