From Our Founder: Everyone has a story........
Barani Krishnan
FOUNDER
Hear from those we have written for..
A tribute to my beloved mother,
by Norma Hanley
Hear from those we have written for..
My fond memories on
Perry Tan,
by C.K GOH
Some of the stories we've told so far....
Normita: The Ecuadorian Who Never Stopped Believing In Her Children’s Tomorrow
The tales of America’s immigrants are usually the stuff of legends. The story of Norma Yolanda, or Normita, wasn’t as much the American Dream as it was the dream that her children attain what she couldn’t. She loved her adopted country, but she loved her family more.
“Mami used to say: ‘I didn’t come to this country and leave my family and my home in Ecuador, to go through what I went through, for you kids not to make a better life. I refuse to believe that,’” recalls Norma Hanley, mother to Yale scholar Madeleine as well as the namesake daughter to Normita.
Ahmad Talib:
The Creative, Quirky Giant of Malaysian Journalism
To instigate the flamboyant narrative of Ahmad A. Talib, this foundational plot has to be established: Mat — as he called himself — was greatly instrumental in the trajectory of many Malaysian journalistic careers, from reporter to editor, in over decades of engagement.
I was so mesmerised by Mat’s searching technique, I method-acted my way the Ahmad A. Talib approach, to the amusement of elder contemporaries, with his brashness, colour and spit – until I sobered up.
As I reach the end of this tribute, I reflect on my time-worn friend, deep-rooted compatriot and quirky mentor: Ahmad Talib was that kind of man despite his flaws, and our differences, disagreements and arguments over the decades. And I’m privileged to tell his story.
Ismail Kassim:
The Bridge
That Used To Connect Malaysia, Singapore Journalism
Ma’il, as everyone called him, was as astute a journalist as they come — the kind they barely make these days. And his writing style, whenever it appeared in, first, The Nation, and then, in the Straits Times, a Singapore tabloid and broadsheet respectively, was cogent and revelatory.
Ma’il studiously gathers facts, intelligence, nuances, backstory, rumours and other tidbits, coaxing out of people nuggets of information and sometimes, the mother lode, to make up a nice, compelling — and most of all, accurate — read.
And when he was wrong, he was the first to admit it, without rancour.
Perry
Tan:
An Untiring, “Lovable Rascal”
As a kid, Perry was a lovable rascal more than anything else when it came to baiting the opposite sex. He was also maddening to his teachers and classmates.
The “real” Perry emerged in his adult life. He became a very filial son, loving husband and father.
On the other side of his wondrous humanity though, was a facade of steel – one that could never be stood down in a dare.
Therein was his inimitable self: While many wished to live like him, few had the gonads for it.
Harjeet Amber: The Beauty Who Wore The “M” Badge for Motherhood
Harjeet Amber could have passed for a Bollywood actress or even Pakistani model. But she cherished herself as a mother more than anything.
In many ways, Harjeet’s beauty was also her bane. Most troublesome, she found, were men who couldn’t understand that all that mattered to her were her sons and the sanctuary of the home left by her late loving husband.
She lived for her boys and will continue living through them.
ADVICE...
Nirvana Malaysia
The Last Responders and COVID-19 – A Perspective From Malaysia’s Nirvana
Rockwills
‘Do I Need a Will?’ Hear It From Rockwills
Plan Your Funeral
No one, plausibly, likes to talk about death — despite knowing it’s as natural as birth, and inevitable for all living beings.
Financial Checklist For A Parent’s Death
The purpose of this post is to help readers prepare for a parent’s death. But really, this post can help someone prepare for any family member’s death.
Post-Funeral: Thank-You Cards, Estate Execution, Death Benefits
Following the funeral, a variety of estate, financial, and administrative matters must be addressed.
