Omi Gawsh, Jens!

Rasanya masih susah untuk bisa benar-benar percaya!!
Ini beneran ga sih, kalau Jens Lekman emang bakal manggung di Indonesia??
Wah wah wah! Jadi bersemangat!!
Tapi koq venue-nya jauh banget ya?! Mengapa ga diadakan di Ibukota aja sih?

*Mulai merancang agenda liburan demi bisa menonton Jens Lekman live on stage.

By the Power of Schopenhauer

First thing first, I don't really know whether I spell the name mentioned above in the title of this writing correctly or not, or whether the name really does exist in psychology.
Noticed the name while watching the impressive La Vita é Bella, when Ferruccio explained to Guido about the power of one’s will of mind, by referring to a state of mind when a certain person can make other person do what the first person tell the other one to do (hopefully you won’t be confused with this statement, eh?).
At first I just thought Roberto Benigni made that up for his movie, but somehow it looks fun if I have the ability to do so, just like what he told his friend in such a believable way, therefore the Schopenhauer method somehow successfully clung in my mind for so long.

And so that was how I tested it by applying the so-called Schopenhauer method to the course of events that occurred over this month of June.

About a couple of weekends ago, somehow I kept thinking of my loverboy Marc Miguel Morales. He's not a real loverboy as you think he is (or was). He's just someone I befriended with for almost four years now, virtually. Oh, not the four years that's been virtual, but the friendship is.
Marc and I, we shared secrets and thoughts, even the forbidden ones. He kind of helped me with good advices on my relations with girls back then at university's years, and I helped him with problems with the guys he fell in love with. We talked about sex much, but of course with different preferences and point of interest. Or views. That depends.
Anyway, our communications were so intense but suddenly cut out the moment I started working at a TV station earlier last year. He still dropped messages once in a while but I just don't have time to reply as much as I usually did, so it made sense that the last time I heard from him was in April 2004.
Back to this story and to the early point of my writing, couple of weekends ago he suddenly burst into my mind again, and somehow it made me feel sick. Of myself by ignoring him back then. Missed him so much I decided the first thing I want to do at the office next Monday morning was to drop him a line or two.
So, it's the Monday morning and I arrived early for that matter, around 8 a.m., an hour earlier than the usual office-hours. Prepared a cup of hot chocolate and a strawberry toast beside my computer. Logged in.
And there I found in my mailbox, the sweetest name that came up into my mind the day before, Marc. My loverboy. It's like a coincidence. Smiled sheepishly and happily, suddenly I realized that it was this much how I missed him.
Boy, he desperately needs updates on my life, since he asked me whether I still meet Tora Sudiro on regular basis. He must've been thinking that I still worked in that TV station, hahaha ... Kinda feel guilt, though.
So I replied his e-mail and promised him that I'll send him a very long one that will keep him updated with my current situation.
In which I haven't done up until this moment. Maybe later.
But I feel thankful to find my loverboy again. Told me he has graduated from uni earlier this year and now searching for a job. Said he visits gym regularly and now he's starting to have six-packs. Said he's now looking for a boyfriend. Well, if he stands in front of me now, I would really like to say to him, "I'm your boyfriend! You have me all this time!" (oh, I know this kind of statement will shocked some of my friends, but I believe a few of them won't *wink!*)

Almost the same thing happened with Kiki.
While vacationing over the long weekend in Bandung which I extended until Tuesday, I suddenly thought about her and regretted myself by accidentally erased her cell number. Decided that coming Wednesday, I will launch an e-mail calling every HIlander98 to search and find any news about friends that we haven't heard of over the year before.
And there the Schopenhauer effect happened again !
While watching Mr. & Mrs. Smith at CiWalk 21 together with my nephew, suddenly my cell vibrated in my pocket. A missed-call.
I hate it when people do that. It's bugging me.
But about five minutes later my cell vibrated again and this one was a text message. Didn't recognize the number but surprised to read the sender's name. It's from Kiki !
She asked me how I am doing and where I worked now. Yes, I do miss her, because she was a friend I got quite close with back in university's years.
She was one of the Las Mujeres de Los Bordillos (free translation : the carefree girls of Los Bordillos :-D) I have mentioned in my Friendster's profile that I would like to meet, again. Glad to know that she's doing fine in Palembang.

Now, what I regretted from the Schopenhauer method is that it doesn't happened over me and Greg (with a little significant similarities with the one in Dharma & Greg), eventhough I missed the first night spent with him, talking almost about everything (well, I'm not into his admiration of Punjabi's soap operas' stars and his unfinished grumbling on how I ruined his diet by making him drink a glass of iced chocolate after 9 p.m.), looking eagerly forward for repetitions.
Nor with "the SexxxY BeasT" (I have to drop a message before he give me a call, that selfish prick!) who can easily make my heart (and meat :-D) throbbed.
Nor with Charlie whom reminds me of a Chinese version of Jason Tedjasukmana. What is he doing Down Under while he has many guys who love him so much back here in J-town ?
Was it because somehow in which I did not really understand the rationale, the nature – and therefore, my will of mind – forbid me in getting in touch again with those guys?

Or perhaps, I must try harder to concentrate on the Schopenhauer thing ...

Come again, what was Guido's friend advised him to do to Schopenhauer-ing easier?
Was it by flapping fingers? Or mumbling the name? Hmm ...

Let me try : Schopenhauer, Schopenhauer, Schopenhauer, ...

Note from writer:
The original version of By The Power of Schopenhauer was posted online in my first blog, LoveHateDreamsLifeWorkPlayFriendshipSex, on June 22nd, 2005.
Hardly I had known back then that Arthur Schopenhauer and his metaphysical theory really did exist in history as a critique to Immanuel Kant’s theory.
This version you just finished reading is mostly based on the original version with some minor alterations, notably dictions and inter-paragraphs fragmentations.

It’s The Heart That Matters Most

"Oh, take a look around you can see that it's true
It's like a river flowing inside of you
Everyone needs love, you need it too
So here's what you have got to do"

Rasanya sudah menjadi pengetahuan khalayak ramai bahwa akhir pekan di Bandung belakangan ini sudah tidak lagi menyenangkan, dalam artian lalu-lintasnya – khususnya di jalan-jalan protokol seperti di Dago dan sekitarnya – cenderung mengalami kemacetan total. Perpindahan dari satu titik ke titik lainnya yang biasanya dalam kondisi lalu-lintas hari biasa hanya memakan waktu maksimal 10 menit, di akhir pekan bisa berubah menjadi 1 jam. Terkadang bahkan lebih! Gila!

Apalagi sejak menjamurnya factory outlet di kota ini, semakin banyak wisatawan asal Jakarta maupun dari daerah lainnya, yang datang hanya untuk menghabiskan uang dengan shopping, shopping and more shopping.

Meskipun selalu bikin orang-orang yang lewat jadi sakit hati dan sakit kaki (khusus dialami oleh mereka yang menyetir), agak sedikit susah juga jika harus menuding para wisatawan pembelanja ini sebagai biang segala macam kerepotan yang ditimbulkan oleh kemacetan. Serba salah, karena bahkan dengan berhitung kasar dan rada asal-asalan pun, diperkirakan setiap akhir pekan terjadi transaksi senilai minimal ratusan rupiah hingga miliaran rupiah, itu hanya dari belanja fashion. Belum termasuk jajan makanan dan oleh-oleh serta tol.

Menurutmu hal ini bagus buat perekonomian Bandung? Tidak juga. Biaya ekonominya tinggi! Hitung saja pemborosan waktu dan bahan bakarnya. Belum lagi ‘sakit jiwa’ yang ditimbulkan akibat stress menghadapi kemacetan.

Oleh karena itu, apapun jenis hiburan yang bisa ditemukan sepanjang jalan saat tengah bete terkena macet, pastilah akan sangat menyenangkan dan membantu mengatasi kepenatan yang mendera.

Sebagaimana hari Sabtu terakhir di bulan Agustus lalu. Aku bersama dengan tiga orang teman lainnya sedang ‘rusuh’ karena terjebak kemacetan seusai menghadiri penyelenggaraan wisuda di universitas negeri dengan jumlah mahasiswa terbanyak di Jawa Barat. Saat itu, jalan-jalan benar-benar padat, sehingga jarak yang hanya kurang lebih 100 meter terpaksa ditempuh dalam waktu nyaris satu jam!

Macet akibat acara wisuda di kampus ini yang masih terletak di seputaran area Dago, ditambah macet akibat tumpukan kendaraan para wisatawan yang ingin berbelanja, menimbulkan neraka lalu-lintas kemacetan pangkat dua. Menyebalkan!

Untuk mengantisipasi rasa kesal yang mulai menumpuk dan sembari menantikan kemacetan ini mulai terurai, kami berempat ribut bercanda. Mulai dari gossip-gosip tidak penting sampai main tebak-tebakan yang juga sama tidak pentingnya.

Saat itulah aku melihat satu momen yang – setidaknya buatku pribadi – indah dan mengesankan.

Di antara deretan mobil berbagai jenis dan merk serta tahun produksi yang saling merapat nyaris bumper to bumper, di antara sekian banyak orang yang lebih memilih untuk turun dari angkutan kota dan berjalan kaki meski berisiko terpapar kepulan asap knalpot melewati barisan mobil yang entah sampai kapan baru akan bisa melepaskan diri dari neraka kemacetan ini, kami berpapasan dengan dua orang ibu yang sedang menaiki sebuah vespa.

Rasanya tidak akan ada yang istimewa pada dua sosok ibu tersebut, jika kita tidak memperhatikan pakaian yang mereka kenakan. Si ibu yang mengemudikan vespa memakai busana muslimah, jilbab yang tampak serasi dengan bajunya. Duduk membonceng di belakangnya, adalah seorang biarawati tua yang mengenakan kalung salib yang terlihat jelas menggantung di dadanya. Mereka berdua tampak mengobrol akrab sambil tersenyum-senyum, barangkali sedang membicarakan sesuatu hal yang lucu sekali bagi mereka.

"Spread a little hope, make the spirits rise
Do you see the wonder in their eyes
Time to speak of love, hold each other close
Cause it's the heart that matters most"

“Hey! Coba deh liatin kedua ibu itu!” kataku pada ketiga orang temanku yang saat itu tengah seru-serunya tertawa. Tawa mereka segera berhenti saat melihat kedua orang ibu tersebut, dan mereka bertiga terdiam sejenak.

Lalu kudengar Fitra menggumam pelan, “Wah, indah banget ya ...”

Saat itulah sempat kuperhatikan ketiga orang temanku sedang tersenyum ke arah kedua orang ibu tersebut, meskipun aku yakin mereka berdua tidak akan dapat melihat senyuman kami yang terhalang oleh lapisan film kaca mobil.

Karena masih belum bisa melewati deretan mobil yang seakan-akan tidak bergerak sama sekali, tampak si ibu biarawati kemudian turun dari jok belakang dan berjalan agak lambat ke depan untuk melihat situasi arus lalu lintas. Tangannya memberikan tanda kepada setiap pengemudi mobil yang ia lewati, seakan-akan meminta izin agar ia dan temannya diberikan kesempatan untuk lewat. Sedangkan si ibu berjilbab mencoba mendorong maju vespanya menyelip di celah antara mobil-mobil, berusaha mengikuti gerak langkah si ibu biarawati.

Sayang sekali, kami tidak sempat mengikuti dengan pandangan mata apakah mereka berdua berhasil melewati kemacetan tersebut, karena tiba-tiba saja mobil yang berada di depan kami mulai bergerak maju. Langsung saja Aryo ikut menjalankan kembali mobilnya mengikuti pergerakan lalu-lintas.

Saat itu kusadari bahwa kami berempat masih terdiam sejenak. Barangkali kami semua masih memikirkan kedua orang ibu tadi. Lalu kudengar Helen berkomentar pelan, “Coba ya kalau kita semua bisa begitu ...”

Aku tersenyum.
Bukankah kami sudah mencobanya?

Kami berempat berteman dekat. Tanpa memandang latar-belakang yang berbeda. Salah satu dari kami asli keturunan Jawa dengan silsilah keturunan ningrat. Satu lagi keturunan Palembang-Arab, meskipun dibesarkan di luar Indonesia. Yang lain keturunan Jawa-Sunda, sejak lahir hingga lulus sekolah menengah tinggal di Jakarta, jadilah salah satu impiannya adalah berjalan telanjang kaki di pematang sawah. Dan satu lagi adalah keturunan raja-raja Tapanuli bercampur sedikit darah Eropah, namun dilahirkan di ranah Melayu. Salah satu dari kami telah menunaikan rukun Islam kelima dengan naik haji ke Makkah. Dan yang lain memeluk agama Kristen.

Sebagai sekumpulan teman dekat, kami tentu pernah merasakan pahit-manisnya persahabatan. Namun kami tidak pernah menjadikan perbedaan di antara kami sebagai sumber perselisihan. Bisa jadi kami sesungguhnya memiliki persamaan pandangan dengan kedua orang ibu tadi.

Andai saja kita semua bisa mengikuti keteladanan persahabatan kedua orang ibu di atas vespa itu tadi, dengan menerima segara perbedaan yang ada di antara setiap individu, dan tidak menjadikannya sebagai satu masalah yang terkadang cenderung dibesar-besarkan, bukankah hidup ini akan jadi lebih baik?

"In time we come to learn
It's the heart that matters most"

- Ide penulisan It’s The Heart That Matters Most didapat ketika sedang terjebak kemacetan seusai upacara wisuda Universitas Padjadjaran, 30 Agustus 2003. Judul tulisan dan kutipan pendukung di dalamnya berasal dari lirik lagu Charlotte Church dengan judul yang sama -