Friday is Here Again

Friday December 14, 2007
Luckily it's not Friday the 13! Gee! We escape the tabooed Friday the 13th. are we not. 13 is considered unlucky to some communities. Some societies consider the number brings bad luck in their busniess, life, fate and you name it.

To me, 13 is just one of the units that makes into millions and trillions. I was born in a family of thirteen siblings, 9 males and 4 females. Unfortunately I have never got to know two of my elder brothers who passed away at an early age before I was born. I have 4 elder brothers and two elder sisters and I have two younger brothers and two younger sisters. I am the 9th in the siblings of 13.

My late eldest brother, Hj Buang Hj Salim, a former army personnel and TNB Securiy Guard, married to Hj Rahmah, passed away a few years ago. Next came, Md Yusof, commonly known as Abang Amin, odd-job worker, married to Kak Som, was he first of my siblings to pass away in a drowning case in Johor Bahru, in the 70's. The third in line of my sibling is my first 72-year-old sister, Hjh Rahmah, a full-time housewife,married to Hj Hadi, is currently staying in Batu Pahat Johor. Next in line is the fourth in the family, Hj Naim, a former Senior Technician in TNB, married to Hj Fatimah, not in good health, is residing in Batu Pahat Johor. The fifth and sixth member of my family passed away while they were young. The next in line was my seventh brother, the late Hj Zainal, a former Sub-Inspector in the Police Force, married to the late Hjh Asiah, passed away about four years ago.

My second elder sister, the eight member of my sibling, 61-year-old Hj Saniah, married to Hj Mazlan, full-time housewife, is residng in Batu Pahat now. The ninth and the only graduate in my family is 59-year-old Associate Professor Hj Saaban. That' me. I am married to Hj Azizah and currently residing in Muar Johor. Next comes my 57-year-old sister, Kamariah,, the 10th in my family, full-time housewife, married to Abad Hashim, is currently residing in FELDA Sungai Mas, Kota Tinggi, Johor. The 11th member is my 55-year-old, Hj Hasnah, a retired Sister in the Sg. Buluh Hospital, married to Yatim, is curently residing in Sungai Buluh, Selangor. My 54-year-old brother, Zainuddin, a retired Sargeant Major in the arm, married to Rubiah, is currently residing in Kluang Johor and finally my last, youngest and the 13th flesh and blood, 51-year-old Zainuddin, a full-time electrical and plumbing contractor, married to Masitah, is currently residing in Batu Pahat, Johor.

Who says number 13 is unlucky. We were born to a couple, Hj Salim Hj Sirat and Hjh Kamsiah Hj Salleh, who have passed away more than a decade ago. My parents, especially my late mother, who was illiterate could only recite the relevant verses in prayer, and my late father, who could only read Jawi and passed away in Mecca, managed to bring us up and could produce an Associate Professor among their children.

We always and will pray for thier well being in the other world.

Hey! What a derailment I have been. Back to Friday, the noble and great day for Muslims. As usual, Subuh was performed at 0600 hrs, and followd by assin reading. I am on leave today and I am going to spend my vacation with my kiddos.

It's 0851 hrs. Salam and Cheerio.