Every year my youngest uncle will prepare a family Eid photobook. Carefully selected photographs i.e. singular or family portraits, family gatherings, family houses, candid shots etc. adorn the pages. He started this tradition along with his personalized family Eid DVDs about 3 years ago in his attempt to create a keepsake for the family, and passing it on to future generations.
On Eid Adha, he brought the photobook. My uncle is known to have a flair in capturing embarrassing images. Gritting my teeth, I flipped through the pages and squirmed at the photos. *it wasn't as bad as last years' ~pheww*
The final leafs had old photos of unfamiliar faces.
Mum :: As a city child, you are not exposed to the life of a kampung community. In those days, we regard our neighbors as our extended family. The concern then was sharing our happiness and sadness with each other, regardless whether you're a Malay, Chinese or Indian.
*Kampung = village
Mum is quite right. Life in the city, with its endless hustle and bustle leaves little importance in instilling neighborliness.
Ask yourself ...
- How many of us know the difficulties our neighbors go through?
- How many of us know the names of every single member in our neighbors' family?
- How many of us speak to our neighbors on a daily basis?
When I talk to my neighbors in KL, they will say; "I knew your grandparents / know your parents."
I hope there will come a day when their kids will say the exact thing to me too.
8.18am Malaysian Time