Questions

When I was younger, I didn't know you aren't suppose to give or answer the Salaam when you're in the bathroom/toilet. So I greeted this new Ustazah in the school bathroom. First she scowled. I thought she didn't hear me so I repeated myself. Then she said "Ish, apa ni bagi salaam dalam bilik air?" I was stunned. And embarassed.

Then, there was this one time when I was younger that I didn't know the names of the Islamic month where we have our fast and Eid. The Ustadz literally laughed in my face.

These two incidents discouraged me from learning anymore (back then) about my religion. The people who were supposed to teach me put me off and I shut myself off to it. I was always too afraid of being embarassed for not knowing that I never asked questions.

I believe that there are no "silly questions".
You can't be arrogant and think everyone knows what you know.
Not everyone knows what you or society say you are "supposed" to know.
Not everyone were/are exposed to the same things that you were exposed to.

Questions, no matter how silly you deem them to be, should be asked.
First to yourself, then you can search for the answer.
If that doesn't work, you should turn to the one who knows.

And to the one who knows, how you convey what you know shouldn't be in a way that makes the person who wants to know feel inferior.
Or feel bad for not knowing and asking in the first place.

We apply this at home, with our Son, Niece and Nephew.
Hopefully when they grow up, they can do the same.
After all, isn't that what Islam teaches us to be as a da'ie?
You spread the knowledge, in the best of ways, methods - never forcefully or arrogantly.

Love; The Selfless Kind.

This is love as I've derived from Charlie's letters:

"I love my mom so much. I don't care if that's corny to say. I think that on my next birthday, I'm going to buy her a present. I think that should be the tradition. The kid gets gifts from everybody, and he buys one present for his mom since she was there too."

"I never once thought that it would mean Sam might start liking me. All I cared about was the fact that Sam got really hurt. And I guess I realized at that moment that I really did love her. Because there was nothing to gain, and that didn't matter."

-STEPHEN CHBOSKY, The Perks of Being a Wallflower

The October Country

The man pictured above introduced me to "The October Country".
And consequently, Ray Bradbury.
I've since grown to love Ray Bradbury; his stories. His prose.
And I love that man for it.

And coincidently, I finished reading "The October Country" today (on August 22nd), which is Bradbury's birthday.

"I was only twelve. But I know how much I loved her. It was that love that comes before all significance of body and morals."

- RAY BRADBURY, The Lake (from "The October Country")

Picture of Matthew Gray Gubler courtesy of Terry Richardson

Precious, Priceless Moments #028-#30

#28
I bought this awesome lunchbox for Son (from Gymboree).
Packing for on-the-go meals stylishly.
He will request his "Air. Banana. And nyum-nyum".
And he'll carry around his "Turtle" happily.

#29
Son was watching "The Cat in the Hat Knows A lot About That".
The characters where drumming on makeshift drums out of pails.
Bonda: "Look, Faris. Drums".
Son: (shakes his head and proudly says) "Pail!".
*Super proud that he knows it's actually a pail. Bonda got schooled. :D

#30
Son was in the bathroom. After his shower.
Wanted to catch his tv show.
Son: (frantically) "Bonda. Cepat! Cepat!"

Love Story in a Dance

This routine tells of our love story.
The friendship that turned into this remarkable relationship.
It starts with that moment of clarity...

I love my husband.
:)

26th year

Alhamdulillah.

On August 9th, I turned 26.
Husband cooked up an iftar feast for the family.
Potato salad.
Boscaiola cream sauce pasta.

My 4 yr old niece made me a birthday cake.
She put in the colours, the icing, and the decorations.
(We didn't have a candle so we recycled Son's 2nd bday candle)

And my Bayu family (esp. my awesome Mother) got me a present.
A beautiful, hand-painted chest from Artistica.

Alhamdulillah. So blessed.
Ramadhan Mubarak.