I got this email from a dear friend.
Thought I would share it with all of you.
Good on you, Willie!
______________
What started out like a normal Wednesday afternoon for this plain old (young at heart) joe, your typical single parent guy , left me with a feeling of “Relief! I did it!’ kind of feeling because I walked out of my comfort zone and reached out to 3 total strangers in uniform.
At 2.15pm that day, I had a lunch appoinment (inpromptu) with a dear friend who is not so tech savy. She had an issue with her iPad and after trying to sort the issue over the phone, which was going nowhere, I took up her offer to meet. Tell me, would you resist a free meal?.
We sat and started chatting, ordered our food and I was toying around with the iPad. At the same time, not too far from our table, I noticed 3 bomba personnel sitting and chatting together after their meal.
I told my friend that I had some ABU pamphlets , showed her and immediately she return a smile with a question “Are you thinking of giving these out? To who, ah?”.
I turned and pointed out to the group of 3.
Even as I pointed out my targets, so many ‘what ifs’ rushed through my mind, and I shared these with my friend.
She told me to offer them the basic greetings since it was still Hari Raya.. The simple and straight forward “‘selamat hari raya , maaf zahir batin .. That should get you going ” .
I smiled at her and said “Ah!! And then…?”
I was trying to steady my nerves.
Then, in a split second, even as the spirit was so, so willing, but the mind was conjuring up scores of reasons why I should not , I said aloud, “Damn! Let’s do it”.
A quick exchange of ideas with my friend, off I went with the pamphlets, and walked towards their table.
I greeted them as planned , with a big smile.
I told them that I spotted them seated and I could not go off without first handing them a copy of the ABU message.
Handing each of them a copy of the ABU pamphlet and in a mix of English and Malay, I told them that I had attended Bersih 3.0 and if I had caused them any hardship I asked to be to be forgiven.
They took the pamphlets and extended a handshake and a smile.
One of them was quick to respond, “Ah.. ABU “. I replied, “Ya bang, sila baca yer?”
I thanked them and walk backed to our table, feeling relief that none of them sought to engage me in conversation, not because I might not be able to carry on a conversation, but I was nervous.
My friend and I finished our meal and while I was fiddling with the iPad, iI was pleased to watch the 3 leave the restaurant with the pamphlets in their hands.
Yes! The iPad was fixed and my friend paid for the meal. .. and I have a few more pamphlets in my car.
Not for long, though.














naz
September 8, 2012
are those the pamphlets?
Aoaoao
September 8, 2012
First time out? And feeling good. Welcome, young soldier!A
naz
September 8, 2012
are those d pamphlets
shakuntala
September 10, 2012
Well done….Haris’s dear friend!!. YOU certainly must have felt……great, big and grand!!!! Indeed it was some effort on your part….go on, further.
ABU!
September 29, 2012
graduating from the school of hard knocks always makes a person feel good.
Congrats!