The title says it all. It was one of the most memorable 3 minutes of my entire adulthood. I am exaggerating, innit? Never have I tot that I would have the opportunity in this life time to see, face to face, the man who single handedly built Malaysia from nothing to something. He was none other than our former PM, Tun M. 

I was in Pavilion walking with hubby, killing time before catching The Mummy Part 3 at 12pm when I looked over to my left and saw a man who looked so familiar. I looked and asked hubby whether he knows the man. Being the blur IT nerd as he always is, he asked me where and I said, there, on your left! We were at ground floor walking towards the escalator, when the same man approached the escalator as well. The man went up with his wife (we assume it was his wife) and 6 other men. I tot to myself, hey, he must be some big shot, I mean, which normal chap would want to walk with 6 fellas surrounding you, who were constantly looking around, like they were protecting someone from something? 

When he turned around again, we knew instantly that the man is Tun M! Without a doubt! It was amazing, our jaws dropped to the floor. Hubby pointed out my mouth was wide open, I must have looked like a moron!! We were walking at his back for 3 floors up (with 6 of his bodyguards constantly looking at hubby and me like we were capable of taking someone's life with our bare hands. If I could do that, the first person to go is my lady boss!) and finally when we came face to face, I didn't know what to do? I panicked! I mean, I never panicked! So me being panicky was a huge deal! So, tell me, what should I do? Do I smile coyly, or vainly, with or without flashing my gums and my inner wisdom teeth, or do I nod, the subtle nod or the hey man, hows life nigger type of nod (the nod that you exchange with your hip-hop brothers!) or do I wave, like the beauty contestant type of wave or the bye bye baby wave? Like what should I do?!!!! I decided what the hell, pick up my courage and smiled at him, and he smiled back and nod like the perfect gentleman at hubby! How amazing!! How amazing!!

Looking at him makes me think of dear old dad! Someone who used to be so strong and powerful, yet as time goes by, they age gracefully, they became this ordinary old man, just like your dad and mine. No doubt Tun M is still charming in his grey one-piece suit but we all must admit he has aged. Just like dad, who now walks slower, who is forgetful, who is less energetic compared to 20 years ago when he still could carry me around (when I was 10 ok?) and remembers to pick me from school every evening as he used to come earlier to see me play sports. But now, he forgets the simplest thing like where is the key, did he lock the house door when he left house today morning or what I told him 2 weeks ago (which is normal, I know).

Dad wasn't the perfect dad, but I guess no one is perfect. He has his flaws, just like Tun M. Maybe in our eyes, Tun M has no flaws, but I am sure his children would beg to differ.The 3 minutes encounter with Tun M was indeed amazing, something that I will never forget, but it was also that 3 minutes that makes me realized that dad is getting older by the days and that one day he will not be around. Past will remain as past, though dad has made plenty of mistakes in his younger days, it never changes the fact that he is still my dad, and I would love to be able to still talks to him, drives him around and makes him happy as long as I can. This is what life is all about. The new generation will always blame the previous generation for faults, so I am sure when I have kids (God's willing) they will also be like me and dad now. Blame it on the generation gap I guess. But we all do what we can, so that we wont live on with regrets! 

It was also nice to see that when Tun M was casually walking around Pavilion, no one, I repeat, no one disturbed him, you know the can I shake your hand's, or the can I have your autograph's or can I get your permission to take your picture's type of sickos, we were all indeed very civilized citizen that respect Tun M's personal time and space, which is amazing! He deserves this, growing old peacefully and gracefully, I mean after all that he has done for us and the country, he truly deserves this. 

So, there you go... the highlight of my day....

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