I was lying in bed (actually a mattress as the men who are putting together the bed do not arrive until Thursday) when a song came to mind. So I, of course, Googled it. I Googled the day you came into my life and up popped all sorts of sayings. The simplest was: And then YOU came into my life. “From the day you came into my life I knew I wanted to spend my life with you” was another. This one is longer and more eloquent: “Being with you makes my life so much richer and more fulfilling, and I want to spend every minute of every day with you, my love. The love I feel for you is something that I never knew I was capable of. Thank you for coming into my life and freeing my heart from its cage. With you, I feel like I am soaring!“
First of all, let us define eloquent: clearly expressing or indicating something. Some synonyms are expressive, sensitive, meaningful, revealing, telling, significant, indicative. The last thought is more meaningful, more expressive, more significant. It seems that all the these sayings speak of romantic love. But they could, and in my case, do, speak of Allah coming into my life. I do want to spend the rest of my life with Allah – not only can I do that but if I behave I can spend the hereafter with Him. Allah does make my life so much more richer and fulfilling, I want to and can spend every minute with him. I never knew I was capable of such love, it did free my heart from its cage and with Allah I feel like I am soaring. All fo that is the truth – do not look for affirmation from you Gentle Readers, look only to Allah. Google’s next question is: What do you say to someone who changed your life? “Thank you for inspiring me in life. Thank you for making me want to be a better person. Thank you for dealing with my immaturities and tantrums.” This also is an awe inspiring quote: “You came into my life and then became my life.” ”
However, all of the quotes are speaking of romantic love – between a man and a woman. That is the problem with Western society – we are trained with the expectation that one person will meet all of your needs and, of course, that is not possible – nor even laudatory. It is a new concept – prior to WWII people lived in extended families wherein there were many people to meet your needs and the needs of your children. Not so anymore, first nuclear families where the Dad went to work, then Mom went to work and there is no one for the children as the Grandparents often live miles away and divorce is rampant. I do admit to being a captive of the romantic love trap but, as I did not have children, was free to leave an unhappy relationship and, (unfortunately), replace it with another unhappy relationship.
But now I have no man only Allah and it is working for me. If Allah decides I should have a man in my life, then He shall find one for me. I wait patiently, believe that or not!
But I also need to be in the world, not live a completely monastic life – although sometimes I wish to. Yesterday, made two huge moves (inspired by Allah I like to think) I became an ‘official volunteer’ of the University of Alberta, my alma matter. It was an on line endless dance but managed to do it – most difficult but patiently managed to complete the myriad of forms. Then volunteered for my first event. I shall volunteer at the Indigenous Strategic Plan Launch. Education is the means, method and opportunity for advancement into this world, by all, particularly minority groups, particularly women. It will be rewarding to be doing something ‘on the ground.’
I also sought an opportunity to pursue a twenty year ‘obsession’ – this one Ikebana, Japanese flower arranging. I found to my great delight, that there is an active association here in Edmonton, immediately signed up for the newsletter. Ikebana is fascinating, wrote a treatise on for a graduate course at Dominican University in San Rafael. Remarkably I have it with me and can serialize it on the blog. So life is coming together beautifully! No doubt about it.
But back to the world in general. Brought to you by The Economist. “ Boris Johnson, Britain’s Prime Minister, survived a vote of non confidence, but was left badly wounded by the act of insurrection within his party. The vote was triggered when at least 54 of his fellow Conservative MPs submitted secret letters of no confidence. The final tally, 211 to 148, fell short of the simple majority needed to remove him a leader. Mr. Johnson promised to “get on with the job” and said he intends to lay out his vision for new policies to senior ministers on Tuesday. But with 41% of his own MPs in rebellion, his government looks set for paralysis.
The Economist also, in a related article, printed the truth about the dreadfully sorry state of San Francisco which people all over this world today do not realize. Here it is. “ The degraded state of San Francisco has left a lot of inhabitants angry- and blaming Mr. Boudin. “People are really sick of living in chaos,” says Michael Shellenberger, an author who is running as an independent as has written a book “San Francisko” about how progressives are mishandling cities. Downtown, drug stores have closed or refused to stock good on shelves, due to shop living. Rising murders, shootings and burglaries have led some people to avoid walking or driving around whole neighborhoods.” I left San Francisco in December of 2020, the described conditions were rampant then, the drugstores, the avoidance of whole neighborhoods. Nothing has changed, news of this has been suppressed. People all over this world do not believe me when I speak of the state of San Francisco. Perhaps they will listen now. I do tell the truth, it does set you free.
Also more news from the Toronto Star about Canada, my Home and Native Land. An article speaks of Toronto’s Pearson Airport, which I had the misadventure to travel through on my voyage from Abu Dhabi, to a brief stop in dreaded Vancouver and then off to Edmonton.
“This is the worst airport on earth. I’m telling you, there’s no other airport like this,” said an exasperated, exhausted Whitney in a video he posted to Twitter on Monday morning detailing his derailed journey from Edmonton to Boston via Toronto. That was definitely my experience!
But I suppose you want a little humor in your life, well you are about to get it because here comes Andy Borowitz to the rescue again, speaking humorously about Western media’s attention to mere trivialities. “NEW YORK (The Borowitz Report)—Fox News will not air the January 6th hearings in prime time, owing to the network’s decision to air reruns of the 2015 Benghazi hearings instead. Speaking for Fox News, Tucker Carlson announced that, although other news outlets will air hearings about the insurrection at the United States Capitol, Fox will run Hillary Clinton’s eleven-hour testimony about Benghazi in its entirety.”
This is satire, but, too true. Certain segments of the USA populace want to be uninformed, not be bothered by the truth and media aids and abets their ignorance. Andy continues:
“When her testimony concludes, Carlson said, the network will show it again, on a continuous loop. The Fox News host explained that the network had made the decision to skip January 6th coverage because “our responsibility to our viewers, first and foremost, is to keep them up to date on what’s going on with Benghazi.” Carlson indicated that there was one scenario in which the network would cut away to the January 6th hearings. “If, in the course of those hearings, new details emerge about Hillary Clinton’s role in Benghazi, Fox News will be there,” he said.”
Now that is likely, that Hilary had a role in Benghazi!!
I continue to ‘settle in’ to my apartment. I am totally mesmerized by the changing view. I said to my collection of stuffed animals the other day.
Me: I have never lived in the sky before! Look at that moon it is right outside my window.
They: Then we have never lived in the sky before either because we have always been with you.
Telus is installed by a handsome young man who was a Sikh, we spoke briefly of his faith. Told him that I learned about his faith because of doing research on my blog. Met with MAN the other day to finalize details regarding my tendency. I complained about the heat in the apartment.
He: The lowest I can turn the heat down to is 21 – this office is 25, for example. 21 is cold.
Me: I do not care! I like cold.
He: Fine! I will speak to the Operations Manager but we will not turn it up if you find it is too cold.
Me: That is fine! Promise I will not ask because I like cold living conditions. It is because I am so hot. Hahaha
We then met with the Operations Manager, who is also a great guy. He came to the apartment and turned down the heat, we had a great chat. I gave him one of my books on the Tate.
Before his arrival had this discussion with MAN and the Operations Manager.
Me: As a Muslim woman I cannot have men in my apartment. But I have a solution. I will make you Honorary Women.
They: Thank you Alexis.
So now the Operations Manager has a nickname. It is HOW. Honorary Operations Woman.
I need to be writing all of this nicknames down, as there is getting to be so many of them. Today is a big day. First to Starbucks for coffee and egg bites, then a mani and pedi (desperately needed). Next an appointment with a Financial Manager at the RBC. As you can see, I am busy getting settled in this fair land, taking care of business. There is a fantastic song Taking Care of Business by Bachman Turner Overdrive. Go to YouTube and listen to it and you will be cheered and encouraged. I am such a bargain – give you jokes by Andy Borowitz aimed to cheer, turn you on to music to get you going! But you get what you pay for – and this is free. Hahaha
Honestly, this just happening. I am typing, listening to Taking Care of Business, look out my window and a balloon is flying by. So I took a photo and send it to Chris to be posted on the blog with this message to him.
Me: Amazing, looked out the window and this balloon flew by.
The other photo is one taken of the cloud formation last evening. I do love this view as it is ever changing. More views from out the other window soon – there is activity and people and historic buildings. It is altogether fascinating.
