I am in a good place, both literally and figuratively. When I say I am in a good place literally I same in a good place exactly according to its conventionally accepted meaning. The good place is the Bahrain Ritz Carlton – nothing could be finer.
When I say I am in a good place figuratively I am using those words in a way that deviates from its conventionally accepted definition so that I can convey a more complicated meaning.
This blog shall begin with the figuratively, ending with a tour of an absolutely luxurious room in which I reside, albeit temporarily. However, I have decided to extend my stay for at least two more weeks. Alhamduilliah.
Figuratively speaking, saying someone is “in a good place” means that they are doing well. Being in a good place is to be in a place of peace and comfort, a place of harmony without chaos. My being in a good place did not happen over night. It took many tortured days and nights to get here. I have had years and years of psychotherapy in an attempt to overcome my traumatic childhood, abusive parents and a series of unfortunate marital choices. I have always taken good care of myself – there being no one to take care of me. Therefore, I am educated, enjoy excellent health, a healthy retirement defined benefit param am blessed with a killer sense of humor that always comes in handy. As well, the Hebrew Bible admonition was always true: “weeping might endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).
Do not let us become overly optimistic, that morning joy did not last. There were betrayals galore, hardships, sorrows. Nevertheless, miraculously a good place guarantee came into my life on October 20, 2020. I reverted to the Islamic Faith. I am not alone, I have a constant companion, a guide, a protector and confidant (to use only five of His 99 names) it is Allah (SWT). I am, by no means saying, that it is a life of eternal joy and happiness, it is not easy street. One is tested by Allah (SWT). Look at the life of the Prophets. Job is one that immediately comes to mind, but look at the suffering of Joseph. . One is assured, however, if one follows the Islamic Faith there will be a reward that surpasses anything imaginable – one is greeted by Allah (SWT) in Jannah.
There definitely are challenges – mere mortal men let you down, usually in the form of hypocrites. The absolutely worst curse, I have found, are jealous women.Quran 113 Daybreak: “In the Name of God, the most Gracious, the most Merciful. Say “I seek refuge in the Lord of the daybreak from the evil of what he has created, from the evil of darkness as it descends from the evil of those who blow on knots and from the evil of the envier when she/he envies.” Then, just for good measure, One is faced with psychopaths, which I have written about eight times, I just discovered by using the search engine of my blog.
I was absolutely shocked to find this excerpt in the December 24, 2022 blog.
“At this moment I am comfortably seated in First Class class seat on Qatar Airways. It is seat 1-A. Disbelievers will see a copy of the boarding pass. We are leaving Jeddah for Doha.This is unbelievable but true. Across the aisle. Seated in 1-C is a black woman dressed in an abaya similar to one I own. I complimented her when she arrived in the First class Lounge, She did not speak English but I was successful in communicating. She there with her family (I think), a son, a daughter and an older man, possibly a husband. As we left to board the plane the man spoke to me, informing me that the woman in ‘matching’ abaya was a princess. A Nigerian princess.princess from Nigeria. This conversation ensued.
Me; My goodness. This is amusing. My Muslim name is Fatimah. People call me Sheikha Fatimah, but of course I am not really a Queen. The Princess looked very surprised.
She: (communicated somehow) My name is Fatima I was connected to the Internet, found my blog and with my iPhone pointed to it.
Looking at my blog photo finding me attired in an abaya and hijab.
She: You should always dress like that.
Me: I will never dress like that again!I was insulted. She telling me how to dress knowing nothing of the prejudice, the discrimination I have suffered. Actually forced to live the County of Marin which I had called home for fifty years, I will wear the abaya and hijab when I go to Mecca – of course I will. But not when I am in the West and not on the plane home. Not in Riyadh when I return there. Perhaps a head covering in Riyadh and sometimes the abaya over my pajamas.”
I was shocked because I had totally forgotten about that encounter, that meeting with a Nigerian Princess. I vaguely recall, now, speaking to one of her sons. Of course I am shocked because of my recent “Nigerian connection”. It has not turned out well, But it has a happy, unexpected ending. Praiseworthy (Hammad’s) mother gifted me with a beautiful Nigerian abaya, which I wear with pride. It is SO beautiful, so colorful, in marked contrast to the black of Saudi women. Therefore, the December 24, 2002 blog has an absolutely happy ending. Alhamdulillah. These days, I have a collection of abayas and hijabs. My very best friend and Sister Noor will teach me how to tie my hijab when I visit her in Malaysia. It is my next stop. Yesterday decided to extend my stay here, in this good place, this absolutely excellent place. More about why it is so breathtakingly wonderful in a subsequent blog.
I posted this blog on Instagram, entitled Here At The Bahrain Ritz Complaining. The employees were most distressed when they saw this title. I am complaining that my room upgrade is too luxurious, too vast. Wait until you see the ending. Here is the link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6VmQPKsQiC/?igsh=MXd2eHJycm12YWxxMQ==
This is a short blog as I am enjoying my time in this good (better, best) place. There will be photos of me in my modest bathing attire, the flowers presented by the staff, my Bahrain Ritz Carlton mug, along with my Riyadh Ritz Carlton mug. Me in my gorgeous Nigerian abaya.
Here is the link to my complaining Instagram post.
Me: Alhamduilliah
Noor: Allhanduillah times 3
Me: Allhanduillah times 100 .
