Going to bed with Yasmin Mogahed’s

spirited accounts in thought. I feel light.

 

And to an old friend entering a new

chapter of life today, may Allah be

with you. Satu lafaz, Mubeen.

 

Bismillah.

 

 

I haven’t smiled that wide in a long time.

Alhamdulillah. I’m good. I’m okay.

 

 

I would, at some point in my short

existence, want to witness someone 

I love on the happiest day of his life.

 

How it makes me feel is not irrelevant.

But it seems like the right thing to do.

 

After this, insyaAllah, I can disappear. 

I don’t owe him anything anymore.

 

So I clicked ‘yes.’

 

 

What a wonderful way to welcome Raya eve.

This was visible from where we were, at

Lake Club, and all the way back in Melawati.

 

Spending a night in with my parents.

We welcomed takbir Raya with quiet

appreciation. It holds a lot more meaning

for me this year, especially when I think

about how lonely this period was in 2012.

 

I cannot thank You enough for this year.

For showing me the truth behind those

whose characters I couldn’t see before.

For teaching me patience of the heart,

of the mind. For unrelenting belief.

 

For reminding me what is good for my soul.

 

You have continuously blessed me, most of

all, with a loving family. I must have done

something right to deserve all of them.

 

I have not lost faith in You.

 

Salam Raya to all my loved ones. 

Maaf zahir dan batin.

 

 

CheNa giving free haircuts to the

homeless at Soup Kitchen Wednesdays.

 

People are different during Ramadhan.

Granted, some things we do do not last

throughout the year, but knowing this

happens at least 30 days out of 365 is

still a sign of heartwarming goodwill.

 

God bless you, CheNa.

xx

 

The family came over today to merendang.

Mishaps abounded but dude, seriously,

I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. 

 

Volunteered to be Rumah Merendang for

many, many years to come, God willing.

 

Today was wonderful 

xx

 

To top it all off? Terawih outside under 

sky tonight with Kakna and The Niece.

After the first four Ize turned to me

and said, “Maksu. There’s a butterfly

on your head.” Freaked out at all things

creepy crawly/flying I swatted it away

and it flitted to the top of Izelea’s head.

 

Throughout the rest of terawih the little

dude kept flying back and forth between

the two of us. We either smelled really 

good or had some sort of magnetic

moth-attracting scent emanating

from our telekungs, but it was nice

company to have during prayers. 

 

Little signs.

 

We all hugged a beat longer tonight. 

 

Thank You for this month.

 

 

The weekend before Raya is often spent,

as far back as I can remember, merendang.

That means more time with Mum 

 

This year is a far cry from my last Raya

when the family was abroad with Abang. 

 

This year, we are all healthy and safe.

This year, we are all together again.

 

Thank You.