Yesterday evening of 18 December 2008, I was supposed to attend a religious gathering held by G-77 ( Gemilang 77 ), the organization of year 1977 alumni of SMAN 3, my ex-senior high school friends. The event was planned to begin at 17.00 o'clock in Dijan Cafe, Kemang, the same place of the first reunion I ever attended in December 2004 which was followed two weeks later by Asian Tsunami causing more than 200 thousands people died. 

The invitation had come since one and a half month earlier, at first it would be held at SMAN 3 mosque in mid November 2008, but because most of my friends were unable to come, it was moved to 18 December 2008. Since the beginning, actually I was in doubt about whether or not to come because the date, 18 December 2008, is like the CD license plate for Australian corps diplomatic cars in Jakarta, and Australia is known as the "down under". I was worry that my visit on date 18 would be interpreted as my cancelling my consent to move up to the heaven above, to the eternity.

But there was one thing to neutralize such doubt, because in September 2008 similar religious gathering had been taking place there too, and it was on the upper floor of Dijan Cafe and Restaurant.

By the time I went to the bathroom at home around half past three, the rain fell down heavily, making me wonder whether or not I should continue to attend it. A condition of "go or no go" appeared. It immediately caused me to think that maybe it was a sign from God for me not to come. And some other "no go" signs had taken place too.

One day earlier, 17 December 2008, Rahma Sarita appeared in the dusk news of "Kabar Petang" wearing a dress with the collars spreading much wider than usual, as if sending a sign about her chest. It was on that day too I knew that on the next day, 18 December 2008, there would be the match between Manchester United against Gamba Osaka in the Club World Cup at Yokohama, Japan. Rahma's dress was like related with that match of Manchester United. As if Manchester United has the meaning of "Firman with chest Rahma should be United". Meaning that, I should not attend the event of my friends at Dijan, Kemang. Because if I attended it, I could be still on the street when Rahma appeared on 18 December 2008, since the Kabar Petang  news   program   was   televised   earlier

17 December 2008, Rahma Sarita appeared in the dusk news of "Kabar Petang" wearing a dress with the collars spreading much wider than usual.

due to live program of the match in Japan that started at 17.30 Jakarta time. It would make me not in the position of "Firman with chest Rahma United".

Another sign came in the afternoon of 18 December 2008 when at around 15.00 o'clock I found that my sister had served some "kue dadar", some kind of pancake but thinner, filled with chocolate jelly, and rolled. The word "dadar" actually has the meaning of "omelet", but it sounds like "dada-r", whereas "R" is from Rahma and "dada" is "chest". Like related with the appearance of Rahma on 17 December 2008, where she was wearing a dress with the collars spreading much wider than usual, as if sending a sign about her chest.

And the more stronger sign was from the event of my friends G-77, whereas the preacher who planned to deliver a sermon was Mr. Wijayanto. His name sounds like containing some signs for me.

"Kue Dadar", some kind of pancake but thinner, filled with chocolate jelly and rolled. The outer part is like omelet but made of egg, flour and water mixed together and cooked on frying pan.

The first syllable "Wi" is read like the English word "we". The second and third syllables, "ja-ya", is like Indonesian word "jaya" which means "glorious", "succeed". While the letters "nt" are like the Jakarta word "ente" which comes from Arab language "anta" which means "you". And the last letter "o" sounds like "zero". So for me the name of Mr. Wijayanto sounds like "we succeed in zeroing you". Meaning that, I should avoid attending the event, to make sure I was not in the "we", instead in the "you" part.

And because the "you" was from "nt" that sounds like "ente" from Arabic word "anta", so I should be close to Arab, in this case with Rahma on the TV of my bedroom, since Rahma's origin is Arab. Thank God on Kabar Petang news of 18 December 2008 she appeared again, wearing white outfit with gold line at the edge of the collars.

Yet I thought I still have to be more Arab, to strengthen the Mr. Wijayanto sounds like "we succeed in zeroing you". I happened to be fasting on that Thursday 18 December 2008, and I happened to have a date fruit left. Date is known as Arabic fruit, and I bought it in the fasting month at September 2008. When the fasting month over, the date fruit plastic package were not yet emptied, I ate the remaining once and a while until around early November 2008 without counting the remaining of the dates left. Just around five days ago, the plastic package of that date fruit fell to the ground, I picked it up and pressed it to find out how much left, and I found that only one of them left. I kept it for a "special moment".     

And that "special moment" apparently came yesterday. Approaching the dusk, I prepared that only one date fruit to break my fasting that day while watching Manchester United against Gamba Osaka.

The only one date fruit left, with its plastic container.

  Something important for me about the event held by my friends yesterday is because it was held on this month of December, that reminds me with the reunion on December 2004. The first reunion of my ex-senior high school friends I ever attended was on 12 December 2004, at the same place of Dijan Cafe and Restaurant, and 14 days later on 26 December 2004 the Asian Tsunami happened with more than 200 thousand victims in twelve countries.

So yesterday's event was like a chance for me to erase my mistake of year 2004. There is the phrase of the prophet that says, the good deed of meeting others would, among which, make life longer. And actually the reason for me to avoid attending reunion events was because I thought it was against my consent to move to the eternity, besides the fact that my still single and still depend on my family for food and shelter also become other reasons.

Therefore, my attending the reunion on 12 December 2004, meeting more than 200 friends of mine, could be like prolonging my life multiplied by 200 more.     

My cancelling yesterday's event will probably erase my mistake, and to strengthen my consent of not prolonging my life, in accordance with my consent to move to the eternity. What would happen 14 days later after 18 December 2008, only God knows, hopefully it will be for the good of human being.

A receipt from Alfa Mart, dated 7 September 2008, for the purchase of the date fruit.  

The match of Manchester United vs Gamba Osaka began at around 17.30 with the last date fruit in front of the TV.

The last date fruit and a "Kue Dadar".

18 December 2008, Rahma Sarita appeared in the dusk news of "Kabar Petang" wearing a dress with gold line at the edge of the collars.

A photo file of the reunion on 12 December 2004 at Dijan, Kemang. Pose in front of the water of swimming pool at the back yard, 14 days later the sea water of Tsunami hit more than 12 countries.

Nemanja Vidic of England's Manchester United reacts after scoring a goal against Japan's Gamba Osaka in the first half of their semi-final match at the FIFA Club World Cup soccer tournament in Yokohama, Japan, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008.

Wayne Rooney (R) of Britain's Manchester United scores against Japan's Gamba Osaka during the FIFA Club World Cup semi-final soccer match in Yokohama, south of Tokyo December 18, 2008.

REUTERS/Toru Hanai (JAPAN)

Thu Dec 18, 7:20 AM ET

<< previous  |   next >>