I read in the newspapers today that Yasmin Ahmad had passed away at the age of 51, after suffering a stroke a few days ago. It came as a complete shock to me. I read about the stroke a few days earlier and the thought that she might pass away never so much as crossed my mind. Such a pity that she had gone so soon and so suddenly, in the prime of her life. So many unfinished projects, so much unfulfilled potential, so many good films that were not to be.

If you still had no idea who am I talking about (where have YOU been, dude??), she's the talented director who brought us Sepet, Mukhsin, etc, and if you don't know those, you must at least have come across those "Petronas ads" that would usually appear on Malaysian tv around the festive season - mini movies in itself complete with heartwarming storylines, which are directed by her as well.

There was a recent ad directed by her which left a deep impression in my mind.

It depicted a scene at a funeral, where a middle aged lady spoke of her recently deceased husband in front of family and friends. She started describing the way he would fart and burp and snore and various unsavoury and embarassing habits that she had to live with every day, for years and years. At first blush, it seemed jarring and quite unlike most eulogies where the best (in the conventional sense) memories of the deceased are recounted. However, as the speech wore on, it became evident that the widow loved her deceased husband very much, farts and all. (Who would have thought that farts could be romantic?) It is Yasmin's portrayal of real, raw, love of ordinary people from a completely refreshing angle that caught my eye, but there was a deeper underlying issue that I found thought provoking.

How would you like to be remembered, when you leave this earth?

I recall reading about Alfred Nobel once in a magazine while on a bus back to KL. Alfred NOBEL, as in NOBEL Prize. Did you ever know that he is also the inventor of dynamite? Yup this is the guy who gave us C4. In fact, he made so much money out of blowing things up that some folks weren't too happy with him at all. Some guy wrote him an obituary in a French newspaper when he was in his fifties, before he was actually dead, and called him a "Merchant of Death who became rich from finding ways to kill people faster than ever." (Wiki says it was erroneously published... but hmm, I wonder.)

That shook Alfred up quite a bit. That must have been the turning point of his life, because he decided that death and destruction wasn't the legacy he wanted to leave behind. Well, he had plenty of money from producing explosives and nowhere to spend it on - a bachelor all his life, he had no wife to spend it all on shopping  nor children to feed and clothe and educate. So he decided to set up a trust fund to award his money to deserving and outstanding individuals in various fields, which is, (of course) called the Nobel Prize.

And today... If you mention the name Alfred Nobel, I reckon 8 out of 10 people would link him to, or at least make a wild guess he had something to do with, the Nobel Prize, and associate him with something noble and inspiring. Half of them probably never knew that he invented dynamite. I myself never knew about it, until I read the article. 

Imagine if he hadn't experienced that moment of epiphany.

So back to the question, how would you like others to remember you when you're dead and gone? (I haven't found my answer to that question yet...) Think about it, and reflect that in the things that you do, while you're around.. It will be too late when you know it's too late, if you know what I mean.

For Yasmin, without a doubt she will always be remembered for her work, her personality, and the inspiration that she had brought to others. RIP.

Same Old, Same Old...

It's that feeling again...that I should have started doing what I was supposed to do...like MUCH EARLIER!
I'm not sure if I can get this done before Monday...

T_T

Where did my long weekend go??????

It has been so long since I last logged in, that I had to pause for 2 seconds to recall  my password.

Days have been flying past in a blur.... workworkworkworkwork then weekend full of errands housework laundry and travel and good ol' msian food, and then it's monday again.......It's tiring but I actually feel alright about it - none (or less) of that horrible dread that has been weighing me down for some time....I think I'm the sort of person who needs a new environment every now and then.... else I'd turn grey~ Maybe it has something to do with moving around too much when I was younger.. heh. it's exciting! It would've been really sad if I've only lived in one place my whole life.... I love the feeling of being in some place new.

Of course... occasionally pangs of guilt will hit me when I think of my mom left with my youngest brother in PJ... so quiet now...

Sigh. Can't have it all can you. Am going back to spend some Quality Time with them this weekend~ even if it means 10 hrs of travelling........

Quick picture update before I head to bed...Haven't got round to taking photos... but here are a few from my phone:



View from my office



Artsy shot taken in lj's sis's place, where I'm leeching at the moment...
Hang on, are there two stools or three??



Am staying near the Chinese Garden. Thank god. GREEN STUFF!



I thought about it and realised that there is one similarity in all the places I've lived in, they're all near a big green park. or a big green jungle.



Alright. Pack my weekend bag and off to bed! ^_^