My Jiminy Crickets

Jiminy Cricket has always been my favorite cartoon character. Thou my forever favorite cartoon movie is The Emperor’s New Groove that I’ll discuss the “why and how” later. But Mr. Cricket, o boy, he IS a character. I think we all know the tale of Pinocchio. We all remember the “Do not lie or your nose will grow” epic advice from the blue fairy. But for me the whole tale has strong moral message because of Mr. Cricket. People say he’s Pinocchio conscience from the first place but no! He wasn’t until the blue Fairy anointed him as so at the end of the story. He’s simply Pinocchio’s friend who were stay with him through thick and thin in a dangerous journey to be a boy. Who didn’t judge Pinocchio for the wrong decision he take (as a wooden doll). Because if Mr. Cricket is a pure conscience, he wouldn’t be afraid too, he wouldn’t be angry too, he wouldn’t be so funny and intriguing as character.

Jiminy Cricket: Now, you see, the world is full of temptations.
Pinocchio: Temptations?
Jiminy Cricket: Yep, temptations. They’re the wrong things that seem right at the time… but… uh… even though the right things may seem wrong sometimes, or sometimes the wrong things, [chuckles]
Jiminy Cricket: may be right at the wrong time, or visa versa.
Jiminy Cricket: [clears throat] Understand?
Pinocchio: [shakes his head] Uh-uh. But I’m gonna do right.
Jiminy Cricket: Atta boy, Pinoke! And I’m gonna help ya.

Us…

Us is flashing on my mind as I sit alone here
(your tender smile mostly…)
Thinking of all the good things we had
(and it have been an intensive 3 months…)
Our first meeting after a very long absent
(12 years, and glimpses of you here n there)

Celebrating Children Day

Oh! Except this baby, he's so adorable

I’m not really into babies, I’m so sorry. I’m not really keen on the idea carrying baby on my lap. Giving a bottle of milk to a baby and ooogle-wooogle them is not something I’m looking forward to do whenever there’s a friend’s baby around. I like to see baby asleep though. They look peaceful and I don’t have to touch them. Too fragile for me. Too small for my small hands. I’m sort of afraid I’m going to scratch or break something. I think all babies have this over-sensitive feeling, makes them screaming if strangers hold or touch them. I don’t like to be screamed at since I have no intention to hurt the baby or whatsoever. But they won’t understand anyway when you try to sooth them, except you’re the mother or father.

On the contrary, I love children. I’m really, really interested on those little people and I always find that observing kids is a lovely thing to do. To make it clear, I love children 5 years and up. They already understand the concept of punishment and reward. They start being an active observer. By active I mean they start put things they perceived in zealous actions and reactions. They bold enough to say what they want to say the way they feel it. They are so open. It has been my interest to see children growing and observing what makes them who they are. What changing them? How small things can be so influential to their opinion. They absorb almost anything.

One of My Favorite Speech made by Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Anna Quindlen

note: This was a speech made by Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Anna Quindlen at the graduation ceremony of an American university where she was awarded an Honorary PhD. Everytime I read this speech, I was reminded again with little precious things that I need to nurture. Everyday life and routines sometimes makes us put things in wrong priorities. For the life that worth living…

“I’m a novelist. My work is human nature. Real life is all I know. Don’t ever confuse the two, your life and your work.  You will walk out of here this afternoon with only one thing that no one else has. There will be hundreds of people out there with your same degree: there will be thousands of people doing what you want to do for a living. But you will be the only person alive who has sole custody of your life. Your particular life. Your entire life. Not just your life at a desk, or your life on a bus, or in a car, or at the computer.  Not just the life of your mind, but the life of your heart. Not just your bank accounts but also your soul.

People don’t talk about the soul very much anymore. It’s so much easier to write a resume than to craft a spirit.  But a resume is cold comfort on a winter’s night, or when you’re sad, or broke, or lonely, or when you’ve received your test results and they’re not so good.