Tomb Tones

I have been tagged for the first time! By Irene. And am I glad. I get to pick some songs. It's a walloping fun idea.The premise may be morbid, but hey, we are all headed for the same destination. No detours, no U-turns!

Right, so "The idea is to pick five songs that you'd like played at your funeral." I'd like to go on to request that these songs be available on-demand at my tombstone (or niche) even beyond that day. Run on non-polluting, renewable and zero-cost power. Visitors who do not know me could possibly get a glimpse into the person that I was. Not that it matters to them, or even to the long-departed me. I would just like to share.

Are you ready!!!???( In the high-pitched arena scream) Let's do it:

Song #1

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY by Queen

I wonder if Freddie will spank me for this, if I should meet him. This song is about life, full of imperfections and mistakes redeemed by love and compassion. But at the very end, nothing really matters. Death overtakes us all.

Song #2

A QUESTION OF LUST by Depeche Mode

It's a great song about faithfullness and the temptations when away from your partner. This song is to tell mine that, I'm still her's where I'm going. Definitely no chance of getting drunk where I'm headed.... and I'd rather be home as usual.

Song #3

MARGARITA TIME by Status Quo

It's a favourite drink of mine. It is also simple yet catchily hummable ditty from the comtemporaries of Queen. It's about taking chances when it feels vaguely right. In this case, probably in some ways related to song #2. At my funeral, this song and this drink will be served.

Song #4

YOUR SONG by Sir Elton John

Beautifully crafted song filled with such meaningful lyrics by Bernie Taupin. This is to thank everybody that has filled my life with meaning and beauty.

Song #5

IN MY LIFE by The Beatles

This is my farewell to my loved ones. This is one sentimental, tear-jerker when you reminisce about days gone by. Hope this doesn't introduce the water-works at my funeral.



It certainly began with much gleeful enthusiasm. As I went through the encyclopaedia of songs in my head, my life thus far, flashed by, too. I ended up reflecting deeply upon my days past and present. Upon life. Death. This excercise has made me ponder much longer than the 10 minutes I expected to spend on the post. Have I served my purpose in life? Am I living life right? Will I ever?


I'm singing 'Is This The World We Created' by Queen as I type the finishing words to this post.

Just think of all those hungry mouths we have to feed
Take a look at all the suffering we breed
So many lonely faces scattered all around
Searching for what they need.

Is this the world we created
What did we do it for?
Is this the world we invaded
Against the law
So it seems in the end
Is this what we're all living for today
The world that we created.

You know that everyday a helpless child is born
Who needs some loving care inside a happy home
Somewhere a wealthy man is sitting on his throne
Waiting for life to go by.

Is this the world we created,
we made it on our own
Is this the world we devasted, right to the bone
If there's a God in the sky looking down
What can he think of what we've done
To the world that He created.

Four Accidents In One Day

It didn't happen to me. But that doesn't take away the shock and awe of the occurences. That I had come across four traffic mishaps within eleven hours is an accident in itself. And they all took place within 3km-radius of where I live.

A bus and a Satria. Two buses. Two cars. Lastly, two motorcycles and a car.

Didn't see anybody hurt except the last one, only because I must have come across the first three a while after their occurence. Hope nobody was seriously hurt. Nobody wants a traffic accident. The word accident itself means it is undesirable most of the time. Traffic accidents can cause damage and loss to property, limbs and/or lives. At the least, it is an inconvenience.

The question I'm pondering is: Do we think about accidents when we drive? Or at least, before we start our journey in an automobile. Most times, it crosses our minds only when we witness or come across a disaster.

Would it make us more careful and considerate on the road?

There are loads of traffic accident reports in the news. There are plenty of road-safety campaigns. Grissly pictures of accident scenes, gentle jingles, dramatic enactments and outright morbid signboards abound.

Do we consciously or unconsciously ignore, forget about these lessons when we are behind the wheel? Are we dealing with the 'It happens only to the others' syndrome?

Why must we jump the red-light? Speed? Squeeze into tight spots to move just one car-length ahead? Overtake crawling traffic on the emergency lane? Ignore lane designations? Change lanes indiscriminately? We are all guilty of one or another, one time or another.

Wouldn't these actions risk accidents? We probably don't have that consideration in our minds as we commit the acts. It's always about 'getting there'.

But, will we always get there? Especially if we drive as if we are the only car on the road.

How then can recklessness be curbed? Aside from Big Brother-style strict enforcement, is there a possibility of educating drivers altruistic driving attitudes that will result in a utopian love and practice of such values?

Well, utopian it remains. For we are dealing with human beings. There is, somehow, a grey area in any concept. Even in religion, individual interpretations abound. What more with driving rules and attitudes? We have a great tendency to justify means to an end, and vice-versa. We compromise easily for our sole benefit. How then can we prevent traffic accidents?

As long we are human, we are an accident waiting to happen.

Drive carefully. Pandu Cermat, Jiwa Selamat. Malang Tidak Berbau. Pandulah Sepertimana Anda Mahu Orang Lain Memandu.

God Bless.