Fast Forward: A Homage to Twothousandandfour

Even though we're nowhere near the jolly 'ol Christmas spirit yet, I can't help but to feel the sudden grief that this year is nearing its end. It has been a great year. A truly great year indeed. Met a whole bunch of fantastic people, done a whole lot of great stuffs, learned tons of exciting things, and most of all, it all sums up and made my life a one that is worthwhile to live.

Ah, 19. The ultimate year before you can kiss much of your extended 'child privileges' au revoir. Or in simpler terms, a quote from Alia.

"It's the last year that I am allowed to be a teenybopper!"

Oh once again, have fun with Cik Li. Be nice. Actually that quote doesn't really encapsulate the whole point of being a-blink-near the age of 20. Yes, you still a year short to have a say on whom or how you think the country should be governed but it should be an alright start to begin about thinking of what importance do you hold to this world. It's never too late. Agaetis bryjun.

When I was in high school, everything seems so obviously absurd. But in the same time fun as well. You have your daily activities planned out right through the whole year.

Wake up now, go to school, eat your lunch, go have fun, brush your teeth, go to sleep - Mutato Muzika by Couple

Most of us back then would often on a daily basis moan about how they can't wait to get out of the tragically un-hip school uniform and live the life they've always daydream about during Science class. Reality check: Being in school is better than anywhere else.

Seriously. This is cliché No. 1.

"Enjoy your school life. It's the best ever moment you'll ever possess. The one you'll look back to and get yourself lost down memory lane."

As desperate as we are to avoid clichés, this one is here to stay. How undeniably true. Reality is harsh. Harsh can be painful. Pain makes you feel alive. This is life. Live it up.

2004 made so many deep impacts in my life that even the dino-exterminator meteor felt like a soft pat on my lap. If this is an RPG, my EXP bar has probably burst for the umpteenth time. I felt like I was reborn. It all started in Part 2. Having En. Syam as a lecturer was one of the highlights in my academic voyage. While most students find his off-kilter teaching methods often unnecessary, redundant and at times; ridiculous, it was that same method that taught me the joy of education that has kept me going on till this day. Then came Mokh in the picture. Before, I was just one of his regular customers at his bedroom-cum-recording studio. Now, he's the one that I can proudly claim as a mentor. The guy that complimented us on our first session there with words that is truly significant.

"Sound korang macam Mogwai la.'"

Efry was there. Hafeez should remember about it. After all, he blew up the amp. Heh. And Mokh didn't charge a single cent for it. Kindness is a language that the blind can see, the numb can speak, and the deaf can hear. I was sold.

The 3-months semester break in March pretty much kicked things off. Efry -then Mokh's second-in-command- offered me a job. Mokh was organizing a charity gig in his backyard (which later turns out to be his front lawn. Long story) and an extra hand is needed. Did I hesitate? Hell no. What I thought would be a one-off thing eventually turns out to be my bread and butter for the whole 3-months. I didn't ask my parents for money. Not at all. For 90 days. Being Efry's workmate has FUN written all over it. We made sure that we took care of each other. Mostly to kill the boredom that was often inevitable (read: delayed gigs, excessive decibel-defying noise from hardcore bands, ignorant musicians who think of us as their bellboy). But none of that beats being under the tutelage of Mokh. He may be 28, but he is wise as Gandalf The White. Both I and Efry owe him our life. He saved us. Twice.

When Abg. Hisham came to help around in the house somewhere around May, I'd never in a lifetime thought we'd have the deep, profound, hour-long conversation in the back alley that sunny Thursday evening. He opened my eyes, yes. But sadly I'm still searching for what I'm supposed to look at.

That same 3-months had seen me getting involved in a propitious friendship. I met Fuzzy. We clicked instantly. Went through a whole lot of hits and shits together and the beauty of it is, till this very day; it remains platonic. She's responsible for lists of things that I've done. This blog is a testament to that. For that, I am very thankful. It's only been 9 months, but here's to many years to come. Cheers, Fuzzy.

Talking about this blog, it has become a de rigueur part of my everyday life. Addictive, infectious, contagious, you name it. And this is where another thread of amity is weaved. Alia Ali, Cik Li's eternal soul sista, made her debut in my comment box. Without a shred of doubt, she's the most independent person I've ever made contact with. She's what I like to claim "The Jane of All Trades". For an architecture student, she surely knows her life 'structure' very well. Being a music savvy multi-instrumentalist is to me, one of her many strong suits. She'll go far. Anywhere, but far. Killer. Yes guys, she's still available. Heh. Available but taken. Hmm...

Musically, it was one hell of a roller coaster ride. I've gone from a grunge upstart, to a Brit bleaker, to a full-fledged experimental/avant-garde hopeful, to an attempt to be an electro-rocker, and now, it's an amalgamation of a fragment of everything undergoing a valiant effort of fitting it all in a consumable pop format. Yeah, yeah. Call me a sell-out. It's my "intellectual property". I am allowed to do as I please. Surprisingly, I can write a number of decently-good pop song. In Malay. Neat. The chemistry with Hafeez has done wonders so far. I like what we have worked on to date. The collaboration with Alia might be short lived, but it was personally memorable to me. I was exposed to an array of possibilities that could be executed effortlessly which may result an invigorative outcome.

After 3 semesters, my meandering days in UiTM Perak was over. As this was explained recently, I wouldn't want to relive the thoughts. Not now. I chose to walk along the path of shoulder-high shrubs. The road not taken as Frost said it. I may walk through it alone. But I'll never be lonely.

It has been quite a jaunt. So many to thank, so little of a moment to express heartfelt gratitude.

Cliché No.2

"Live life to the fullest"

Reality check: There's nowhere to go.

Live it up.