August 14, 2026. I suddenly thought of that word – update. Not a word in my everyday vocabulary but one perfect for this occasion. I went to dictionary, to find the ‘formal’ meaning. Not surprisingly it means to give (someone) the latest information about something. There are scores of synonyms, all very complicated. Update it is!!! Hahaha
Yesterday, August 13, 2026 I did go to the ancient Georgetown Mosque Kapitan Keling. My visit was entirely different from what I anticipated. I thought it would be a tour, instead a rather mesmerizing conversation with Dato Kamaruddin and program leader Sarah learning of their program of outreach. I learned of the benefits and some of the quirks.
(I have no idea how I come up with these words.Quirk means a peculiar behavioral habit or a strange chance occurrence. My favorite synonym is fluke.)
I wrote the dear friend who arranged the meeting, thanking her and telling her of the outcome.
Me: I had a fantastic visit with Dato Kamaruddin and Sarah. I committed myself to help with their outreach program when I return from my visit to Kuching and KL. In Shaa Allah. Alhamdulillah
I received the most inspiring response from her.
She: Alhamdulillah. So glad to had a great visit. May Allah reward you abundantly for your noble intentions. Aa meen.❤️
I was so touched by this response, writing her.
Me: Such a lovely dua. I thoroughly intend to keep my intentions but even just having them is so gratifying.
She: ❤️
The Dato and his assistance gave me a Quran. Their publications are given free of charge to visitors. I have already spend some time reading it. I did send a message to Sarah.
Me: I have been reading the Quran you have me and am most impressed with it The language, the approach, the summary of the chapters, the introduction etc etc. It is becoming my favorite Quran. I have six Qurans – two on my iPad which was my first as I reverted to the faith during covid and all bookstores and mosques were closed. Three were given to me by varying sources. I purchased a tiny paperback one from an Edmonton, Alberta, Canada second hand bookstore for four dollars Canadian.
This is, rather seamlessly actually, going to bring us to how an Instagram post brought me to a vivid reminder of how – and hence, why I became of the Islamic Faith.
The Instagram reel was captured on the streets of London on August 9, I was to learn later from Artificial Intelligence.
AI: You absolutely did see a reel event. It happened on Sunday, August 9, 2026 in London’s Knightsbridge. The person in question is Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Ruler of Dubai. A Sudanese man confronts Sheikh Mohammed in London shouting: “UAE is killing people in my country. Stop killing my people.”
It is necessary to go back in time to London and to the Ruler of Dubai. He was not walking along the streets on March 5, 2020 – – not the streets of London but London was the situs of a High Court Ruling. Sir Andrew McFarlane President of the High Court of England and Wales, made a fact-finding judgment in custody proceedings. The court found on a balance of probabilities that Sheikh Mohammed had: 1. Orchestrated the abduction of one of his daughters in Cambridge. and 200 and forcibly returned her to Dubai. 2. orchestrated the capture and forcible return of his daughter Lattice from a boat off India in 2018 3) then forcibly maintained both women in circumstances in which they were deprived of their liberty; and 4) caused a campaign of intimidation and harassment against his sixth wife Princess Haya which caused her to fear for her life.
At this moment you are probably saying:
You: Well, okay Alexis but how in the world did that lead to you becoming a Muslim??
Me: Fair enough question. Indeed. I shall answer.
At that time, in early 2020 I was living in San Francisco, in a Hayes Valley studio apartment . I hired a Pakistani taxi driver whenever I needed transportation I would call him. I had professional appointments in Marin County – doctors, lawyers, dentists and the like – and needed to cross over the bridge – the Golden Gate Bridge. When I learned of this rather (to me) monumental decision. I asked my Muslim taxi driver.
Me: Is that how Muslims treat women??
He: No -the opposite.
Those were troubled times, and were about to get more troubled. Covid was with us and lock downs began – the pandemic was upon us. Everything shut down – bars, restaurants, museums, churches, mosques, stores. So there I was in my studio apartment, fortunately armed with wife, and an iPad, a computer and some rather sophisticated research skills developed during my career as a Marin County lawyer. And, of course, I had time on my hands. Hahaha
I had never heard of this before. I took many classes in religion- having earned a Masters in Humanities from Dominican University – a Catholic University in San Rafael, California. Earned this degree after my retirement from the legal profession. However, the Islamic Faith was not included in the curriculum. Therefore, I was to learn for the first time that following the revelations of Muhammed (PBUH) Muslims were instructed to treat women as equals. They were granted a range of rights- including rights concerning marriage, divorce, inheritance, property, and hence financial independence. These protections were remarkably advanced for the time. The more I learned of the faith, the more it appealed to my heart AND my mind. . Enrapture ‘graduated’ from learning of the treatment of women to learning of basic tenants of of the Fatih including clear evidence of Allah’s creation.
But there I was reading with no Muslim friends to guide me, no instructions. I had to learn the basic practices of Islam from children’s books. Looking back, I can’t help but laugh. I learned from what ever sources I could find. I am sure Muslims born into the faith would find some of my early attempts very amusing. But I was completely sincere- I wanted to understand and I had to start somewhere.
Later I came to appreciate that my weird introduction had given me a glimpse of the faith stripped, as far as possible of cultural expectations I was discovering the Quran and the foundational teaching first rather then being taught Islam through the customs of a articulate Muslim community. It was in many many ways a real privilege and opportunity.
Somehow that solitary exploration did eventually led me to becoming a Muslim, much to the amazement of everyone – including me. Somehow is the best word to use. It means in some way; by some means or for a reason that is not specified. Used in a sentence: Somehow how I managed to get the job done. There are some unusual synonyms: by any means (whatsoever), by hook or by crook, lastly, come hell or high water. Somehow that solitary exploration leading me to become a Muslims does sound better than – by hook or by crook I became a Muslim. So much better than come hell or high water I became a Muslim. Hahaha
I continued on my own rigorous path, alone in my faith. As faithful readers know I was forced to leave the US and Canada and living in many places before I came to reside in Malaysia. Looking back I is downright amazing that what began with a conversation with a taxi driver about a court ruling, an iPod downloaded Quran and a desire to find out how Muslims treated women that could lead me SO far from where I started.
Discerning readers will be in quandary. Why would that ruling have an impact upon her? At t that time, she had never been to the Middle East, barely knew where it was. The Ruler of Dubai reigned over a country seemingly unknown to her. There is a back story. Perhaps it is almost time to talk of this.There is a Christian saying: “God moves n mysterious ways. “This is magnified in the Islamic Faith the Quran extrapolates and elaborates- Allah is the best of planners. You shall see, In a way I was set up. I am not complaining however – not given my blessed life at this time.
August 18. 2026
I write from Seat 2A of a Malaysian flight which is traveling from KL to Kuching, Sarawak to finalize my ten-year visa. It was difficult to leave Penang Lyf – for one of the first time in my long life I think I am going to be home sick which is a experiencing a longing for one’s home during a period of absence from it. Last night when I left Mojo for my room, Granddaughter Sara said:
She: I am going to miss you. This is your home.
Me: It is!
On the other hand, another Penang Luminary had a different ‘take’
He: Have a safe journey ys. See you soon. Enjoy your holiday.
Me: Holiday??? Banks, immigration and then an old folk’s home for a week. Home at Lyf is the holiday. Hahaha
He: Hahahaha Maybe Lyf team are in a holiday mode. 🫢🫢😂😂😂 Joking!!
Me: Exactly!! The team as been working so hard – they deserve a rest. Hahaha And you do too!!! Although the team may not agree. Hahaha
He: Oops
Me: Hahaha 😂I gotcha
Then I sent him a great GIF – saying ME
I took a photo from Seat 2A out the plane window, of an incredible cloud formation I know that these huge cumulus clouds weigh tons – seemingly looking weightless. Now, if cumulus clouds had been part of my life, I would take them for granted. They are rare to be as I lived in Canada and/or California for most of my life. It suddenly occurred to me that I had written about cumulus clouds in the past. My memory served me well – typed cumulus clouds into the search engine of my blog and found I had almost a year ago on September 13, 2025. I read it – could not do better today, so I won’t try. Hahaha. It can hopefully be linked. Clouds of the Cumulus Kind; Original Conversation with Shamir; Nesh Speaks of Clouds in Breakdown; Questions Posed to Artificial Intelligence: Answers, Prayers and Too Much Information Provided; Returning to my Lyf Room Brought Absolute Astonishment; Photograph Capturing the Production of Clouds; A Shamir GIF; Light hearted Breakfast in Bed Invite; Two Ships That Pass in the Night Definition
I took a tremendous photo from my Lyf room that day. I will try and find it and include it as well as the one I took from the plane today. Very different mood. Also the Gif I sent of me being a superstar. Then also a summary of why clouds are so inspiring, written by Artificial Intelligence some time in the past.
