April 25, 2025
I have become neglectful of this my precious blog. I guess I have been to busy living life to the fullest. The next four days are not at all crowded with life fulfilling events. I intent to spend my time writing turning backwards, speaking of prior events. The writing that follows was written a couple of days ago, the finishing touches were not added. Here goes.
My life is changing in oh-so-many ways. Realize that is approximately, or almost the words to a song, a Beatles song as a matter of fact. The memorized lyrics come back to me enabling the realization that the song is Help!! . Of course, Googled it, although admit I need to get into the AI habit. Shamir promises to instruct me. This from Wikipedia.
Help!” is a song by the English rock band the Beatles that served as the title song for the 1965 film and the band’s accompanying soundtrack album. It was released as a single in July 1965, and was number one for three weeks in the United States and the United Kingdom. Credited to Lennon–McCartney, “Help!” was written by John Lennon with some assistance from Paul McCartney.
It was actually difficult finding the lyrics to the song, however success was finally achieved.
(When) When I was younger (When I was young) so much younger than today
(I never need) I never needed anybody’s help in any way
(Now) But now these days are gone (These days are gone) and I’m not so self assured
(And now I find) Now I find I’ve changed my mind, I’ve opened up the doors
Help me if you can, I’m feeling down
And I do appreciate you being ’round
Help me get my feet back on the ground
Won’t you please, please help me?
(Now) And now my life has changed (My life has changed) in oh so many ways
(My independence) My independence seems to vanish in the haze
(But) But ev’ry now (Every now and then) and then I feel so insecure
(I know that I) I know that I just need you like I’ve never done before
Help me if you can, I’m feeling down
And I do appreciate you being ’round
Help me get my feet back on the ground
Won’t you please, please help me?
When I was younger, so much younger than today
I never needed anybody’s help in any way
(Now) But now these days are gone (These days are gone) and I’m not so self assured
(And now I find) Now I find I’ve changed my mind, I’ve opened up the doors
Help me if you can, I’m feeling down
And I do appreciate you being ’round
Help me get my feet back on the ground
Won’t you please, please help me?
Help me, help me
Ooh
.
Subsequently I read that the lyrics of this song represent John Lennon’s stress because of the quick rise to fame. In 1980 he told Playboy, “I was fat and depressed and I was crying out for help”. Hmmmmm.
Routinely, often and typically I place Allah (SWT) in the midst of everything deciding that John Lennon would find relief and peace of mind if he were directing his plea to help to Allah. (SWT)
I do, in a small way, understand the dilemma faced by John Lennon. Fame is not all that it is cracked up to be in many ways. I cannot imagine what it would be like to desperately need fame in order to survive, to make a living. My fame is to income producing, it is just rather inconvenient at times. This is not the time nor the place to complain about the inconvenience, nor the people that my fame has attracted. Briefly stated, they were parasites. Often monetarily rich parasites, but devoid of soul, heart and often moral values. But they are long gone, my independence has returned, my feet are on the ground. The resumed independence, the grounding was a gift from Allah (SWT) As a new found friend, a Muslim Sister said this morning, via WhatsApp.
Me: Allah loves us all. His love is boundless.
She: If we are faithful to him He gives in abundance.
Me: Yes! Yes! Yes! Thank you for reminding me to keep the Faith.
The following was written four days ago, I think
Recently stories found on this blog begin, and sometimes end, with a text conversation between Fazil Irwan Som and myself. Not sure of why that is, but I am not going to worry about it. Twice a day I seek refuge with Allah from Worry, Grief, Cowardice, Incapacity, Laziness, Being Heavily in Debt, and the Power that People have over me. As I recall Fazil can say this in Arabic. He could be faking it, I would never know – but he is not that kind of person. (I don’t think hahaha)
Me: Shamir and I were successful in our endeavors. Very successful. You would be proud! And our skills could be used at the beach house. It took two of us but we are a team.
I then sent him a short reel prepared and sent by Shamir. It will be attached to the blog. It is VERY clever.
Me: Shamir sent this video which sort of tells the story. It was our first clam bake . A total success.
Him: Wow! That looks delicious.
Me: It was Our first attempt. Best clams I have ever eaten. I went clamming in Marin County frequently in the 1990s. A colleague”s wife did the cooking, therefore, this is my first time cooking the little guys.
He: 👌🏻👌🏻
Me: I am saying good night early as I am not feeling well. Too much excitement for an old lady I guess. Conquering the clams after a beach walk filled with new people.
This is how the clam bake came about. An earlier conversation with Fazil. I sent a photo of my newly purchased air fryer.
Me: Bought an air fryer. Now I can cook.
He: Oh nice. Its a trend here in Malaysia.
Me: I am definitely 100% trendy. And competitive I sort of bought it on a dare from Shamir. He is gonna get the clams and I am gonna cook them. I will send you the clams picture. But I started reading AFTER I bought the air fryer and found that you cannot cook clams in the air fryer as they turn rubbery. I shoulda researched it first like I always do. I can invite him over for hardboiled eggs, you can cook them in the air fryer and I have a great recipe for deviled eggs. Hahaha I can cook clams in a microwave and I have one of those. Found a recipe. Phew. But now I have to find a use for the air fryer. I am getting too domesticated! I hate that!! What went wrong here?!?! Hahaha
At the conclusion of our cooking day Shamir and I exchanged text messages.
Me: I am saying good night early because too much excitement.
He: Good night and thanks for today. Had a good cooking lesson and life lesson. World is my oyster. 🤣
Me: Tonight was epic no other word can describe it. We do learn a great deal from each other and inspire each other in good ways. Somehow bringing out the best in each of us. All the while laughing at ourselves and the world.
He: 👍👌🏻True and luckily we turn on the fridge.
That made me laugh so hard, so I had to send a voice message. He left my apartment but turned back remembering we had unplugged the fridge to plug in the air fryer. It would have been a disaster if he had not remembered. Melted everything.
He: Hehehe It was ALLAH
Me: It had to be. 🤣Allah can do anything. No task too big or too small.
He: ❤️❤️
Me: We should do a cooking series. Cooking with the Creator. 2.0
He: Hahaha Sounds like a plan We can name it. Cooking AS good. AS stands for Alexis Shamir
Me: sending a laughing voice message. Nothing can stop us!!
He: Cooking with AS sounds wrong.
Me: Alexis Simple Shamir
He: Yes. Then it can be cooking with ASS hahaha Wonder who will watch it.
Me: The whole world.
He: Maybe banned in 24 countries.
Me: I will sue to overcome the ban.
He: Imagine they will show it in Marin County. People will say That’s Alexis cooking with her ASS
Me: Of course! They will say Alexis always had a cooking rear end.
He: Am I the ass 🤣🤣
Me: You can be the donkey if you prefer.
He: Hahaha
Me: We gotta save this for our comedy show. Screen shots I guess. Just post them on the door of the Kashmir. Like that Protestant guy did Germany. That was even before my time
He: 🤣🤣
The reel is so clever. I was so busy cooking I did not haul out the iPhone to take photos. It was such a vast relief to get the reel.
The photographs are of the sunsets of the past couple of days. I have become enraptured with them, in all their glory. Share them with my chosen and select WhatsAppers as a good morning greeting. Inspired greeting flow back and forth, particularly amongst my Muslim Sisters and Brothers.
Just had a funny WhatsApp exchange with Fazil
He: Have a productive day.
Me: Thank you, what a kind and thoughtful thing to say. It might just go on the blog and your fame will increase. Interestingly I am speaking of the woes of fame as I write.
He: Tell me about it.
At first I thought he was asking me to tell him about what I was writing. Then I realized that he too suffers from the joys and sorrows of fame. I sent a laughing voice message telling him of some of my experiences – just the funny ones, not the depressing ones. When one speaks of one’s depressing past one relives it. Who wants that?? Allah (SWT) gets me out of a lot of messes, and for that I will be eternally grateful Alhamdulillah.
