I am practically breathless because I lead, at this moment, an absolutely blessed life. I have written about this in the past, I do know because I am thinking of a song that describes this moment in time. I know I have quoted the song in a prior blog Went to the search engine of the blog and indeed I was correct. It was October 13, 2024. Everything is Coming Up Roses; A Celecom Phone Plan is Mine Coming with a Surprising Benefit; Disarray and Riffraff Defined; Alls Well That Ends Well; A Initial Crowded Breakfast Buffet Followed by the Relief of Malaysian Families; My Instagram Response Brings 172 Likes; Photo of New Malaysian Friend; My Statement of the Day; and Misleading Advertisement.
I shall copy and paste. As the link is not working. I am presently in the Singapore Apple Store but I am not somehow at a HELP table. Oh well. I am clearly not here to tour the sights of Singapore but to go to the Apple Store and make believe I am back in the USA during the good old days – it is not difficult as I did explain to Bloggingbrooke. More about that later.
Everything is Coming Up Roses from the October 13, 2024 blog
“I am suddenly reminded of words of a song, a happy jubilant song full of hope and optimism Hope and optimism being two of my very favorite emotions and two favorite words. I was thinking of events of the day, how everything is just coming together perfectly. This is the amazing part – I did not even know that things were not together before. How terribly frayed they had become. Too much attention was being paid to the wrong people – people who did not, in any sense of the word, deserve me. My kindness, my humor, my joy but also my intellectualism. They could not be bothered – they wanted only to be entertained. Too bad, so sad for them as they shall learn – perhaps not immediately but soon.
First lets go to the words of the song. Wikipedia informs:
“Everything’s Coming Up Roses” is a song with music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, written initially for the 1959 Broadway musical Gypsy. Introduced in the show’s inaugural production by Ethel Merman, “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” became one of Merman’s signature songs.
Wikipedia goes on to tell you way more then you ever wanted to know – even more than I would ever want to know. Here are the lyrics to the song. Go to YouTube and hear it sung with great gusto, particularly by Bette Midler, my favorite rendition.
I had a dream
A dream about you, baby!
It’s gonna come true, baby!
They think that we’re through
But, baby—
You’ll be swell, you’ll be great
Gonna have the whole world on a plate!
Starting here, starting now
Honey, everything’s coming up roses!
Clear the decks, clear the tracks
You got nothing to do but relax!
Blow a kiss, take a bow—
Honey, everything’s coming up roses!
Now’s your inning
Stand the world on its ear!
Set it spinning
That’ll be just the beginning!
Curtain up, light the lights
You got nothing to hit but the heights!
You’ll be swell
You’ll be great
I can tell—
Just you wait!
That lucky star I talk about is due!
Honey, everything’s coming up roses
For me and for you.
Read over the blog in its entirety to find that none of my joyous expectations worked out. The phone plan not much better than the last, the kid never showed up to play in the pool, never saw the kindergarten teacher again. I have no idea who it was that I cut out of my life, clearly that person is long gone.
But the wisdoms remain, as well as a comment I once made on Instagram. First the wisdom. Alls well that ends well was the Shakespearean quote used in the blog
If something has a good result or finally succeeds, previous problems are not important. The message of the play is as follows: Remedy and Resolution. The title of All’s Well that Ends Well marks the play’s interest in positive resolutions and happy endings. Indeed, one of the defining features of comedy as a genre is this kind of happy ending that supposedly makes the problems of the play go away, such that all really is well that ends well. My goodness that is a great motto for everyone’s life. The importance is a happy ending. That is possible with a never ending attitude of hope and optimism which only can be gained by Believers (in the Islamic Faith). Then all the hardships one suffers are forgotten leaving only the joy of benefits. The hardships make you appreciate the benefits.”
Then later this paragraph:
“For believers life can be so good, because it is the Way of Ease. “We will facilitate for you the Way of Ease. (Quran 87:8) . The footnote tells us: “The Islamic way of life which brings about ease in this life and salvation in the next” All’s well that ends well.”
Some four months later I do have the life of ease. Indeed I do! WhatsApp constantly with Shamir – indulging in the most funny and inane constant conversations. Here is an example. He was in a class, sending a shot of the back of the other attendees. I responded.
Me: Oh no!! Another cursed course. He: Ya course on how to deal with a famous 81 year old lady. Me: You will need a PhD to deal with me. Hahahah He: Hahah probably still won’t be sufficient. Me: I am quoting you on the blog. I am not seeing Singapore. I am taking Apple classes. Not classes on how to deal with a 37 year old paper Muslim. He: Hahaha can’t be taught. Me: I am a natural. I do not need classes. You know EVERYONE in Singapore remembers me. He: Even if we try we cannot forget. Me: You flatter me. I hope anyway. Perhaps I am like a bad smell Maybe that is why your Dad is supplying me with perfume to bring home. He: Hahaha
More on the phenomena of paper Muslims in a later blog. It was a shock! Explained everything.
Then another conversation. Me: This hotel for 4 days cost as much as my rent for a month at the reduced rate, thanks to your Dad. He: Yes, better bring back as many things as u can. Me: Like what??? How can I pack a mattress??? He: Maybe the curtain. Can ask Jitu to make something fashionable Me: Great idea. But they are sheer ?!?!. World not ready for that. He: Hahah Maybe not.
Here is something else that remains since October 13, 2024.
A comment I made on Instagram has achieved, at this moment in time 174 Likes. What I said was not that earth shaking I did not think
Me: Humor is so important in these times. Laughing at Israel’s absurdities is a weapon, very rarely used and must be deployed. My popular response was to a Sundeep Bhardwaj comedy routine which hilariously spoke of his fears and reluctance in putting a Palestinian flag outside his home. Here is the link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DA7EdLZNIGP/?igsh=MTVtemhkaGt5eHhvbw== Yesterday received notification that those words have now received 1678 Likes. Mashallah.
So much happened on my flight to Singapore yesterday, not everything was mentioned. For some reason, near the end of the flight I decided to watch a movie. Something I never do. I began to watch Walt Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Just the very beginning. We arrived too quickly. I totally identified with the heroine., Belle. She is odd, say all the villagers in their provincial town. She reads constantly, goes her own way, spurns a chauvinistic male, Gaston I think is his name I must watch to the end, as love wins out in the end I am sure. She tames the beast, offering love. I think. He turns back into a prince. With me it was the other way around – met a prince and her turned into a beast. Hahaha I think I have Netflix. Goodness knows, most likely I do not remember the password. Or else I can watch it on the return flight.
The words of the reel called Sunrise at My New Home are as follows: I will break the chains that bind me Leave the past behind me, Today my life beings A whole new world is waiting. Its mine for the taking I know I can make it. Today my life begins.
Now that is optimism!!!! It is coupled with determination and belief in Allah (SWT)
Wrote to Bloggingbrooke today. She: Singapore?? Me: Yes a visa run. You have to go to another 90 days. Come back and get 90 more days. Singapore only about an hour away by flight. She: That’s amazing. So simple. Me: Yes I am a Hilton Honors member. So Executive Lounge with breakfast, tea in the afternoon and evening appetizers complimentary. AND great people from all over the world. The Apple Store is directly across Orchard Road so I am taking three Apple courses today mostly photography and video. Not seeing Singapore just enjoying Western civilization at its finest. Singapore is like the West on steroids. And how it was in the good old days, rich, progressive, well educated, a humanitarian government, a well planned affluent city, no homeless, gun control and NO Trump.
It is now the end of a long day. I am Appled out – took three classes. I love the energy of an Apple Store – people of all ages alive and learning new things, enthusiastic helpful staff, devices that are constantly being improved, made more user friendly. I spoke of one classmate to the instructor. Me: Peter is so keen, it is refreshing and energizing to see. She: You are too, look at you go!
Singapore tourism is going to have to wait. The sights will still be there. I need greater proficiency on all of my devices. Singapore is only an hour away. I will return with one of my friends and we can tour together. Pam has been coming to Singapore since the 1980s and loves it. There is so much to see in this part of the world. Yesterday I met a woman and her two daughters from Viet Nam. I have always wanted to go to Viet Nam. All of my travels will take place after Ramadan. I return home to my peaceful abode by the sea. A perfect place for Ramadan. Alhamdulillah.
