[EF 17.1] Closer to Mummy, Bigger in Tummy

I CAN’T BE HAPPIER when BEC invited us to recount our past holiday experience as Ramadhan ended. Lebaran celebration has been epic this year. This is certainly one that makes us superdelighted ever.

No, no, no. It’s not because we received tremendous amount of THR (religious festivity allowance) as we are no longer employees entitled to have such allotment. Neither are we chuffed due to the possession of particular objects we’ve afforded at substantial price.

As you may have noticed from my previous posts, my family and I have left Bogor for Lamongan since last February to reside in my hometown for good. Every time we go mudik, my mom would always persuade us to move to the city where she lives.

That’s what makes our recent holiday special. When I said holiday, it doesn’t necessarily refer to traveling to certain places for recreational purpose. Unlike previous Lebaran holiday when we went to a beach, we were not going anywhere this year. But that doesn’t deplete the true meaning of holiday.

We were having a great time during a yearly arisan at my uncle’s house. While I was quite regretful for not attending a school reunion,  the whole family of ours rejoiced over the special gathering and the dishes in particular. I found my kids happy enjoying special bakso and other attendants eating delicious rawon and kikil.

A week after the Idul Fitri celebration, my sister texted me in order that I grabbed some ketupat and lepet my mom has made. For those unfamiliar with these two dishes, ketupat is steamed rice wrapped in coconut leaves. Unlike plain rice, it takes hours to cook ketupat. Once it is ready, it’s usually served with chicken curry seasoned in shrimp and young papaya slices.

On the other hand, lepet is made of glutinous rice also wrapped in coconut leaves. Alternatively, pandan leaves can used when coconut leaf is rare. The dough gets even more special after grated coconut and mung bean are added with salt proportionally. Can you smell the fragrance when lepet is cooked? So tasty!

My mom is advised to save energy to prepare for pilgrimage journey to Mecca early next month. That’s why we avoid visiting distant places. To some people our holiday might not be appealing and so ordinary, but it was remarkable to us as we have spent the entire fasting month in proximity to my mom. She was overjoyed that we can visit her any time she demands as we live in a different house. Or that she can come over to see her grandsons whenever she misses them.

It took 56 hours to reach home last year in our mudik due to brexit tragedy. There is no longer such thing as tiring trip in long distances for us. Leaving in a small city means no agonising traffic and therefore a faster travel to my mom’s home. A 30-minute drive is always alluring and energising as well, especially for our boys.

Being closer to my mummy undoubtedly leads to a bigger tummy of mine. Ahaha. She is known as a good cook throughout the village and I myself can confirm her adeptness in home cooking. What’s more important, living in her easy reach brings happiness and contentment for all of us since she gains the assurance as well as security that she’s loved and considered significant during her senescence.

How’s your holiday, BBC Mania?