Well, it is, most unusual. For one thing I am tired, rather exhausted – this is not a good thing as today is my cooking class. I get to wear by chef’s hat with my name on it. If I forget my name all I have to do is look in the mirror. Hahaha
This is being written from the Ritz Club Lounge. I have just consumed an avocado toast, made for me specially by the chef. I included a photograph of it for AK with this caption
Me: :Look at this !! I am going to have a hard time adjusting to any humble hotel ever again. Hahaha
He: MashAllah
Then I sent a second photo
Me: Now having Rice Krispies to get adjusted. Hahaha
I will attach the photo of my avocado toast but not the Rice Krispies. Just use your imagination about the Rice Krispies
It has been an unusual morning beginning with Fajr prayer and then a Whats App conversation with a man I met with his family here at the Ritz. We have continued our conversation – he now in Riyadh. He had sent a reel.
He: Hello good evening, Do you think it is staged?
Me: I think it is staged, stupid, and pointless.
He: Thanks
Me” Thanks for what? I need inspiration please. I am laughing at myself
He: Thanks for sharing your view
Me: The question is this: Why share this with me?
He: Because it moved me and I wanted your input.
Me: No lesson to be learned from it except there is no safety net in the US and it is best not to rely on your family.
Me: What feeling is supposed to emote and why?
He: Compassion and Empathy
Me: But it was not real I am most empathetic. In fact too empathetic There is so much in the real world to touch people. I do not need a trigger for my empathy. I should have been reading the Quran.
He: You are very right. Have a nice day.
Me: Thanks you too. Today is my cooking class. Everyone is excited about it. They gave me a chef’s with my name on it. I do not have a home, or even a truck, but I bring happiness to others.:
He: That is nice. Enjoy. And be happy. You duo make people happy .Since our meeting we all are sharing our nice memories of it with every member of the family. You are an inspiration. Believe me your home is the hearts of the people you touch.
Me: My goodness thank you for that. For this reason: The Quran says that our Creator is happy whenever a believer makes others happy,
He: God bless you
Me: If you have a gift you are supposed to use it. Allah (SWT) clearly directed me to get out of Canada and be with Muslims who are deserving. Thank you for your words. You brought peace of mind to me.
He: You are a gift. Just continue to inspire.
Me: Wish you were here to eat the gnocchi
He: Enjoy in good health.
Went to my Inbox to find a message from GAG – a man I have never met. He reads my blogs now and comments upon them.
He: Good morning Alexis How are you?
Me: Fabulous! Read the blog to find out more. Hahaha
He: Haha, thanks! But I did as usual and I love how you talk about Bahrain.I can tell you like it there. Did I tell you there’s a a neighborhood in my town called “Bahrain”. Yeah that place is divided or should I say sandwiched by two streams and we name it Bahrain. I used to play quiet a lot there when I was a little kid because it was closer to my school…..Have a good day…Mohammed Gh
Me: WOW that is incredible!!! A Bahrain 🇧🇭 n Africa I do love Bahrain for many reasons. Will write of them later. I’ll include our conversation on my blog. You will be famous. Hahaha
He: That’s cool 😎.Who doesn’t like to be famous?😂😂😂 but audience have no idea who I am so it’s ok…..Mohammed Gh
At this moment in time I an tendering an official apology to Princess Esther Kamatari, the “Roving Ambassador of the Republic of Burundi”. When she did not show up for our noontime meeting I became angry on the most recent blog, likening her behavior to that of the Crown Prince of Dubai. He is certainly entitled and narcissistic. She is not, I am happy to report. Two evenings ago I was back in the Ritzy Club Lounge, reading their books and listening to music on my AirPods. Looked up and there she was – her leg propped up. She had fallen, was taken to the hospital, tried to WhatsApp me but it did not work from the hospital. She was on her way home – her home is Paris, not a bad place to call home. We bid a fond farewell. Of course, we absolutely HAD to have a photograph to memorialize our meetings. You should be able to tell which one is which. We both have white hair – hers is curly, mine is straight. I am the one with blue eyes. We have two things, but little else in common. . We both have white hair, and both have knee problems. I have never made Paris my home but visited there often.
Now writing this from the lobby of the Bahrain Ritz Carlton. My room is being cleaned by a man from Ghana. My cooking class was ABSOLUTELY amazing – you shall hear more about it in a subsequent blog – with reels being posted on YouTube. This was not my first cooking class, I have had tens if not hundreds. This SO extraordinary.
Me: I took a cooking class at the Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris. You can read about it on your phone. Just go to my blog – look at the book section and download Le Cordon Bleu – An Adventure in Paris.
What is extraordinary? Here are some striking synonyms: astonishing, astounding, marvelous, sensational, stunning, incredible, unbelievable, miraculous, phenomenal, prodigious, spectacular; outstanding, momentous, impressive, preeminent, never to be forgotten, notable, great; out of the ordinary, tremendous, stupendous, awesome, amazeballs, out of this world, unreal.
It is amazeballs, out of the world, that a book written over twenty years ago can be on the phone of folks in Bahrain. It is unbelievable, miraculous, tremendous never to be forgotten.
OH NO just now I am listening to music . Suddenly John Lennon’s Imagine came into my ears. I began to cry – not tears of joy because we are so far from that utopia. So very far. I sit here in my Palestinian scarf. A Bahraini man told me that there are not sold here – which seems so strange as this is such a peaceful place. Blinken is here Blinking. Met with the King yesterday who told him that this is GOT TO STOP. Will it? I doubt it. It is utterly and completely under the control of Allah (SWT) of course it is.
Listen to the song but here are the lyrics.
IMAGINE
Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us, only sky
Imagine all the people
Livin’ for today
Ah
Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion, too
Imagine all the people
Livin’ life in peace
You
You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world
You
You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one
