Salam AidilFitri 2008

Hari Raya 2008 Family Portrait

A tradition we do every year.

After morning Hari Raya prayers at Al Gufran Mosque with Sonny, breakfast was waiting for us at home prepared by Wifey. As usual, it was quite awkward to actually eat during the day after fasting for a month from dawn till dusk.

More awkward was the feeling after breakfast in my stomach. The engine inside was trying to get back to the norm like the rest of the 11 months of the year. Fortunately, it soon passed and I felt alright again.

Going for morning Raya prayer starting at 8:00AM

Getting dressed in our newly bought traditional Malay clothes... Wifey in her flowery-maroon Baju Kurung, while Sonny and myself in silver clothes and matching maroon Kain Samping. Wifey looked like a million bucks... stunning!

Like every year for the past 13 years, we had our family photo taken in our living room.

Like every year too, the furniture got shifted here and there and coupled with some new stuff like the cushion covers Wifey picked, the living room took-on a new look for the year... ready to receive visitors.

This year, apart from our family photo-taking, three new additions make this year's celebration even nicer...

First, is the LED blinking lights I hung outside our corridor garden more cheerful and festive. Something I stopped doing for many years when we had to take the lights out when HDB repainted the flat.

Candid salam minta maaf or seeking forgiveness

Second, I timer-snapped photos of our "seeking forgiveness ritual." Something all Muslims do to mend strained or straying relationships from wrong doings we did or may have unknowingly done to the people we love and to our relatives, friends and neighbours.

Third, I decided to surprise Wifey and Sonny with a "Raya Green Pack" - stuffed with a S$100 each. An annual gift I hope to give them as long as I can afford it. Come to think of it, I should have done this years ago... but is never too late to start.

I was glad I did it. It brought pleasant surprises and wide smiles to these two precious people in my life. Seeing that and receiving bear hugs and kisses were priceless!

All set and done... we left for my parents' home in Woodlands.

Wifey's Mom moved back to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia years ago, so we greeted, talked and sought forgiveness from her over the phone instead of visiting her at her West Coast Road home since we first got married.

Wifey's Dad had passed on due to a heart attack a little over two years before I met her. I never got to meet him in person, unfortunately.

We spent time at my parents' place a shorter period this year. The home was filled with chatters and laughter as the siblings catch-up, enjoying each others' company.

We however, had to cut our visit short and left by 6:00PM instead of the usual after midnight due to the final year exams my son, nephews and nieces were to take the next day onwards. Bummer! But necessary.

Nevertheless, we will congregate again with a chartered coach for Raya visits to everybody's homes next Saturday with the exams finally over.

It will be a whole day event and it is going to be fun as well as a chance to catch-up on things some more with scrumptious meals at every home. Love this time of the year!

It is a celebration.
It is about forgiveness and about strengthening ties.
It is about family.
It is about joy in life.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri!