Peserta #22 – Abdul Mukhid
ON PAPERS
Abdul Mukhid
On papers,
24 hours is enough to make good book translators and editors,
to turn me as a mother and wife who is caring and loving:
editing in the fresh morning,
translating an interesting novel in the sleepy afternoon is like dying,
translating science in the silent evening forces me to think.
On papers,
one week is enough to make good book translators and editors,
always be healthy inside-out:
religious sermon, aerobics, and swimming once or twice a week each,
saying good bye to the computer every an hour.
On papers,
one month is enough to make good book translators and editors,
to be a good citizen in the neighboorhood and the nation:
joining mothers’ gathering, being a volunteer in a non profit organization, and sharing
with teachers in some occasions.
On papers,
one year is enough to produce a certain number of translation and editing
plus writing books once in a while:
the speed is decided, the earning is estimated.
But,
Papers do not care about the mood of a freelancer, or minutes that go by for tuning-in each project.
Papers do not count friends or neighbors who call for sharing or consulting their problems: education of
the children, marriage, health—and on behalf of individual commitment cannot be ignored.
Papers do not know that playing Rummikub, billiard, and table soccer with family are sometimes exciting
and fun.
Papers deny that a husband may gets sick, children sometimes cry,
and stomachache attacks every now and then.
It seems that papers have never heard this kind of saying:
“the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.“
papers may not aware either that:
translators are humans!
Disclaimer: It happens on my working papers, and might not happen in other papers.