It is May 13, a very important morning in my life but news of it can wait and I found an article on the new pope in my Inbox from the New Yorker. This will take precedence over my existence, well briefly anyway. Hahaha. A couple of paragraphs successfully summarized the situation. Well for me anyway.
‘When white smoke rose over the Vatican. Paul Elie sends a dispatch from Rome, where Robert Francis Prevost addressed the crowd for the first time as Leo XIV, the only Pope to have been born in America.
The first answer cones about an hour later, via video beamed around the world: the new Pope is Robert Francis provost, and American, Chicago-born, a member of the Augustin order, who spent much of his life as a missionary in Peru and was tapped by Pope Francis in January 2023, to lead the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops, where he supervised the appointment of a number of the men who will carry forward Francis’s legacy of openness. At age sixty-nine he may be Pope for the next quarter century.
An then he comes onto the balcony as Pope Leo XIV Tim, tanned, executive-grade in appearance, “ Peace be with you,” he says to the crowd, in Italian; he threads variations on peace—in the church, among religions—through the remarks (read from a printed page, partly in Spanish with which he introduces himself.
Lets face it, for all that has been said and written and broadcast about Prevost—he was on the media shortlist for much of the past week—Leo XIV is a complete unknown. That is the transformative effect of the papacy in the mass-media era a man’s life and role change radically in a matter of minutes, as he goes from being an Emineza (the honorific for cardinals, used as a greeting) to a global celebrity, absolute monarch, and wise man rolled into one. So it was for Angelo Roncalli, the peasant-born patriarch of Venice who was lionized by the newsweeklies as “Good Pope John” XXIII. So it was for Karol Woyta, who came out from behind the Iron Curtain and into the sports stadiums of the world as Pope John Paul II. And so it was for Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who was thought to be dour, neoconservative, and too old—but as Pope Francis, surprising the world with his ebullience and persuasive power.
Today we have a Pope. We know his given name, his background and achievements, and of course his nationality, which is sure to be the preoccupation of the commentariat in the days to come. But only now—beginning right now—will Catholics and the world find out who he is.”
The New Yorker is an excellent source of information as they are known for their fact checking. Now a little humor also from the New Yorker WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—In a gesture intended to welcome the new pontiff, on Thursday Donald J. Trump offered to sell Pope Leo XIV a $60 Bible. “You want to grab this deal while you can,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. “It’s gonna cost a lot more after EU tariffs.”Calling the Trump Bible “a very special Bible,” he added, “I know you have a lot of Bibles already at the Vatican, but none of them have parts written by Lee Greenwood.” Meanwhile, in his first official act as pope, Leo ordered a photo of JD Vance posted at the Vatican security desk.”
I do admit that I have no idea who Lee Greenwood is but totally love the idea of Vance’s photo being posted at the security desk.
Now onto my life which is being crowned and crowded with so many blessings, it is almost unbelievable. I almost do not know where to start.
A few minutes ago iPhoto sent a reel of Ed-Al-Fir, the Muslim “New Year’ celebration. As you will see it was a joyous celebration. Mohan provided me with envelopes and cash which enabled the presentation of gifts to children. As you can see some grown ups tried to receive the blessings. Most people sent think I do not know the rules. Hahaha The movie captures the joy of that day enjoyed by members of the extended Amandani family. One can see how welcomed and accepted I am. I am extremely grateful for this gift.
Today, May 13, 2025, was a momentous day and memorable day. Shamir and I had an appointment with Sam Choong of Khaw Cheow Poh and Associates. I am making application to make Malaysia my Second Home. It will actually be my first home as my ties to both the United States and Canada have been severed. This rather unusual decision coming from an 82 (almost) woman seems downright bizarre. Bizarre a perfect word: very strange or unusual, especially so as to cause interest or amusement. Synonyms I enjoy are: odd, funny, curious, offbeat, out of the ordinary, extraordinary; fantastic, comical, oddball, wacko, bizarro. It is difficult to pick a favorite but probably wacko, oddball, and bizarro.
The appointment exceeded my expectations. Mr, Choong’s paralegal is so incredibly efficient. I met her accidentally on May 1, 2025. She was working at Dr. Lee’s office that day, it was a public holiday and she was there helping out the clinic, which was open on that day. Think of how many coincidences had to occur to make that happen. Shamir, a ’paper Mluslim’ repeatedly says: “It has to be Allah.” I do not disagree instead repeat: Alhamdulillah.
Speaking of Dr. Lee, he referred me for physiotherapy – I have an appointment on Thursday, a therapist assigned. This the WhatsAp conversation between Shamir and myself. Shamir sent news of my appointment and the name of my therapist
He: Your attending therapist will be Ruh Ying.
Me: Thank you my dear. Do we think that Ruh is a boy or a girl?
He: Not sure. 🤣
Me: How do we find out?? What is the difference??? Hahaha 😂
He immediately sent a photograph. I guess he Googled her name – she is a physiotherapist and a pilates instructor.
Me: I usually prefer a handsome man to be my therapist as it tends to motivate me. I will just go to the appointment, laugh with her and if there happens to be a handsome man I may ask to get switched. I am just kidding of course. (Well maybe I am).
An interesting encounter in the lobby of the attorney’s office. A woman was wearing a t-shirt that announced: Black is my Happy Color. I laughed:
Me: I love your shirt. Both Shamir and I are dressed in black.
I supplied her with a blog card, took hr photo and have permission to include it on the blog. It seems a fitting photo to this blog which began with the Pope and ended in happiness and joy. Also a photo of the strange sunrise of the morning.
