Of Cancer

A short message early in that morning from my sister deliver the ill-fated news. One of our closest aunt has passed away after months struggling from cancer. I was deeply saddened because it’s just no more than two months ago she was bursting in tears hugging me tight on her wheelchair when I visit her during my holiday. She could barely moved at that time, her usually lively and cheerful self has gone.

Their son Rafi, is often seen as a replacement son for my father and mother, because I’ve always been away from home since junior high. He is about my age and have a very pleasant demeanor about him. Always handy and willing to help us and others, be it friends or relatives. For example when my mum was sick while my dad was away, he always be the one who took her to the hospital even late at night taking care of everything. Especially during the passing of my sister, how he was the one running errand here and there helping my family. Don’t know how to thank him enough for that. Sometimes I pity the fact that I am so far away from family especially during these hard times.

I remember the day when I reluctantly have to get back to Jakarta, my late aunt and family (who live nearby our home in Makassar), woke up early in the morning and then walk me to the car as we head to the airport. I recall saying how we’ll meet each other again next year and she replied with an Insya Allah remark. It’s happened that this time God didn’t permit us to meet again. May she rest in peace, and God give strength to her family in this time of grieve.

This very morning Leysus - an Indonesian comedian has also passed away of cancer. So did Bastian Tito, the author of Wiro Sableng yesterday. It all made me realize once more how cancer is truly a deadly illness. Like a bad luck or a stray of typhoon landed in our back yard. Nevertheless, lately the media coverage has confirm my burgeoning suspicions about formalin and all sort of hazardous preservatives addition to our daily food. Usually when I bring this to any conversation, people would just dismiss it as hearsay and unfounded rumor. Well, in the interest of self preservation it’s always better for us to watch where and what we eat and drinks, because we never know.

It’s a shame and somewhat irritating really how some people’s lack of respect to other’s health, and I fully support all the institutions who finally investigate this formalin gate. I mean, for one, the package of the substance has already marked with red skull and the word ‘danger’ typed in bold red, if it’s not complete ignorance then I don’t know what else to call it.

It’s been one sad journal. A poem by John Donne perhaps suitable at this moment, because although death is a certainty to all, maybe we can take strength from the courage showed behind these verses.

Death be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not so,
For, those, whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee,
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee doe goe,
Rest of their bones, and soules deliverie.
Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell,
And poppie, or charmes can make us sleepe as well,
And better then thy stroake; why swell'st thou then;
One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.