I look back at my long and well-lived life suddenly realizing that there are certain days that are pivotal, something happens on a particular day which will change one’s life forever. This could be an organizing principle for my autobiography – should I ever stop living my life and instead start writing about it. Does not look like that is going to be happening soon.
Occasionally, you think, for the longest time, that a certain day is central, is pivotal to your life story but it turns out not to be. December 8,2023 was one of those days for me. I report that it was not with considerable relief. I will spare readers ( both faithful and not) the gory details. It was not pretty, littered with hypocrisy, psychopathology at it finest and munāfiqic (the Arabic and Islamic word. Al-Munafiqun. Al-Munāfiqūn (Arabic: المنافقون, lit. ‘the Hypocrites’) is the 63rd chapter (surah) of the Qur’an, with 11 verses for a solution for hypocrites. It is entertaining, in a way, to read some of the slang words for hypocrite: backslider, bluffer, cheat, deceiver, faker, four-flusher, fraud, humbug, quack swindler. The only thing to do is shun. I am. So onto bigger and better things. .
Looking back one sees that many events, both planned and unplanned, lead up to any moment of great implication. Implication was the word that came to me and it is the proper word. It means: the conclusion that can be drawn from something although it is not explicitly stated OR a likely consequence of something. Some synonyms that convey the same meaning are: consequence, result, ramification, reverberation.
As I have said, had many pivotal days in my long life. The most recent one was very recent, Wednesday, July 23, 2025.
The day dawned. My iPhone randomly flashes photos of the past. I was preparing to send good morning greetings to Aline, traveling on her Umrah pilgrimage, which was to include me but my health precluded this privileged journey. I knew she was in Medinah as she has blessedly told me of her experiences. The photo the flashed before my eyes was me and two Muslim Sisters. Immediately I remembered it was taken at the Prophet’s Mosque in Medinah. .Immediately, if not sooner, I wrote Alena
Me: The photo of me and two Muslim Sisters at the Prophet’s Mosque in Medinah, It suddenly appeared in my Featured Photos. It is a sign by our r Creator that I should send this to you. Alhamdulillah.
After sending this, looked at the photo’s information more closely – to find it had been taken on July 23, 2023. Exactly two years before.
I received no message from Alina in response to my next message.
Me: I am here with Lina at the Floating Mosque.
I was at the Floating Mosque with Lina by coincidence, a story of misadventure actually, a mischance; a setback, a reversal, a hardship.
July 23 had been planned and scheduled for weeks. Din, my part time driver was to pick me up in Paradise, drive me to a scheduled physiotherapy appointment and then to Urban Design for another Chat 360 orientation.
On Tuesday he messaged:
He: I am sorry to say that tomorrow I will not be able to pick you up at 10;30 at Paradise to take you to Physio because the client call me to have a meeting with them at 10am, Sorry for the inconvenience. I hope you can get taxi to take you there.
I had previously dealt with such cancellations with undeserved grace and understanding. This was probably a mistake on my part, not in keeping with the Islamic Faith, which mandates acting upon one’s intentions. We are both Muslims.
Me: I am not at all happy about this to be totally honest. I will cancel both appointments on my own. I have an important job to do in life.
He: Sorry do you want me to cancel and make an appointment with physiotherapy.
Me: I cancelled both appointments and will make new appointments with them.
He: Thanks a lot
Me: Probably better that I stay in Lyf on Physio days as GRAB is easy from there. I am in touch with Daniel and will figure something out with him.
He: I will inform you next week when I am free.
Me: Let’s hope that I am not busy when you are free. Life is getting a bit hectic but good.
Therefore, no plans on Wednesday morning. I had an inspiration decided to visit the Floating Mosque. I have been there about four times, becoming increasingly inspired on every visit. There are YouTube reels of my visits, the first with Shamir on March 5. Meeting Lina has been an absolute inspiration for me. I grabbed GRAB, a short inexpensive ride from Paradise. Lina was there, we were SO happy to see one another. I spoke of the changes in my life, my commitment to live permanently in Penang. A previous visit found me meeting and speaking with a woman, working as a volunteer tour guide under the auspices of the Islamic Society. She was there on the fateful 23rd. We had a long conversation. Told her of my ambition to follow in her footsteps She was so encouraging! She will make an appointment, have her boss come and interview me for a possible position working a couple of days a week. This would not interfere with my strenuous writing schedule which has lessened to some extent with the hiring of my Content Manager Nesh.
I marveled at how this all came together, how it truly seems I am on the Straight Path. First there were hardships. My health preventing the planned Umrah Pilgrimage led to my meeting Nesh in person in KL and forming an excellent working relationship from the very beginning. Then Din’s last minute cancellation sent me to the Floating Mosque, receiving inspiration from Lina, a long conversation with a fellow revert which may lead to a ‘dream job’. Throughout my life I have volunteered in various organizations, giving back to the community in which I live. This would be perfect – I will be giving back to Penang AND making a commitment to the Islamic Faith – guiding tourists through the beautiful mosque and explaining the fundamentals of the faith. Indeed, Allhanduillah.
The people I have told of this opportunity are so happy for me. Mohan, Shamir and Nesh. As it becomes a reality, which Inshallah it shall, I will tell everyone.
My work with Nesh continues. A post on Instagram, my blog photo with the following message.
From Regina to Penang with a few plot twists (and a reversion) in between. Writer. Wanderer. Woman of Conviction. This is where stories live, funny, fierce, fun-filled . Stick around there are more where that came from.
So fair 522 views, 96.7% from Followers. 31 Interactions and Profile Activity of 7.
Not sure what tomorrow’s blog will bring. An exceedingly busy day is in the office. My Alexis Intelligence Manager will pick me up in his yellow chariot, off to his office for some double dipping. Then at 11:30 an appointment at a lawyer’s office for two divergent [purposes. To have my fingerprints taken for the RCMP clearance necessary for the Malaysian as My Second Home application. The use of baby wipes on the previous attempt made the fingerprints unreadable. No baby wipes for me this time. I plan also to speak to the lawyer himself asking his expert legal advice on four other matters. I have made a list, going to check it twice. Gonna find out who is naughty and who is nice.
Photographs following this blog will include: !. The July 23, 2023 photo of two Muslim sisters and myself taken at the Prophet’s Mosque. My Sunday, July 27th message accompanied the photo of the Floating Mosque with this message: “Not yet sunrise. Fajr prayer in the direction of the Kaaba . Penang Gloating Mosque in the foreground. Oops Oh my goodness Floating Not Gloating Mosque. Then a photo of the sunrise taken later that day with this caption. This is the sunrise at 7:23 with a sign that I am on the Straight Path. Do you see it? Then some added humor. Aa funny GIF sent to me by Mohan, of all people. It is extremely funny and most topical as it is speaks of Artificial Intelligence.
