When You Say Goodbye

"Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same..."

-Flavia Weedn-

Dedicated to Òscar Moñino Marquez (February 2, 1984 - July 13,2010)
Have a pleasant journey in your eternal trip.

One night i was about to watch a tv series on my notebook while chatting on bbm group with my friends. And this e-mail forwarded by Dian in a mailing list i joined. A sad news. First thing popped up in my mind reading the subject was maybe somebody's relative passed away. Never thought that i will have another news telling that another FRIEND has passed away =(

It is quite surprising that hearing that news could be THAT sad. Because as a matter of fact we are not that close. I can say that he is an old acquaintance i've known from Indonesia International Week 2007 when i was part of the committee organizing the program. We met and spent like two-three weeks together with other foreign participants and committee members. I was graduated from law school and ready for summer trip but being a committee member 'kinda' ruined my dream about that trip. The program turned our a bit chaotic at first due to some miscommunication but because of the entire committee's bonding it is ended beautifully. Moño was one of the participants from Spain. Easy going, warm, friendly, caring for others, witty and adventurous. Seems like he is so interested with Indonesia. He can fill the gaps between the Asian participants, European participants, and we the committee. He took part in blending us smoothly by his way. We love him this cooperative participant, his hostfam favor him, even the other participants fancy him. Moño is indeed loveable. Quoting from a friend, in brief: it takes a minute to know someone, an hour to like him, a week to be his friend, but a lifetime to forgot him.

Back again, i thought hearing the news that he has gone will be like oo-kay, then? But i was pretty shocked. And start reminiscing, and begin to feel guilty why didn't i e-mail him earlier, and planning to write e-mail or sending facebook message to most of my friends whom i rarely contact with the reason of too busy. The death of Moño alarmed me that these far i might be too concern about my job, about my plans, about my own life. While life is not merely about that things. I am now understand that every news telling that somebody you known has passed away is indeed sad. It is like God has given you chance to be a part of his/her life for certain time, and now the time is over. The effect of sadness will be multiplied due to our closeness with the deceased. I was pretty devastated when my best friend passed away. Yeah i think it takes a lifetime to forget a passed-away friend, especially your close one. Anyway, he/she has filled a part- big or small- in your life, and his/her part has done.

In my life, there are times when i have to say goodbye. And i never know whether a goodbye could be my last goodbye or not. I can meet the same person some other times but maybe not. Maybe when i said bye at the airport i might not meet this friend lives overseas again, but maybe i can visit him/her some day. Maybe i can see my friend tomorrow after i waved bye when a friend dropped me in front of my home, but maybe not. Maybe i can spend more time in the future with an old friend after a farewell party, but maybe not. But make sure that when you said goodbye, make it a best moment for you never know whether it is your last goodbye or not.

Adiós Moño, gracias por nuestra amistad dulce =)

Belle and Sebastian is Coming To Town !!

"Hugging is a wonderful tonic. It makes you feel energised and gives you an emotional boost...especially at this busy time of year when many people are feeling the pressure. In fact, the medical evidence is that a hug even makes your body produce more Oxytocin, which is the 'feel good' hormone. Research in America found that one 20-second hug a day makes a big difference between how happy and relaxed we are. Which is why people in a healthy relationship are happier and feel less stressed. "

(http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=187260)

Especially if Stuart Murdoch hugs you *kyaaa*, on stage, in front of thousands audiences.

How cool is that?

So i was coming to this concert without any high expectation. Belle and Sebastian has been my fave band since my last due dilligence project (thanks to Jamal!). And voila, this indie pop band formed in Glasgow will come to Jakarta in a festival called Beat Fest 2010 along with some indie bands i hardly know. Folks said that this is a very rare moment because since this band is formed around 1996, never heard that they're going to have tour to Asia. So when i read the news about this concert, i booked the tix 3 months previously.

I and some colleagues who love this band consider that this is kind of band which songs are difficult to sing-along. I mostly only humming on the melodies during my time-consumed project. Since most of the personnels (or i can say all) are multi-instrumentalists, i am enjoying their music so much. A very rich music. Cheerful, sweet, not really easy listening actually, with good lyrics as if they are story telling and playing music in the same time. So my expectation was like standing nicely, nodding my head a bit, clapping a bit, well just be a decent audience la. Plus the fact that i don't really memorize all the lyrics of the entire album =p

Mr. Murdoch & Sarah Martin

Long story short, i did not understand the three opening bands before Belle and Sebastian. Well i'm not a big fan of indie music, just know some because a friend of mine working on that kind of music industry. So, with all fans shouting happily, i was try to enjoy the moment and asking to my friend for the band info. Not too bad anyway. Around 9.30 pm the stage is cleared, the crews are walking around organizing things checking this and that. I miss those checking things myself *teehee*. And about 10 pm the band came in. Everybody is shouting. I did not expect this, really. How come a band consists of 'oldie men and a woman' could attract the audience to scream as if the personnels are goodlooking boyband members? I'm not saying that they are really old and ugly though. And errr i screamed as well. Bobby Kildea was in front of me, and Stuart Murdoch can't be that gayishly gorgeous (yesh i was standing on the front row, really really front just behind the separator gate).

I recalled that they played super nicely. Very neat, very clean (so far this lame ears heard), well just as if you listen to the recordings. Good interaction with the audience also. The concert was warm and humble but satisfied my eyes and ear perfectly. Then it came the moment when Stuart asked is there any audience want to go on stage. So the audiences (mostly teenagers!) raised their hands, i stupidly raised my hand and jumping like energizer bunny hoping Stuart will see me. And then i found out that Stuart has chosen some girls from left section of the stage, so i was like: "OK lah no prob then." All of the sudden, Stuart came to the right section on the stage, just a few metres before me and the separating gate. This little missy who loves to compete yelled and jumped again thinking that this is a once in a lifetime moment, go give it a try. And then Mr. Murdoch picked a girl just beside me leaving me with a feeling of being defeated. But a second after that i still can't believe that melodious sound of him saying: "Yes, you too, both of you!" to meeeeeee =D. WOW! WOW! WOW! I know that most of those teenagers will envy me up 'til now but i don't care, he chose me. So me and the girl besides me (whom later we befriend on twitter) leaded by the crew to backstage and were briefed shortly. I just knew that time that a fan can't touch or kiss or do any physical contact to the artist on stage, or so that the crew explained. Well, i'm not alay anyway, won't do those forbidden acts.

Minutes afterward i realized that i would stand on stage in front of thousand people, including my seniors at office. And after i asked what they are going to play when we were on stage, i realized that i wasn't familiar with that song (remember the humming not memorize thing?). So a panic attack strucked me and i was holding hand with Ai, the other lucky but nervous fan, and woohoo we walked, showered by lights and screams and dang! we were on stage with our fave band. Ai rushed in and joined the other girls dancing with Stuart while i came to the left side of stage to Bobby *teehee*. Being warned not to touch him, i carefully move my feet right and left only, danced like 80's geek with stupid cheshire grin on my cheek. It's so nice of Bobby Kildea that he moved closer to me while my friend wanted to take pic of us, oh laf yu so Bobby!!!



Blurred-happy-Bobby and me =)



After a couple of minutes i moved to the middle side and joined the other fans, dancing and clapping while i only know a bit about the song (sorry other fans!). I tried to look at the music scores as well. I looked around and enjoyed being on stage, felt so freakin' lucky, err and waved a bit to my friends. That was one of the best moment in my life, ever. So when the last note played, Stuart called us and gave us a big hug and kissed us in cheek. If i'm not mistaken i think he said something like: I thought you guys were better singers LOL! Uhhh i won't forget that hug =p. Stu's hug energized me and gave me emotional boost at busy time of year when many people are feeling the pressure. Thank you Stuart Murdoch!

Good no..Superb performance from Belle and Sebastian. I hope there will be more good Indonesian bands which are as good as them, in recording or live.

What a precious moment *still grinning while writing this*

Oh, did i mention that i am on youtube? *wink*