Al Fatihah -- Ruby Ahmad

It was an early morning call from my dear old friend, Zaharah Othman (Kak Teh) in London that got me texting friends. An sms from Dr Kamsiah Haider further intensified my queries about Ruby Ahmad. Had she passed away the night before?

It was swiftly confirmed. Shocking news. Zaharah was choked with emotions as she spoke to me. She posted a tribute to Ruby in her blog.
Kamsiah wrote a sad note in her facebook.

I cannot claim to have ever known Ruby intimately. But in cyberspace, it was easy to be close and friendly.

I got to know her when she came into my blog four years ago. The name was vaguely familiar. Then I clicked into her blog. Indeed, we had met years ago at the Umno general assembly. I remembered her as one of the young members of an association of Malay women entrepreneurs.

We met on occasions at the annual assembly but never struck a friendship, until I began blogging. And then Facebook and Twitter came along.

We got friendly and chatted in cyberspace, though not often. She was a warm person. We had a private greeting. Whenever she texted or called me, she'd greet me with "Hello, Sophia Loren," and I'd reply, with "and is that Raquel Welch?". And we'd laugh. So funny.

Speaks volumes of the generation to which we belong, doesn't it? But, Ruby was so young at heart. So energetic. So active socially and in charity activities too.

The last time we met and chatted was at a bloggers' do last year at Restoran Melayu in Kuala Lumpur.

Ruby...I will surely miss you. You are truly our rakan "seperjuangan". I know you have left behind many, many friends.

Al Fatihah.

Do read what Marina has written about Ruby whom she had known since her school days.