Complicated

Back in Charlottesville one lady had invited me for meals a couple of time. When I wanted to return the favor, she wouldn’t be available, or she would have one issue or the other. To confess I can be lazy at times too. One morning I decided to do the needful. It was Ramadan. I prepared three items. I knew she would be at home around four, so I gave her a ring.

She gave me a complicated story about something, and told me to come after an hour. I waited for an hour, and after that I loaded the food into my car, and drove to her home. She was busy cooking. She was providing the food that day at the mosque for Iftari. Although I protested against it, she put some for me into two small containers. She could have easily put them into my dishes, but probably felt embarrassed at the small offerings.

Those containers are still with me, because soon after I met with an accident, and wasn’t able to return them. I had told her I would be leaving, but she didn’t come herself. She created a complication for me — how to return her items. At the moment I am trying to think of some suitable gift for her, so that I can post it together with her things.

……

DAILY PROMPT

Complicated

Write a new post in response to today’s one-word prompt.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/complicated/

The Grand Slam

There was a time I followed games, and knew which grand slams took place. Not now, I can only think of my own grand slam, and that is — getting through the day. Now burdened with housework, at the end of day when I drop into my bed my last thought is, “hope I fare better tomorrow”.

Ramadan has been hectic to say the least. Add to it the coming of my daughter, and family. Getting food on the table at Sehri, and Iftari is a big challenge.

Today is the last Roza (fast). Tomorrow is declared Eid.

Last night I went with the family for Taravee (special added prayers during Ramadan) to the mosque. Normally I stay back  to clean, and spruce up the place. After returning I did the work. We would have ended up fasting on empty stomachs if not for my son waking me. .What I had done was to turn off the alarm when it sounded, and gone back to sleep. Thankfully my son woke me to announce there were twenty minutes left till Azan time when the fast closed.

This year I have barely managed, and give myself low marks for everything, including my prayers. Bye to Ramadan till I see it next year.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/grand-slam/

Grand Slam

In your own life, what would be the equivalent of a walk-off home run? (For the baseball-averse, that’s a last-minute, back-against-the-wall play that guarantees a dramatic victory.)

June 22, 2015 by Cee NeunerSHARE YOUR WORLD – 2015 WEEK #25

What did you or did not like about the first apartment you ever rented?

My first apartment was in Rajshahi, where my (late) husband R took me to live after marriage. It was a two bedroom apartment, and R rented it after our marriage date was set. He got it ready for me all by himself. 

I loved it, as it was my first home after marriage. We barely lived for a month and a half in it, before R got posted to Sylhet.

What kind of art is your favorite? Why?

I like all sorts, as long as there are no bizarre scenes, or nudity. I prefer scenic ones with no human figures in them.

How many siblings do you have? What’s your birth order?

We were three brothers, and two sisters. Among five of us, two brothers are no longer alive.

I am the second eldest in the family. I was born eight years after my brother. My mother prayed endlessly for having a second child. My brother wasn’t delighted with my birth, as he wanted a baby brother to play with. With my arrival he wasn’t happy, and wanted me to be given away.

Complete this sentence: I’m dreaming of a white …. (and no you can’t use Christmas as your answer)

I am dreaming of white orchids. They are one of my favorite flowers. When someone gifts me those, I feel over the moon.

  
Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I am thankful as always to God for everything in my life, and I will be a wretched human if I didn’t feel grateful.

We are fasting at the moment. Everyday is a struggle to get things done on time, especially early morning when we get up for Sehri, and evening Iftari.

There is a time limit to those, meaning Sehri has to eaten before the Fajr Azan at 4.47 am. (Sehri means morning food, and Azan means call to prayers). Today I was late. It was 4.15 by the time I rushed downstairs. My son’s porridge has to be made first, so that it has a chance to cool down a bit. Then he has an omelette, toast, and milk with one tea bag. My grandson has fried egg, toast, and milk with chocolate in it.

Then the same goes for Iftari, or our evening food when we break our fast. The terms Sehri, and Iftari are only used for food in the month of Ramadan. Our Iftar timings today are 8.26 pm. The food better be delicious for my two grouchy people at the end of the day. Yesterday it was Samosas, dates, and Beans Chat for Iftari (and then we said our prayers), and dinner was minced meat with peas. I have to think of variation to tempt them to food, because they fill their stomachs with water when they slake off their thirsts.

http://ceenphotography.com/2015/06/22/share-your-world-2015-week-25/

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/toy-story/

Scary

Daily Prompt: Can’t Watch This
When was the last time you watched something so scary, cringe worthy, or unbelievably tacky — in a movie, on TV, or in real life — you had to cover your eyes?

I easily get scared. Where does the source of my fear lie? I can guess it only; probably something must have happened in my childhood. I don’t have any recollection.

A few days back, I was totally immersed in a story on my iPad, oblivious to my surroundings. My daughter-in-law N poked her head inside my room, and said something. She was going out, and had come to tell me that she wouldn’t be home. I was startled, and jumped a mile by her sudden voice.

N was amazed at my reaction, and wanted to know why I got scared in the first place.

Actually I wasn’t expecting her. At hearing her, I jolted back into reality with a suddenness.

Yesterday I was alone in the kitchen. I was making a fresh salad for our evening meal. My son and I are the only two among the family of six people who crave a salad. The boys stuff themselves with cheese and potato Pakoras at Iftari, when we break our fast. They don’t want a salad with the evening meal.

At the kitchen sink, suddenly a hand (N’s hand) snaked forward while I was washing carrots. My reaction: I jumped on my toes, and gave a shiver.

Unexpected things do give me frights. I know there is nothing to fear, but I get alarmed easily.

I don’t watch horror movies, or read books if it’s horror genre. They give me the creeps. My heart hammers painfully, and I get goosebumps. I realize it’s make believe, but I can’t take it.

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/can’t-watch-this/
Scary

Fasting

We started our fasting yesterday that’s July 10th, the first day of Ramadan. I am prone to kidney infections. To keep my kidneys giving up on me I need to drink a lot of water. Our fast begins after the morning Azan, the call to prayer. Yesterday it was 5.15 am. We get up a little earlier. Have our breakfast plus a lot of water. That’s me, of course filling my stomach with water. (As if I can retain all that water rest of the day)

We break our fast in the evening with the Azan for the evening prayers. Eating dates and something from the Iftari spread which consists of Pakoras, Chana Chat, Samosas, Fruit Chat and Dahi Balay. This varies from day to day. Two things are always there plus lots of Shorbet and me needing my water. We say our evening prayers and then return for dinner. At that moment you don’t feel like eating anything because you are all ready stuffed to the brim with what you ate earlier. The boys and my son depart for their Taraweeh. Taraweeh are special prayers added to the Isha (night prayers) prayers in the month of Ramadan.

For those who don’t know, we have five prayers daily. Morning prayer called Fajr prayer, before the sun rises is the first one. The second prayer is called Zuhr. It’s about 1.30 pm at noon. The third prayer is Asar which is about 5.00 pm. The fourth prayer is the evening prayer called Maghreb and it is after sun down at about say 8.30 pm. The last prayer is the Isha. You can call it the night prayer.

My son after returning from office, the first thing he did was to check up on me, to see how I was faring in my fasting. I assured him that I was feeling as right as rain. Masha Allah. (Thanks to God) So he went off to get his much needed rest. Lately he hasn’t been okay and I am worried about his health.

Last year I didn’t fast because of my operation. In lieu of that I gave money to the poor. If my kidneys started paining I will have to stop fasting. I am hoping it won’t happen. Wish me luck.😐

In the mosques free food is available. So here is a cartoon based on that.

Cartoon courtesy of Web.