In his golden wedding anniversary, JK reads his wife a poem

Jakarta, wapresri.go.id – Vice President Jusuf Kalla (JK) held a 50-year wedding ceremony with his wife Mufidah Jusuf Kalla at the Dharmawangsa Hotel in Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta, Sunday (Aug. 27) evening.

On the occasion, the Vice President recited a poem specially composed for his beloved wife.

“You are like a tame pigeon,” JK said in his poem, recalling his early acquaintance with Mufidah, “the same as the street name in front of your house, Jalan Merpati (Pigeon Street –red),” he continued raising a laugh among the audience.

JK, dressed in a black suit with a traditional cap, then revealed little secrets public rarely know. For example, for seven years trying to get close to and convince Mufidah and his family before getting married, JK only managed to get Mufidah to watch a movie together in a movie theater.

“And your friends were going with, so to hold your hand was difficult. But, I know the hard things would usually end up sweet,” said JK.

During his marriage, JK who in the early days of his marriage continued Kalla family’s trading business told that he and his wife raised their five sons and daughters without the help of a babysitter.

“You raised our five children on your own hands without a line of babysitters like our grandchildren have now. You are like a wonder woman to me,” he said.

At the end of his poetry, in addition to lauding and appreciating Mufidah’s role for him for the last 50 years, JK apologized to his wife for not being a romantic man.

“I would like to apologize to you because for 50 years I never bring you a flower while saying ‘I love you’,” he said, inviting smiles and applause from the attendees who were present that night.

Earlier, President Joko Widodo, who was present First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo said in his speech that he knows JK as a humorous figure. When they both meet, said the President, not seldom they exchange jokes.

“But, of course I cannot tell here,” he said.

The head of the state then prayed for JK and Mufidah’s marriage to continue to last and both are always given health.

Also attending the event were the third president of Indonesia Bacharudin Jusuf Habibie, wife to the belated fourth Indonesian president Sinta Nuriyah Wahid, the fifth Indonesian president Megawati Soekarnoputri, the sixth Indonesian President Soesilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the sixth vice president of Indonesia Try Sutrisno, the eleventh Vice President of Indonesia Boediono, and several ministers of the Working Cabinet. (RN/FM, KIP Setwapres).