It was around 23:36 when an SMS arrived in my cellphone’s message inbox. A message from my parents containing a bad news: my Gramma had just passed away. I was inside a bus going back to Borino from the train station (I had just arrived in Trento from Venezia) when reading the unexpected news. It’s very sad since I can’t even see her at the very last moment of her presence in this world. All memories of her suddenly filling my head: those moments we shared for 5 years in Yogyakarta during my study of final year high school and early stages of bachelor degree study. I remember the times when I played some classical songs in Ngadisuryan: Caro Mio Ben, Rondo Alla Turca, Haydn’s Sonata C Dur, Chopin’s Valse (can’t remember the opus #), Bach’s Preludium (Ave Maria), the self-improvisation of Canon in D major and several other songs, and she sat in the sofa listening (though I’m not sure whether she could distinguish the different type of songs played), and soon after she went to the kitchen and back with a bunch of cookies saying “ayo disambi maem karo di-ombe wedange“. I remember that she always cares about serving food to every family member in the house, and in fact her cooking was great. She was 83 at that time but yet still managed to cook very well — and more admirably: she cooked manually from scratch! My last day with her was around August when I said the farewell message for my departure to Europe. I was and have been hoping that one day I can see her again in Ngadisuryan proudly bringing my master degree certificate from Europe, showing her and take pictures together like I did after my bachelor graduation. But the road seems to have been built in a different path and as a human being I can’t do anything to alter it.
At this moment I would just like to thank her for the memories that have been created in my mind. She has been one of my inspiration to live this life by serving others. Goodbye Gramma… Have a peaceful journey to eternity…. If one day my road yet has to end, I’m hoping we may end up having a feast together in a table of delicious food of eternity.
Ngadisuryan, Yogyakarta – with Gramma and my parents after my bachelor graduation
Ngadisuryan, Yogyakarta – playing some songs after my bachelor graduation
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