Ibu, keajaiban dunia.

Tak perlu ku menunggu kesempatan menjadi ibu
Tuk bergidik menghirup keagunganmu
Tak sabar ku menanti hari ibu
Tuk menyebar sucinya kasihmu

Ibu,
Memanggilmu
Ibu,
Menyentuhmu
Ibu,
Menatapmu
Ibu,
Memujamu

Tuhan bersamaku.

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Bercerita bersama sore - dua puluh lima

Sudah lama ya kita tak duduk santai bersama macam ini. Kapan terakhir kali? Ah.. tak ingat. Menenangkan; suara ibu-ibu tetangga yang ribut bercerita, angin sepoi menggoyangkan jemuranku, tapak adik-adik kecil saling mengejar, matahari yang beranjak pergi, rumah bersih dengan perabot baru yang dibeli siang tadi. Hhhmm...

Sebenarnya membeli mesin cuci adalah agenda kemarin, tapi aku segan sekali membeli sesuatu yang tak aku kuasai betul sendirian, Sore. Fyuuhh... Need a second opinion. Masa mau tanya ke mas-mas penjual saja? Pasti semua juga dibilang bagus. Ya kan? Sudah kuajak Dian, Dewi dan Anast; sudah punya acara semuanya. Ku bahkan coba menghubungi Muna, lebih parah lagi, Sabtu-Sabtu bekerja. Aiiisshh.. Jadi ditunda saja dulu.

Hingga tadi pagi, sedari bangun ku yakinkan diriku sendiri untuk tetap pergi dan membeli hari ini, jangan ditunda. Lebih cepat lebih baik, kalau kata pak JK. –kampanye terselubung- Oke, jadi urutannya begini; ke ATM di seberang jalan, karena toko elektronik di pasar hanya menerima uang tunai. Lalu naik bis ke pasar dan masuk ke komplek toko-toko elektronik, jangan galau, pilih saja toko dengan pajangan mesin cuci terbanyak. Masuk ke dalam toko dengan cool, jangan terlalu menunjukkan minat. Tawar harga dengan santai, jangan banyak bicara a la ibu-ibu, pasti lebih sulit diturunin harganya. Kalau digoda dengan alasan-alasan membuai, katakan saja uangnya tak cukup. Pastikan kapasitas listrik yang dibutuhkan tidak terlalu besar dan merk setidaknya sudah dikenal. Jangan sok-sokan tanya harga merk Eropa, cuma bikin sakit hati saja. Kalau sudah deal harga mesin cuci, baru tanyakan dvd player. Cari warna hitam, biar matching sama tv. Jangan belaga tanya harga barang lain, godaan pasti lebih besar dan buntutnya dibeli padahal tidak masuk daftar.

La voila! Kudapat mesin cuci ber-merk Jepang ukuran 10 kg dengan harga sesuai rencana. Ada sisa uang, kubeli itu dvd player –sebenarnya bisa dapat dengan harga lebih murah, tapi lagi mood bagi-bagi rezeki sama si masnya- ber-merk dan warna sesuai rencana. Kubayar, tunai, macam mas kawin saja. Kuberi kertas bertuliskan alamat rumah serta nomor hp, kali-kali alamatku sulit dicari. Kuminum segelas aqua, servis dari si mas. Lalu pamit, tak lupa berterima kasih.

Huwaaahh.. senangnya, puasnya. Itu kali pertama aku beli elektronik di tempat yang harus tawar menawar, sendiri. Keren kan, Sore?

”Ah, si mbak ini pinter amat nawarnya,” keluh si mas putus asa.

Feel sexy, hein?

Ok. One thing I know by being a transjakartaners, I hate woman who wave their hair right in front of others face. Halo??

You feel so damned sexy, hein? Waving your long hair imitating the shampoo advertisement that build an image of sexy lady who choose a right shampoo which make their hair light and smells nice. Ok, I admit that it looks sexy. Really. I even did that action several times. ^^V But, only but, there's no people close to me. As I walking on the sidewalk, wearing my working suite -with glasses and high heels, of course- I love to wave my hair when I know there are people around, but not very close! And why is that? Just to feel sexy and attractive. What? Don't laugh! Make survey about that and you'll see that shampoo advertisement successfully washed our brain. Lol!

Yes dear ladies, maybe you all forget that our hair, even we washed it, is not sterile from bacterias. Moreover, in Jakarta, as you walk out from your house and take public transportation, "clean" is exactly no longer exist. So, keep your dirtiness for your self and no need to spread it to others. Ok?

Wave your hair as many as you like, no problem with that. As long, I say as long, you don't spread all the bacterias to others faces. Note that, honey? And please, go sexy! *wink*

A very blessed 27 years old girl

I wanted to type "a very lucky 27 years old girl" before, but realized that lucky is not enough. If lucky means having or attended by good luck, occurring by chance, and believing to bring luck, than I chose the right word, then. Cause this one I want to describe is not only a matter of luck or chance, it's something more. While blessed means worthy of worship; holy, bringing happiness, pleasure or contentment. Holy, guess that's the keyword.

Here, in my place and its culture, a 27 years old girl expected as someone who has finished her study, has a settle career, surrounded by loyal friends and colleagues, can be depended by her family, and also, the most important one, has a husband. Happy? Dream? It's non of society business.

Me, I'm 27 years old, will be 28 soon. Yay! The society is expecting me to follow their rules, of course. And me, I am walking in and with them, the society, while avoiding its rules which don't fit me. I've finished my study, Alhamdulillah. A settle career? Well I'm happy with this thing I do now, but still, I'm still up to my dream job, a teacher. Wish me luck! Am I surrounded by loyal friends and colleagues? I am. I proudly am. And also, by a big various family. Love is all in the air!

Can be depended by her family, hmmm... This one I don't know. But so far, I am trying to walk together with people I love. I am living with my brother's family now, and it feels good. I have a good relationship with my parents, I am hanging out with my aunties, cousins and nephews, I chat with my uncle, I laugh and cry with my girls, I even enlarging my family circle now! Wooo..

The last one, a husband. Yay! I am single until now! And it's a bless! Since I have a special man with whom I share my daily life story now. My dreams, passions and craziness. What a bonus, right! We're learning how to share our life goodly, before marriage lock us. Lock? What a diction! Lol!

Mom? What about mom say? Instead of asking me, "When will you guys marry?" She, a very uncommon mom, lucky me, asked, "When will you continue your study and upgrading your diploma?" Oh girls, I know you are all jealous of me, now. Not only that, she also once shared her thoughts to me and my man, "Do you know? I never worry that my daughter will have a difficulty to find a good man and to end in a marriage. Why? Because I'm doing my best in life, I always try not to hurt others. By that, I'm sure that mother's good path will enlighten her children path." She smiled, my man smiled, I smiled in heart while trying not to drop a tear.

Am I happy? No reason for not being to. Am I still keeping my dream alive? Of course I do.

I have a very enlightened path, thanks to my dear mother who bless her 27 years old girl.

Di Hari Perempuan Internasional

Hari ini tanggal delapan Maret, hari perempuan Internasional, begitu tv bilang. Acara tv yang menampilkan dua orang perempuan dari dua kubu, satu dari Kementrian Pemberdayaan Perempuan yang merasa sudah berkontribusi besar demi perempuan-perempuan negeri ini, satu lagi perempuan dari organisasi besar yang merasa bahwa Kementrian tadi hanya pajangan pemerintah saja. Biar seolah-olah pemerintah Indonesia sudah sungguh memerhatikan kesejahteraan perempuan. Nyatanya?

Kalau saya punya suara, Kementrian ini tak ada gunanya, hanya sebagai tempat exist ibu-ibu pejabat saja, yang masih ber-make up menor dan berponi mumbul. Dengan gemerincing gelang emasnya sibuk meresmikan apalah itulah di kota-kota besar. Bukan mereka kok yang memberi ide agar ada gerbong khusus wanita di kereta api, bukan mereka juga yang membela para TKW yang nyaris mati disiksa para majikannya, atau lantang memarahi para pelaku pelecehan di TransJakarta. Alah! Sudah, daripada siang ini tumbuh gondok di leher saya, lebih baik disudahi saja keluhan atas harapan yang jauh dari kenyataan ini.

Ibu dari Kementrian tadi, parasnya sungguh mirip seperti satu-satunya mantan presiden RI yang berjenis kelamin wanita. Kala itu, saat beliau memimpin negara ini yang entah karena dipilih siapa, saya sempat menonton acara Oprah yang membahasa negara-negara yang mengakui persamaan pria dan wanita hingga mampu menjadikan seorang perempuan sebagai presiden mereka. Indonesia salah satunya. Banggakah saya saat negara ini disebut namanya? Sayangnya tidak. Kok bisa? Karena wujud pengakuan persamaan tak mesti dengan mengangkat perempuan sebagai pemimpin. Tetap harus dilihat kualitasnya. Perempuan negara saya yang satu ini, maaf-maaf saja, justru kualitas kelas bawah buat saya. Mengapa? Ya silahkan dicari-cari prestasi dan segala manuver beliau, lalu nilai lah sendiri. Malah saya merasa, R.A. Kartini, sang putri sejati merasakan malu di akhirat sana. Melihat perempuan Indonesia yang menjual keperempuanannya demi menunjukkan kehadiran mereka, tanpa menghiraukan kualitas dan loyalitas. Ah, sok tahu sekali saya ini. Seperti tahu saja rasanya jadi presiden wanita!

Kembali ke hari ini, saya sebagai salah seorang perempuan di dunia, di Indonesia dan di Jakarta, memiliki beberapa harapan yang mudah-mudahan saja diamini oleh ribuan perempuan lainnya; Betapa ingin saya agar perempuan memiliki gerbong sendiri, entah apa istilahnya untuk bagian dari bis gandeng, di TransJakarta. Hingga, mudah-mudahan saja, tak perlu lagi saya berhimpitan dengan mereka, para pria yang tak risih melekatkan bagian tubuh mereka. Juga, saya berdoa agar seluruh perempuan terutama ibu-ibu di negeri ini tak lagi menonton sinetron dan infotainment, racun mental yang jika ditelan terus menerus akan mengendap di hati dan merusak kebersihan nurani. Satu lagi, mudah-mudahan seluruh perempuan muda Indonesia mampu menyingkap identitas pribadi mereka tanpa perlu melabelkan diri dengan segala sesuatu yang bukan milik negeri ini. Agar semua perempuan muda mampu berdiri di atas kaki mereka sendiri dan lenyaplah itu para social climber yang selalu mendifinisikan diri melalui mata orang lain.

Amin. Amin. Amin.

Lalu apa yang bisa saya perbuat di hari kita ini, wahai para perempuan?

Saya akan melanjutkan bekerja setelah jam istirahat ini, lalu akan menggunakan TransJakarta untuk pulang ke rumah nanti, tak gentar menjaga diri dari para pria yang makin lama makin terlihat seperti magnet kulkas di dalam bis. Tak lupa saya akan membeli roti dan tomat, untuk sarapan esok hari, beli dengan uang sendiri dan masak dengan tangan sendiri karena saya perempuan Indonesia yang mandiri. Bersih-bersih rumah karena kebersihan sebagian dari iman dan sungguh saya ingin menjadi bagian dari mereka yang beriman. Tak lupa sholat dan mengaji karena saya harus memiliki ketenangan batin agar suatu hari bisa menjadi bagian dari cahaya kehidupan, dan satu lagi, melanjutkan membaca karya om Paulo Coelho yang selalu tampil mengagumkan sebagai jendela dunia. Karena, jika kelak nanti saya menjadi seorang ibu, haruslah saya menjadi ibu yang membantu anak-anak saya, anak-anak Indonesia, membuka jendela-jendela imaji, hati dan kecerdasan yang hakiki.

Selamat hari perempuan, perempuan.

Saya ya saya, mereka ya mereka

Mereka bilang rambut ikal sudah tak zaman lagi, saya bilang yang penting asli.

Mereka bilang badan saya gemuk bagai babi, saya bilang seksi berisi.

Mereka bilang jam tangan besar tak pantas di tangan, saya bilang sesuai dengan angan-angan.

Mereka bilang celana ¾ seperti kebanjiran, saya bilang kenapa setelah jadi in malah ikutan.

Mereka bilang gonta-ganti warna rambut seperti alay saja, saya bilang tak perlu pusing toh ini rambut saya.

Mereka bilang pacaran dengan bule pasti hilang keperawanan, saya bilang itu urusan saya dengan Tuhan.

Mereka bilang pakai sepatu boots seperti satpam, memalukan; saya bilang ini yang namanya berjodoh dengan impian.

Mereka bilang belajar bahasa mau jadi apa, saya bilang jadi apa saja yang penting tidak berhubungan dengan angka.

Saya ya saya.

Mereka ya mereka.

Saya suka melakukan apa yang saya suka.

Mereka lakukan saja apa yang mereka suka.

Mereka ya mereka.

Saya ya saya.

When age isn’t just a number

Ask my age, and you’ll find that I need some seconds to count. My birth year minus present year equals my age. It’s a universal formula, right? All I wanna say is that I never remember my age in mind. Actually it shows that age is not important for me. I mean it, not in order to pretend my growing ages. But somehow life teaches me that maturity never been parallel with age. So, age is just a number!

When I talk to a friend about someone else and he or she ask me about that person’s age, I am definitely will get confused. I don’t know how to classify or define someone’s age by her or his physic or performance. Yup, I’m that bad! Lol.

Talking about age, I remember one day on Oprah show; she said that she never wanted to be operated to look younger. For her, every wrinkle and face mark has their own story. And she never wanted to erase them cause it means that at the same time she erase her past historical story. What an enlightening thought! Even though I can’t afford a plastic surgery, I will never want to be operated in order to look younger. Go Oprah!

Well actually a year ago I started to try to remember my age because I found out that people always asked about it. It’s a rhetorical question, I know. Instead of asking me, “When will you get married?” they prefer, “How old are you now?” Lol! You know why? It’s because recently Indonesian woman usually get married around 25 to 28 years old. If a woman reach 30 and you are still single, be alert then! People will think that there must be something wrong with you. Lol! Funny but true!

I am twenty seven now and will be twenty eight soon. No problem with that, at all. I even feel sexier! *wink*But today, I see that age isn’t just a number in professional life. What do I mean? I was searching for a job vacancy; I found some that are very interesting; a newspaper reporter, a teacher, a public relation officer, etc. But guess what? One of the requirement is; not more that twenty six year old. Lol! It was my age a year ago!

Face the reality, girl! I asked my boss about that common requirement. He explained that more than twenty six year old is no longer a productive age. Yeah..yeah… How can you generalize that! Well by the way, I’m not frustrating founding that issue. I’m just amaze. How an age can decide your opportunity.

Fortunately I’m having Anastasia, one of my gals. She is twenty six and looking for a new job. So I called her and transferred all the vacancy info. She is so enthusiast. Here it comes, companies! Be ready for a twenty six year old girl who will come to your doors soon! Rock them all, Nasto! And don’t forget to say it loud, “Hi, sir! My name is Anastasia and I’m twenty six year old!” Lol!

My Cinderella

Inspired by a story from a friend of mine, here it goes mine.

When I was a little girl, Cinderella is one of my favorite fairy tales. Cinderella is a beautiful girl who has a miserable life caused by her stepmother and stepsisters. But at the end of story, she finds a handsome prince who marries her and takes her into a better life. At those times, I only know two kinds of feeling, love and hate. So I hate her stepmother and stepsisters and of course I love the prince.

It never crossed in my mind that my life will follow her path. It’s not like I’m having a miserable life, no. But somehow, I’m having a stepmother and stepsister. It was about four years ago since my dad decided to marry a woman who has a daughter from her past marriage. I won’t make this into a drama story with lot of sadness and end with happiness; well I’m just trying to share my feelings about having them in my life.

Living with a woman who has a very different character with my mother is not easy at all. Plus, I never have a sister in my life, never. I am my parent’s only daughter with the one and only brother. So, having another girl in the house is kinda weird.

Generally, my stepmother tries to act like all mothers and so far she does it well, not too much. And it helps me to accept her presence in the house where I still see my mother’s shadows everywhere. Sometimes she put herself as a stepmother and sometimes as my father’s wife. No, those roles are never being the same. As for me, she makes it so far.

Having a little stepsister is a cute simple thing, for most of time. Suddenly I become a role model; my appearance, my achievement, my attitude, my hobbies, most of the thing I do, she’ll follow. How cool! But, you never can predict what a teenager can do. Note that! I never imagine that forget to lock my wardrobe or even my room can be so damn irritating. How could it be? It could, just when I realize that my things aren’t in the place they suppose to. Some are moving, and some are just gone. Now you know what I mean?

Never have this kind of situation making me a little bit confuse to react. Instead of asking to all people about my stuff, I’m sneaking to my stepsister’s room and as predicted, I found them. Not that easy to find, they are hidden in a secure place. And what’s next, I ask myself. I don’t want to make my stepsister as an enemy, so I avoid facing her directly. I come to my stepmother in order to have an objective judge. But I forget something, some big thing; that a mother always loves her daughter more than anyone else. No, it’s not a subjective opinion; it’s just what exactly happens.

So, there am I; in my room, without my stuff. Where are they? I left them in where they’re hidden. I didn’t take them since I was too shock to face the reality, where honesty is no longer exist in my house, in the house where I raised with it. I think it has gone with my mother.

Since that day, having a stepmother and stepsister is not cool at all, at all. I don’t hate them, since I have thousand kinds of emotional reaction in my heart now. It’s no longer love and hate, those two are never sufficient to interpret all life’s messages. They don’t treat me like a Cinderella, never, lucky me. But one thing, somehow they just act like her stepmother and sisters. They’re putting away honesty out of the house.

Remembering that, I miss my mother’s presence a lot. Wish she’s doing her life very well now, with her honesty lesson that she’ll bring anywhere she is.

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Skirt, eye liner and beautiful nails

Nasto, on a game, asked me if I reborn which gender do I want to be; male or female?

I said, female for sure.

She replied, why?

So easy to explain, I just can’t imagine living only with pants, no skirt, neither dress. Oh what a hell!

She said she agreed with me while laughing. What a torture, long pants, short pants, long, short, long, short.

Lol! I guess that’s the reason why woman apparently a lot more attractive than man. They have various things to cover their body. They even will be so damn attractive when they don’t cover it all.

Another thing, Nasto, I added; I love eye liner! Put it in the morning, and we will look fresh all day.

Me too, adore it! She said. Another common we found.

And I found it’s disgusting when a man apply it on his eyes. Iyaks..

Sorry for the rockers and Japanese plus Korean boy band. ^^V

And last night I just found another dazzling thing being a woman; beautiful nails!

Treated my self with a manicure and pedicure treatment last week-end, I couldn’t stop adoring my nails.

No exaggerating, it’s true.

I started to stare on them, again an again.

How come I didn’t have those kinds of treatments since I was a little girl?

Momma, how could you?

But no, can’t blame her of course, since she just newly introduced to manicure and pedicure.

Well, we better be late than never, mom!

Back to the nails, I have my nails so shiny and glossy, without any kind of nail coat!

So last night, I putted some color coat to my shiny nails.

The color is, hhmmm, I guess its soft pink.

And guess what? In the elevator, restroom mirror, office door, someone’s car window, I’m showing off my beautiful colored nails while pretending tiding up my pony. Do we use that expression? Tiding up my pony?

Hahaha.. Don’t know.

Just correct me if I start making new expression, ok?

La voila! Now you find out, guys!

Why us, woman; if Nasto and I can talk on behalf all woman, LOVE BEING A WOMAN.

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Cantik di hari bahagia

Nikah oh nikah, kawin oh kawin.

Apakah sudah masanya? Memangnya usiaku berapa?

Lagi-lagi pagi ini kuterima invitation di Facebook, ada yang menikah.
Jawabannya? Peut-etre.
Bosan juga lama-lama.
Yah, jangan dibilang jahat donk, abis memang begitu-begitu saja acaranya.
Iya kan?
Datang setelah berdandan, isi buku tamu dan celengan, masuk pasti ada banyak orang, antri bersalaman, lalu berdesak-desakan mengerumuni makanan.
O la la.. C’est fatiguant!

Tawaran bermain musik di kawinan pun tak sepi-sepi, Alhamdulillah masih ada rezeki.
Kalo yang ini tak pernah ditolak.
Ada yang kawin? Butuh musik bagus harga murah?
Kami ahlinya!
Menyiapkan musik di acara pernikahan memang menyenangkan.
Aura cinta pengantin mau tak mau menular, bikin aku mau melompat ke pelaminan saja ! Haha!

Salah satu hal yang menempel di benak setiap menghadiri pernikahan adalah make up.
Yup, make up, dandanan.
Di sini, di Jakarta dan sekitarnya, menjelang pernikahan mempelai wanita akan mati-matian merawat diri, maksudnya merawat fisik mereka.
Dari diet, lulur, pedi-meni, creambath, sampe ratus!
I found that sweet..
Temen-temen yang tadinya cuek-cuek aja, jadi memperlakukan diri bak Cleopatra.
Tapi eh tapi, tak dinyana perjuangan panjang para wanita ini berujung tragis.
Heh? Kok bisa?
Iya, sorry to say, gals..
Gimana gak tragis, wong udah bening, mulus, kinclong, eh, didempul sana sini jadi kayak pemain lenong!
Hiks…
Tragis.
Beneran loh ini, coba deh lihat make up para pengantin wanita di sekitar kita, iya kan? Menor kan?

Dipikir-pikir, enak bener kerjaan para perias pengantin.
Dempul sana dempul sini, tutup muka pake tepung, sampe tebel, ngalahin celepuk.
Terus coret sana coret sini, kasih warna selaras baju.
Hijau, ya matanya jadi hijau. Lumutan, bu?
Biru, ya diwarnai biru. Eh, KDRT yah?
Abu-abu, tentu saja jadi mata abu. Kaya alien saja!

Bukan itu saja, ada lagi pernak pernik yang ditusuk sana sini, ronce bunga yang harus panjang, biar apa, gak ngerti juga.
Alih alih menjadi cantik, buatku, para pengantin jadi boneka ibu-ibu perias pengantin.
Maafkan daku ya semua, jangan tersinggung ya!
Cantik di hari bahagia seolah jauh dari nyata.
Yang ada malah jadi menor sana sini seolah biar langsung bisa dibedakan dengan para tamu.
Itu loh pengantinnyaaa...
Hehe..

Tapi eh tapi, tak semua pengantin wanita bernasib sama.
Sudah dua kali saya menemukan mempelai wanita yang cantik luar biasa.
Dengan sapuan make up tipis, jauh dari menor, hingga masih bisa dikenali wajah aslinya.
Dua orang, yang tak perlu lah saya tampilkan namanya.
Tapi benar, mereka sungguh cantik di hari bahagia.
Aura kebahagiaan terasa, wajah tak terasa asing di mata, garis-garis warna tipis indah membingkai, dua hal yang memastikan bahwa dia lah sang pemilik hari, pengantin putri.

Hhhhmm... apa ini tergantung selera sang pengantin? Sang perias? Atau jangan-jangan tergantung wajah mempelai wanita yah?
Haha.. Kartu mati sepertinya kalau yang terakhir ini.
Wajah oh wajah, bantulah aku untuk menjadi yang tercantik di hariku, nanti.