One of my Intentions during Ramadan was to retreat from the world of politics and woe instead concentrate on the Islamic faith. But, Gentle Readers. probably some respite is needed . Respite, the noun, is a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant. Other words capture its meaning: rest, break, breathing space, interval, intermission, interlude, recess, lull, pause, time out, hiatus, halt, stop, stoppage, cessation, discontinuation, standstill; relief, relaxation, repose; breather, letup. So you shall have a hiatus, a letup, a breather, a lull from serious matters, comedy shall be brought your way.
Andy brings back Sara Palin. “ANCHORAGE (The Borowitz Report)—Kicking off her campaign for the United States Congress, Sarah Palin lashed out at the word game Wordle for “using such long words.” Wordle uses words that are way too long for everyday Americans like me to guess,” she told her audience at a campaign stop in Anchorage. “When I tried to play Wordle, I did the same thing I did as governor—I quit halfway through.”
Do you not love the juxtaposition? She quits Wordle and her governorship halfway through. But in his usual fashion Andy saves the best until last. “Palin also blasted the publisher of Wordle, her longtime nemesis the New York Times. “Once again, the New York Times is using long words to make me feel bad about myself,” she said. The former governor said that she is unconcerned that fifty other candidates are running for Alaska’s open congressional seat. “Honestly, I can’t count that high,” she said.”
Palin saying that she cannot count to fifty is SO funny, but possibly true. The interval, the interlude is now over, it is back to the serious stuff.
This morning on Instagram a reminder to the world emerged. Ramadan is not just about fasting, said a man with authority in his voice, It is a month of peace, a month of tranquility, a month of goodness, a month of the Quran, a month of forgiveness. This earned a response from me.
Me: Thank you for this! Too often many Muslims focus on the rules of fasting during Ramadan and loose sight of the bigger picture. All praise to Allah.
But back to yesterday. The day seemed a gift from Allah as everything, absolutely everything, worked out. Some slight hiccups were overcome.
It was off to the Yas Mall with a laundry list of things to do.
Abaya Repair – done.
Money from bank – done
Apple Store for repair of iPad – done.
PCR test – done and results are negative.
Buying silly stuff at inexpensive Japanese store – done.
- Western Union for payment to Computer Guru – done (more about that later)
Then it was off for a Mani and Pedi at my favorite place, De Joie on Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi.
But there were special blessings. The order in my life was rewarded as I found the two previous Western Union transfers that had all of the pertinent data regarding Computer Guru’s bank account that he had previously and efficiently provided. Everything going great until I produced my passport.
She: I cannot make this money transfer as the time has expired from your last entry into the country.
Me: I am not angry at you but I cannot believe the controls and repressions that this country places on everyone – one cannot even move without an Emeritus ID and they take forever to achieve or are denied. The transfer of necessary money for people in other countries are denied.
But here is the good news. I not only had a ninety day extension to my tourist visa but it was with me – on my phone. So Western Union took a picture of it and the transfer came through. But here was the icing on the cake and the decoration.
Me: Thanks for your help! I pay my London Computer Guru for my blog. It is just my name. It is easy to find.
The man next to her spoke up.
He: I will show you. I follow you Alexis.
Me: OMG. I cannot believe it! You made my day! Thank you. I love you!
Well I am smart enough to know that people do follow me, but nonetheless find it amazing and gratifying.
Then this happened at the De Joie. An extremely efficient woman waltzed in, recognized me and greeted me enthusiastically. She took my payment, was very courteous. I made a follow up appointment.
She: We are so glad you are coming back. Everybody loves you Alexis.
Me: Wow!! Thank you so much. You are going to make me cry – tears of joy not sorrow.
So it does pay off when you are upbeat, positive and happy even in the midst of adversity. Allah says if I have given you a gift, use it. Allah gave me a sense of humor and the ability to make others laugh, good manners and the ability to treat others as equals. So I do it. It is a total win/win situation. Spoke of it extensively on a prior blog. Do read about it, if you have not.
Then I made a funny reel at the nail place, showing off my toes and put it on Instagram. I have many likes and one funny comment.
He: oh my God those fingers are are like a cat finger. I like.
Me: You do not like, you love! And those are my toes. See you tomorrow.
But onto a more serious topic. People often ask me why I became a Muslim. I became a Muslim because of the way women are treated in the faith – well the way they are supposed to be treated, do let us add that caveat. . But Allah does not have control over the infidels, the misguided, the Satans or the hypocrites. So injustices remain, often perpetuated by those in power and command. But, in the end, Allah shall prevail and the wrongdoers will suffer – some quite horribly. I am slowly developing patience – would like it to be swift and sure but Allah seems to be making their lives hell on earth, before giving them a taste of hell in hell.
Back to the treatment of women. I did a great deal of research using the Internet and the written word. One book achieved through the Internet. The Status of Women in Islam by Dr. Sherif Abdel Azeem. The Introduction discusses a July 3 Toronto Star article titled “ Islam is not Alone in Patriarchal doctrines by Gwynne Dyer. Not just the article but the strong aftermaths. He speaks of the situation in France where young Muslim women were expelled for wearing a veil. “A young Muslim student wearing a headscarf is denied her right of education France, while a Catholic student wearing a cross or a Jewish student wearing a skullcap is not. The scene of French policemen preventing young Muslim woman wearing headscarves is unforgettable,…These Muslim girls received no help from anyone. Their cause received very little sympathy, either inside or outside France. The reason is the widespread and fear of anything Islamic in the world today.” He then poses an important question which shall be explored in future blogs during Ramadan.
What is so terribly tragic is that the same thing is happening to Muslim woman in India thirty-one years later. It is pathetic. In other words, pitiful pitiable, piteous,, poignant, plaintive, stirring; affecting, distressing, disquieting, disturbing, upsetting, miserable, heartbreaking, heart-rending, agonizing, harrowing, mortifying, sad, wretched, poor, tragic, doleful, mournful, woeful.
The antonyms are comical; cheerful.
The photographs are of my precious menagerie, located on a shelf in my hotel room. There are four. The first is a bunny, called Fazza the First (during the better days in my relationship with the man.) Then there is the Panda bear – his nickname MORE. Next the silly chicken (Silly Awesome Chicken. The newest acquisition is a bear, I think given free from the Japanese store at Yas Mall. No nickname as yet.
The menagerie is posed under a dress, mine from my childhood days. An interesting story about how it came to be in the Middle East and a touching, tear jerking comment by Sheikh Rashid. Stay tuned.
