Big Suhu,
How are you in Heaven? It's been five years. How's it going there? Have you met Sekar? She's also gone home to the Father. You're both Catholics, so your plots should be close together, right? You must be in the same complex!
Suhu, you're already on your 5th birthday in Heaven. My grandma just celebrated his 3rd birthday. You guys have the same birthday, 14 July, I think I've already told you.
Thursday, 25 June 2020, during the Covid era. Upon hearing the news of your passing, the entire Baltyra community wept, even though none of us were related to Suhu by blood. We were all connected by ideals, a sense of justice, tolerance, mutual assistance, and the true practice of Pancasila.
As a Chinese culture expert, Baltyrans missed your appearance on TV during Lunar New Year. The other big man (Jonathan) was also lonely... Mr. Iwan still often remembers you... All the old ladies also often miss Suhu.
Oh yes, Suhu, I forgot to complain. Josh is short for Joshua, not Joseph, your baptismal name.
(Suhu must have said, 'Oh, never mind.')
I first learned about you through your writings in Zeverina's Our Column (KoKi). I remember, in 2007, I used up my phone allowance while staying at a five-star hotel in Jakarta just to call Suhu because our schedules didn't allow for a meet-up.
Suhu was very kind, taking the time to be my photographer on Saturday for my Schoolaholic Princess talk show at Gramedia WTC Matahari Serpong.
When I was in Tangerang, Suhu drove me several times and once treated me to meatballs when Suhu opened a meatball stall. Suhu also introduced me to your wife, Suzanne, and the children, who were still small at the time.
We used to chat on MSN a lot. And Suhu always scolded me if I wasn't in bed at 11 pm and was still working. It wasn't good for your health, you said...
Suhu, your life story is interesting, from your first love in Semarang, to marrying a Chinese wife in the Netherlands, and then how Suhu, acting like a thug, applied to the US Embassy and was accepted, although ultimately your career stalled.
Then Suhu told me that you applied for the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on a whim, but you weren't even 40 yet. It turned out you were actually rejected. I thought to myself at the time: Thank God :P
After that Suhu said that you would continue working in marketing representing a major developer, often exhibiting in China because of your language skill. This still made sense to me. It suited Suhu.
Suddenly you said you really wanted to be a politician, and I was already apprehensive. Could your idealistic self survive the dirty game of politics?
Because we can always "read people," Suhu called me "Little Suhu" while I called you "Big Suhu" Josh Chen. I'm not alone in my negative thoughts about politics, Suhu. Many Baltyrans agree. Your death was truly too soon.
Someone regrets not helping you through the Javanese spiritual thing, even though you already told them a little in Kromo Inggil (the most polite form of Javanese language). (Big Suhu is indeed JOSh, a real polyglot. You can read, write, and speak Javanese fluently in Javanese, Chinese, English, and Indonesian.) Somehow, I believe her.
On Tuesday night (June 23, 2020), Aji collapsed during a Zoom discussion about the Cipeucang Landfill. He suddenly felt as if he was choking, short of breath, and couldn't breathe, as seen in the video footage. Aji was rushed to the hospital, but doctors found nothing wrong. (Translated from here)
Anyway, your time on Earth is over, isn't it, Suhu? Maybe Suhu should have stayed in the private sector and not gotten involved in politics... (It would be the case if I were God, writing a Choose Your Own Adventure-style novel for Suhu, and then I would choose you to stay in the private sector).
Please forgive me. Peace be with you in the Father's home. See you when my time comes. Maybe we will have different complexes because I'm Christian, haha.