Times, They Are A-Changing

Nelson Mandela died yesterday.

The phrase 'freedom fighter' is used to describe him readily.

This phrase brought me back to a conversation I had with a friend a loooong time ago. It's not so much the conversation but the manner in which it happened.

The year was 2000/2001 thereabouts. She was a few years my senior in JC but she always came back to help out in our CCA (then called ECA). She was in a local uni then and I held her in high esteem because she was grounded, wise, smart and humble.

I graduated from JC in '95 and eventually entered the workforce in 2000. So this conversation took place within one year or so after I started working.

I remembered that she simply called and we started talking. The phrase 'freedom fighter' entered the conversation and we had a discussion about it.

The whole point of this is - in those days not too long ago, when we miss our friend, we just call our friend. Now, somehow, people don't do phone calls anymore? We  look them up on facebook (couldn't find her there), send emails or text messages to our friends to reconnect. But we don't talk much.

Not too good a development?

[Now that I think about it, it's a pretty good development - I can insist on my pupils to have high standards in their writing because if communication is mostly through text, they have better be able to write clearly.]

But, then again, the lack of conversations makes us all poor listeners.

Anyway, back to my friend there. Last I heard from her, she was going to New Zealand for work for three years. I wished I had planned a trip to see her there then. Now I don't foresee myself ever going to NZ with my inability to drive. (Possession of licence and ability to drive are two different things.)

Okay. That is all for now. Will write about the kids soon, maybe. Kepala pening now. Couldn't sleep last night. Came home late. Settled kids in bed by 11pm. I stupidly started reading a book past midnight. Didn't stop til 3-ish. Then couldn't sleep as a result. Mind too active. Tossed and turned til 5am. Decided to shower and stay up for subuh. Eventually slept at 6am. Only to be woken up by kids at 8.30am. And a lovely husband who bought my favourite prata. So kepala pening now.

(Side note: School holidays is when I become a very ill-discplined reader. I read at all hours and pay no heed to the time. Not good at all.

Lesson learnt but don't know if I'll take heed: I will not read exciting fiction at night. I must read work-related non-fiction that will make me sleep.)