Born Again in Paris

I am no Mormon yet I feel sooo born again, after the Raya.

Paris? No lah, it is Pagheet.. Bote kiri, Bote kanan where Doc Shahe resides. But we did weave through the many Parits on our way Balik Kampung; each tells a story well preserved.

When we hit Parit Pinang Seribu, the kampung of our bro-in-law, we felt for an elderly lady there, who smiled at us a few kilometers before our shadows hit the kampung. She is a lady of courage. She still flashes her best smile even after 1000 times failed proposal. If you'd like to make her a proposal, please make sure you do not disappoint her this time, cos we will be very disappointed. Very.

We'll be coming after your throat, cos we're reluctant to change the name to Parit Pinang Seribusatu.

Then there was Parit Jawa. Need I elaborate?

Parit Sakai is nice. Really nice. It is one of the most developed, landscaped with a Taman Teknologi in mind, and a masterpiece for the engineering feats achieved by the pakciks, mak ciks, waks, mak itams, pak utihs of yore. They had produced the engines of development, for the world consumption. Have you not seen their bull-dozers, tractors, and the latest gallant crane, boldly emblazoned "SAKAI"?

Parit Korma, Parit Sulong, Parit Temu Jodoh ( that's where CB met CsB..), Parit Setongkat (or was it Setongkol?) but you wont blame this old soul for having his favourite haunt (get the drift?). Takut nak sebut.. yes, you guess right, Parit Syetan. It is apparently very underpopulated, in fact no one is seen going about in the day time. But you should be there malam raya... grrrrr... the H*-Rayas in all fineries come out to play fire flower (bunga api) but dont you stare into their faces. You'll be very disappointed, cos you are not going to see any.

But why Born Again?

Of late, after raya, CB felt like re-living his childhood. Coming home from the mesjid after Subuh, with CsB in tow, he would pore over the parit (monsoon drain outside his gate); fish-net in hand, a clean bowl of water in the other. CB turns fisherman. He is now having nearly an hour of fun every morning scooping the 'fishlets' and guppies from his parit, to have countless hours of fun watching these tranquil souls swim about in his bird-bath. Come join CB lah.

And if you happen to see a 53 year old aparition, in the failing light of dawn, poring over your drain, a fish-net in one hand, and a bowl of clean water in the other.. do not run away. Just slowly come close, and say Hi CB. Guess what?

That thing is not CB. Now it is time for you to run and shriekkkkkk at the same time....

Selamat Hari Raya, Maaf Zahir Batin