Mentors I had none except for magazines
I had to rely on the old me
Throughout childhood, and my teens
Now I have my iPad which does the trick
And show me what’s to be seen
I trust none except for my God
Who is truly unseen
(Sheen-May2018)
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Mentor
Write a new post in response to today’s one-word prompt
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IB (grandson) had come after his usual period, a visit to his father every two weeks, coming in the evening on Friday, and going back Sunday evening. He is going lax, not saying his prayers, with no father at home to enforce rules since Son’s divorce last year. IB doesn’t gets up for his morning prayer. He says he no longer does it at home.
Son’s goes the easy way out — leave the unwelcome task of waking up IB (make him say his prayers) to mother, as left to her she will take care of it. Son himself rushes to the mosque near by.
Here is what happened the first time Grandma (that’s me) goes for the attack. She doesn’t want to be a bad guy enforcing rules, and such things. She would like to be a sweet person in the grand children’s memories (sigh), but what can she do?
I dawdle every step on the way to IB’s bed, and try to wake him. Nothing much happens. I go back to my room to complete my prayer, which I had partly done, as the white thread in the sky is slipping over the black one, and time for the Fajr (morn) prayer will soon be over. I feel guilty over my failure before God, while I say my own prayer.
The second time: Son as usual rushes out, on his way to the mosque calling, “Mama please wake IB so that he should say his Fajr prayer”.
This time Grandma has worked out a strategy. “IB please wake up”.
No movement.
I wait for a while, “Please hurry, the prayer time is getting over”.
No movement still.
Okay, I finally say, “If you’re not going to say your prayer, I’m confiscating your IPad for the whole day”.
IB gets up, goes to the washroom to wash his face, arms, and feet, in preparation for the prayer, gets back on the prayer mat, and the morn prayer is offered to the One God in whom our belief exists.
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DAILY PROMPT
Believe
Write a new post in response to today’s one-word prompt.
It used to be my home in Peshawar. The love which welled in my heart at the sight of it surprised me. Now I have been away from it for two and a half years. I just hope everything is fine.
Three years back when my husband died, I sold what I had in the lower portion. It squeezed my heart to breaking point to let everything go. I dulled the pain by trying to shut my brain about what was happening, since the most prized person had already slipped away.
My most prized possession is my iPad now. It keeps me entertained. Morning begins with the Azan on it for morning prayer. I hear the recitation of Quran when I am having my breakfast. IPad is my sketch and writing pad too. News, entertainment (which currently extends to Property Brothers and Fixer Upper) reading, FaceTime with daughter, writing of my blog—- all done with the help of iPad.
I can’t think of life without it.
DAILY PROMPT
Pride and Joy
What’s your most prized possession?
My Surface 3 interface display which had beckoned me so enticingly when I was looking for a laptop to buy, has vanished with my downloading Windows 10 three weeks ago. It became a drab small thing in a corner.
I use my iPad more often, so last night when I switched on the Surface the drab thingy had disappeared too. I checked everywhere for my programs. I clicked madly to find them. Where were the icons hiding? I finally managed to find my hotmail e mails. As it was a little bit late I let go to find my other missing programs
I miss the display of Windows 8. Please don’t download Windows 10. It causes havoc. I am waiting for my son to help me back to Windows 8.
Updates create problems too like the iOS 9.0.1 for the iPhone and iPad. I opened my iBooks to read a book. The background had changed to grey on the iPhone which was quite hard on my eyes. The fear of it happening to the iBooks surface of my iPad is not letting me to update it. I hope nothing goes wrong if I don’t update.
DAILY PROMPT
Night and Day
Have you ever had an experience that was amazing the first time, but terrible the second time around? Or vice versa? What made it different the second time?
With the help of my iPhone and iPad, I will be okay. These two have been my companions in the past, so if I am quarantined I won’t suffer from the isolation.
Yesterday I had to go without breakfast for a visit to the doctor. Three of my health issues were piling up, and I could no longer ignore them. I have no medical insurance, so I have to pay for a doctor visit and buy medicine with cash. This month has been costly for me, but I am surviving.
I had been asked to come for a blood test (abstaining from food and water) at eight in the morning. For a simple blood test I had to wait till twelve. By that time I was both hungry and thirsty. I was feeling lightheaded and was having tremors in my hands.
My son who accompanied me was sneezing. He must have caught the germs from someone in the waiting room. We returned home at three, and I was sneezing as well.
To stop my runny nose I took Benadryl. All I did yesterday and now is sleep.
DAILY PROMPT
Inside the Bubble
A contagious disease requires you to be put into quarantine for a whole month (don’t worry, you get well by the time you’re free to go!). How would you spend your time in isolation?
https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/inside-the-bubble/
If you could un-invent something, what would it be? Discuss why, potential repercussions, or a possible alternative.
IB in his favorite position being covered by a beanbag to keep himself warm, while watching something on IPad.
If it was up to me I would undo video games. My grandson IB is so much taken with Minecraft. When he is not playing it, he watches programs related to it, so that he can play it better.
Children remain indoors. They hardly go outside to play. Their health, and physique suffer. There are dark circles round their eyes, and they look pale. They are turning into zombies. They are addicted to playing on iPhones, monitors, or handheld devices.
Most of the games are about killing, and blasting people, and things to smithereens. Children concentrate more on these games than on their studies. This way their grades suffer.
What the games teach? Violence, and more violence.
Sweeping Motions
by Ben Huberman
What’s messier right now — your bedroom or you computer’s desktop (or your favorite device’s home screen)? Tell us how and why it got to that state.
Dust gathers through the open window
Settles there, till I clean it away
Receipts, and letters occupy one spot
I have to look, and sort them everyday
The iPad screen gets finger splotches
Cannot help it anyway
(Sheen)
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/sweeping-motions/
http://wp.me/p23sd-uJh
Daily Prompt: Soulful Machines
Machines, appliances, and gadgets sometimes feel like they have their own personalities –from quirky cars to dignified food processors. What’s the most “human” machine you own?
I stood alone, mournful, and dejected
Despair ness surrounded me
Life stretched empty, and forlorn
With the waves of time, it was ebbing away
Would it rejuvenate?
The shadows fled, and light came on
Life came back with a rebound
My beloved iPad
Brought me laughter, and sunshine
News and stories from around
Life has become a merry go round
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/soulful-machines/
http://wp.me/p23sd-noY
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
You’re at the airport, your flight is delayed for six more hours, and none of your electronic devices is working. How do you pass the time?
On flights I do carry my iPad, and iPhone. On both of them I have games to play, and e books to read. They keep me company, and I am not bored.
If they won’t work, I will take out a book to read, from my carry on. I always have one or two books with me.
If I forgot, and there are no books with me, I will strike a conversation with fellow travelers. That will help pass the time on my hands. I can have a look in the shops to buy something I like.
When my husband was alive, and we were traveling together, I used to nap. Now I have to travel alone, I can’t have the luxury of napping. I am afraid that someone will steal my handbag, or my passport. Fear chases away my sleep, and I remain awake. I feel relief when it’s boarding time.
On one flight, an Afghan woman kept asking the passengers, whether anyone had seen her passport. Someone took it from her bag.
I felt pity for her, at her predicament.
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/terminal-time/
Terminal Time
Flowers and Breezes 