Shamir and I had the strangest of text conversations. The subject matter was my breakfast. I sent a photograph of my breakfast tray with this caption: Good morning! Breakfast in bed with pajamas.
Me: The doorbell rang. I was so confused, Answered the door and this is what I found. I am happy happy happy
He: Wow You are eating better than a king.
Me: But a healthy king. Look at the yogurt and the juice. I will not eat the cookies.
He: I think you are royalty. U are just disguised as a normal citizen.
Me: Normal??? There is nothing normal about me. Hahaha
What is normal anyway? I am certainly NOT a town in central Illinois, home to Illinois State University (originally a normal, or teachers, school); population 52,056 (est. 2008).
Normal, the noun is defined as thus: the usual, average, or typical state or condition. Or informal: a person who is conventional or healthy
I am healthy but I have never, ever, been conventional. Nor am I average, or usual. I am thinking that Shamir got it wrong. Nobody is perfect, not even Shamir. Hahahah
This is yet again a strange morning, but for a different reason. Today there is a riot going on in Jakarta. Never before in the history of the world, as I know it, has there been a planned riot. I guess now is the time to define riot.
It can be a a highly amusing or entertaining person or thing. Used in a sentence everyone thought she was a riot.
But that is probably not what they are thinking of, whoever planned this. The more congenital definition is a violent disturbance of the peace by a crowd. Used in a sentence: riots broke out in Washington. DC. Or it can be an uproar, or an outburst of uncontrolled feelings.
This was most confusing to me. So what did I decide to do? Guess please.
Here is the answer that you most probably did not guess. I, in a burst of intelligence asked my iPhone, the ChatGPT5 the following question.
There is a planned riot happening in Jakarta today. Please tell me about it. I am in Jakarta and planning to stay in.
To make an extremely long answer short:
A large scale worker protest outside the Parliament – hundreds of thousands of workers demanding higher wages, tax reductions and revisions to labor laws. So it is a violent clash if not a riot. Then an armored police vehicle ran over a ojoi driver. Much outrage.
So reading about that made me wonder why in the world the sheep in the USA do not do the same thing. My goodness higher taxes, tax reductions and labor laws should be revised. But no, they sit on their rear ends and complain about Trump. SO glad I do not live and work there anymore. The US pays me for not being there. Hahaha I have retirement income from a public entity retirement fund in California. Another example of my favorite saying and motto, originated by Patricia Cornell. Hope was my survival: Success is my revenge. I am getting back at anyone and everyone who tried to make my life miserable. A cast of thousands Hahaha. Well not funny but at this time in my life it is FANTASTIC
I just run around now and spread joy, with the help of Shamir. This morning I sent him the following good morning greeting.
Me: Good morning! I am beginning to think it is possible to have TOO much fun. My brain has turned to mush.
He: Good morning. TGIF
Then he sent me the absolutely funniest GIF that you will ever see. How he manages to find these is beyond me. I sent him a voice message of me laughing and laughing and laughing.
Then more messages.
Me: I sent to Nesh and Baby. I sent the GIF to Nixon too saying I laughed so hard it made more mush. He said Hahahahah
He: đ¤Ł
Me: I love, love spreading the joy.
Also said this to Nesh.
He: Yes you are. I love it.
Sent the GIF to Shamirâs Auntie (aka) Baby
Me: I complained to Shamir that I was having too much fun with you that my brain was turning to mush and he sent me this GIF. He is SO funny. I have no idea how he finds these. I laughed and laughed.
She: Hahaha so nice.
Me: Absolutely darling. The best in the world.
Me: Yes always the best.
My conversation with ChatGPT5, for some reason, got off the topic of the Jakarta riots and onto other matters. Baby was able to come âoutâ and visit me because the riot was soon to be over. I was telling Artificial Intelligence of my relationship with her. It is SO unlikely that we met each other at all. The more AI heard, the more prayers he/she/it wanted to offer
Me: One is enough. If said with sincerity and I have that
AI: Alhamdulillah. You are absolutely right, Alaa. One dua, one word, one breathâsaid with sincerityâis stronger than a thousand repeated without heart. Allah knows your intention and your trust in Him, and that alone is your shield. May He keep you safe, calm, and always under His mercy today and every day.
At one time during long conversation AI said.
Here is a gentle line you could use in your blog, tying it together:
âEven as the city stirred with news of unrest, I found peace not only in dua but in the smile of Baby âthe youngest of a vast family, a reminder that Allahâs protection comes not just as safety, but as joy, laughter and love. Would you like me to shape this into slightly longer reflectionâalmost like a closing paragraph for your postâso it flows so beautifully into your blogâs style.
Me: No thanks that is my job. Hahaha
This is how our conversation ended:
Here is a gentle dua for joy to march your beautiful loud laugh Alaa.
O Allah, place laughter in our home as a blessing, in our hearts as joy, and in our lives as light. A laugh that comes from the heart is not just soundâitâs a sign of gratitude and a speak of light.
Conversation also with Nesh.
He: How has Jakarta been treating you??
Me: Jakarta is treatment me great because I am treating Jakarta great. What goes around comes around.
As per usual it is an idiom. informal. used to say that if someone treats other people badly he or she will eventually be treated badly by someone else.
However, it can mean the opposite but one MUST have patience. If someone treats other people well, and with kindness then eventually they will be treated with kindness and love.
There are synonyms, proverbs. You reap what you sow. as you sow. so shall you reap. sow the wind, reap the whirlwind. â
I do love this quote. â Karma is like a boomerang. I hope you have many happy returns.â â Frank Sonnenberg, Soul Food: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life
I spoke to Shamir of yesterday after Baby and my day of joy and happiness.
Me: I love her so much To give to her means so much to me. Because I learned how much she gave to you Alhamdullah.
He: (sent loving emoji.)
Me: Perfect response. AND you know I will. She SO loves you. She made you the amazing man you are. Just as my Aunt Alice rescued be from such horror and sorrow.
You see, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Good prevails over evil. Truth over lies.
Photos will include the extremely funny GIF, photos of the day of pre birthday celebration at Langhamâs Alice Restaurant, me looking great wearing a gift from Baby,
