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I love/hate MCO


The vaccines are here... spelling the beginning of the end of Covid19... or at least we hope so. But, it is really just hope upon hope. Because, as vaccines are being spread (by health workers) in most parts of the world, we still hear of lockdowns happening here and there. And the virus is mutating. New strains are being discovered, having higher infectivity. I guess Covid wants to live just like any other living creature.

My employer has announced that beginning this month (April 2021) everybody must come to work in the office. No more working from home. Which is OK. I mean (in case my boss reads this blog) I love my job but dread going through the traffic jams in the morning and then again in the evening. I miss the easy smooth drive to and from work during the MCO when I had to come to the office to sign some physical documents, but even during the CMCO and RMCO, when we are allowed to move around a bit more, the traffic build-up at roadblocks gave me a glimpse of things to come when things go back to those pre-pandemic days.

And being an introvert who feels awkward when dealing with humans emotions and protocols, the lockdowns have freed me from the guilt of not attending weddings and funerals. I envy those who got married or married off their children or those who died during the MCO. Everything was as practical as can be, focused on the essentials of solemnizing the bride and groom (not to mention the amount of money you save for not having a reception) and, when you die, the masjid people or the mortuary workers at hospitals bathe you, wrap you up, pray for you and bury you. No need to wait for some far-flung children or siblings to rush to your side just to see your face before they put you into the ground.

I do miss traveling, going on vacations, locally, or if the annual bonus is good, overseas, preferably, where there's snow. I miss road trips going down to Muar or JB and I can't remember when was the last time we were in Singapore. We did manage to squeeze in a trip to Langkawi in July. By "we" I mean my wife and me, our four children and one 4 months pregnant daughter-in-law, and of course my mother-in-law. We all agreed that it was the best trip to Langkawi ever, mostly because there weren't many people around. My favorite activity was island hopping and frolicking in the clear garbage-free sea since we were the first humans to visit after the islands were deserted for months due to the MCO.

Ramadhan is approaching and hopefully, I will get a chance to perform Tarawikh prayer at a mosque... Last Ramadhan, we did it at home, but I only know the short surahs, so my makmum only hears the same thing every night... it was fun, though, and to a certain extent, less stressful because we have more time since we don't have to rush to the mosque after iftar and Maghrib prayers to find a parking space.

It does look like things are getting back to normal. Some people may look forward to it... but I have mixed feelings about that. Because there's one more thing just as dreadful as driving 3 kilometers an hours on the NKVE.... that is ironing my work clothes.    

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