Thoughts

USA seems far away and long ago as memories of our last trip begin to fade. It i a hot afternoon in in holy month of Ramadan and on the holiest dat. Tonight i Lailathul Qadr.

I am happy that Ahsen was able to make the trip with his gran mother to see his little neice- the princess of our family. See the free country as much as you coul and enjoy the spirit of America with a hamburgher or two.

I am happy for this budding doctor ho is so secretly acquiring the kills of the scalpel in Bangladesh. He does not complain.He does not ask. He is the dream on of any parent. Fazeena ad are lucky to have him as our heir. We are proud when his friend and relations speak of his gentlemanly qualities and polite manners and kindness to man and beast.

Nashi our little cat misses him . We can feel it. Aadil too misses him. But there i none in this world who Misses Ahsen than his darling mum.

I am proud of all my children as they shine in their own ways.

Keep going dear family, but don't take short cuts. It never pays

Impermanence of life

Impermanence of life (in whatever state- united or otherwise) as we begin out second month inUSA 23 Dec 2007

As we begin our second month in Milwaukee we also approach the end of another year As time flies we all must pause to realize that we have come one year closer to the end…………and that we must learn indeed…. to take stock of our baggage, long before we get our boarding passes and get rid of garbage.

I see sparkling lights and Christmas trees all-round. Festivity in the air . Shops are full of bargain hunters and the Sulaimans too taking advantage if it. Parties too I see in the neighborhood

December began with joys of life, new lives and hopes coming into this world in the form of newborns to our daughters. As the moon was waxing, we had Eid, biriyani, wattalappan and all to spread the happiness while aqiqas made the hores d’ouvre and Ullhiyas the dessert. Speaking of desserts, some of you may know, Al Haj Wazeer made a soup of the Jannah’s Aqiqa after flying home from the dry desert gasholes, to enjoy Eid with his family while we are in the cold. Ahsen from the Bay of Bengal started to show off his poetic talents in a tasty comment to Aashika’s baby blog. It was like steaming coffee to warm the snow which fell more and more bringing realities of life into the spectrum. The winds were cold and in mother Lanka rain took its toll. Shafi too exhibited his latent poetic talents bringing back memories of late Mr. Amarasinghe who was our English teacher. He made us enjoy English, prose, verse literature and worse the grammar.

Reality was that life is impermanent. Gampola Fahim’s brother died and Reyal my class mate who could not enter the university with me preceded me to enter the hereafter. May the earth rest lightly on them and May Allah grant them Jananthul Firdhouse.

Reyal was a great friend. Helpful, simple and always smiling even when he was ill and when I went to see him last he was really happy. He taught me driving in his old Mayflower and VW

We are born into the unknown and for a short time we sing, dance fight eat and delight, we make and break many things and relationships and try to hold on to things that have no meaning, collect garbage all the time and a few valuables to take along with us. But in reality all our luggage should be nett and value added.

Barushan ably assisted right through the week by Aadil has at last succeeded in doing what the stone age man did millions of years ago. Really it does pay to reinvent the wheel- once in a way. He has after shopping around for firewood in all the super markets in the state ------indeed succeeded and believe me and he has lit a fire not buy getting two stones from the stone age but by buying a fire starter pack ------giving rise to flames of hope in the fire place in this Brown Deer home ( I am still to see a deer, except my dear) this morning in anticipation of greater things to come by the time the sun takes the usual slumber and so we are all in heat as I write this and the electric heater is off like the Mahinda Chintanaya which is sure to go up in smoke like the old news papers through the chimney.

Beg your pardon, it is not the heat or the fire or the flames, but it is the warmth of his hospitality, the smiles of the new baby and the love of Aashika and Barushan, that we are enjoying and making us smile through the snowy winter.

Yesterday’s rain and last night’s cold eerie winds contrasted with the warmth of my daughter’s nest which is slowly taking shape and have swept away most of the snow in the garden and I can see some white patches and green through our windows ( No core2duo, vista etc yet) though I don’t know when Sri Lankans will see green again if Ranil continues to be there. These white patches of snow remind me of the dark patches all of us have in our lives, like the cholesterol buildup in our arteries, which must be removed by self surgery ere the final bells toll.

By the way waiting for Ameena’s A/L results is like waiting for Ranil to come back. Zainab I hear is making hay with the pre jettison visit to father country where it is raining kittens and puppies and is keeping poor Anfas in the shade.of ........now ..not Rainco but Kandurata umbrellas . Will it be a boy or gal God knows best and we do not.

I also heard that Feeaza, our cousin philosopher and guide had her first toss on the ice in New York pavements as she took of her eyes off the path to take a look at her brand new pair of vanity boots . Price of vanity!!! Fazeena is of course happy with her set of brand new non stick pans and unhappy at my waste of time trying to be a scrabble champion like the good old days at Akurana balcony. Hisham has sent a five letter Gmail greeting to show his presence.He does not waste his words like me. So I have taken a cue from him and we sign off wishing all a new beginning in the new year

Fazaadhil

FROM MY HEART TO YOUR HEART

I was studying the brain,
When you first gave your mamma the pain,
Within a few hours to this world you came,
Now you’ve joined our household to make a name,

Life may seem like a game,
But never are two moments completely the same,
And that is for you to tame,
Oh sweet little dame,

You are lucky to be born in this land of plenty,
But forget not your family,
For they have sacrificed many,
Just to enjoy your wonderful company,

I don’t know what your home looks like- but I know for sure,
It will be built with on trust,
Painted with love,
Tiled with determination,
And illuminated with wisdom,

You maybe black, brown or white,
But for our eyes you will always be a delight,
We will be there always to show you what’s wrong and right,
For that is our right,

Your mother- my dear sister; is a very simple and wonderful woman,
Likewise you must be a good human,
Let goodness flow in you,
Like the blood that flows across every organ, muscle and tendon,

This is not a great piece of art,
Just simple thoughts off my heart,
For you to read one day my dear little niece,
May you always be at peace,



From your ever loving uncle Ahsen

DECEMBER BABIES, BLUES AND BLOGS.

.12/17/2007 5:52:25 AM SL TIME

Time has been flying between coming and going nobody really knowing whether coming or going - oh what’s really going on. Ayoob, Came from salubrious Bogo, passing teapots, tea spots and water falls to AK in the centre to see the world and then came Muad home an home capitalizing on the facilities in the capital city amidst bombs and crossovers in the House, from where also came the princess Jannah all the way – half way across the world passing deserts, oceans and time zones, cultures and fluctuating temperatures to enter this wide welcome world in the midst of snow covered cold lakes and highways to warm the hearts so many of us- who waited for her day after day

May all these angels fill our hearts with joy and spread the message of happiness in this holy month of Haj, to one and all. They have made us forget our daily dues and duties to see the world as a playground spreading happiness. They have brought us closer.

New births have brought new hopes and new tasks,

Belly buttons have dropped
Hairs shaven and their heads all bald
Aqiqas given and duties fulfilled
The parents have new dreams made

Musketeers These three?
When will they meet
And when will they be free
On these bulletins to feast

It’s a week Aadil tells me
I have forgotten, believe me
Hooked to the daddy and new mummy
Faz at times and all the time me

Sunday last
Things happened fast
Doubts aside all cast
Jannah, came very pretty fast

This week brings snow – more and more. Then three days of Eid round the world showing where Muslim priorities are. But I need to wind up and let things be.

Que sera sera ,What ever will be will be. The future’s, not ours, to see……wow ..There I go again. But I can not leave without reminding my friends, philosophers and countrymen that we were in India last Eid. Next Eid…Where will we be , we be?

She has come

Oh what a fuss waiting for her
now it is a change of tide
we are waiting on her
almost as on a new bride

So much to be done
new chores galore
for one and all its good fun
washing, feeding, dressing and much more

Now there is little less time
on our hands - though so many are willing
and ever ready to help every time
dad, uncle, grandma, me and daughter mine

Home coming

11^th December 2007

THE FIRST HOMECOMING

Two days after you were born

Dear Jannah…………….

they waited for you for so long

Your dad and mum. grand ma
Uncles, aunties, cousins
And the great grandmas
Too many to count,

Friends and relations…….
and me the grand pa,
your dads colleagues
and mums e friends

Because of the goodwill built
by them over the years ……….
Perhaps an important lesson for you
So early in your life…

If you could only pause, now and then
To learn to give more and take little
Inspite of the rat race
That you inevitably will face

In your country, where even to throw garbage
you have to have a plan
an insurance plan , a medical plan
and a mortgage plan…far too much to an old man

But dear little princess..
Though you took your time
To come..into this world
Today, You come home…..

Don’t ever forget little one
Inspite of web cams and skype
Yahoo and messengers
Uploads and downloads

Find some time for the birds
Dew drops and flowers
The wild ones in herds
And the cool waters of the rivers

In spite of wwws and the dot coms
Bluetooth, 3G and wifi
game consoles and ipods
Which will be your world

You will soon come to know,
There is some thing more
Whiter than the snow?
Love! Which you can not outgrow

Be generous, Love them all
Your dad and mum brothers and sisters
grandmas grand dads, and great grandmas
Uncles aunts and cousins

Love them all and don’t make war
Love them , selflessly, all those who would travel
by your side, in the path of your life,
even if they come only to take a ride

One day your mum will tell
That one of your uncles studied
In a country far away from yours
And mine, with great sacrifice

In a country where even an apple is luxury
Lonely and at times going hungry
To be there, just to care and share
Not only when the medicine cupboard is bare

One thing leads to another
You will have a sister and a brother
And another and another
Too many? they’ll ne’er be a bother

Now we know, you have no choice
You’ll come home to rejoice
And walk life's path always with poise
Yet being simple and nice

Your mum is tired
Dad has the car showered
Your seat well secured
And an uncle excited

Come home my princess
Where it will always be warm
Be it winter spring or summer recess
‘cos ‘tis the place Allah will always bless

Your crib is done
by your dad and mum
and the room by your uncle, it was a scrum
for, you to sleep without a hum

Each day for you
will bring something new
may your joys be more
and pains just a few

Growing up is fun
It is always a run
To get a place under the sun
'cos you are not the only one

So dear little girl
It is your world
Make a nicer place
For one and all – young and old

with love and affection...........

From ……………Your grandpa, grandma,

and uncles Ahsen and Aadil too

for you to read and reflect

when you will have some time left

On a warm snowing afternoon

in Milwaukee West Deer Run Drive

Brown Deer,

in your house, dear

From our room

Just after lunch

Waiting for you,

Sweet honey crunch

It is 2.30 pm

and we need a nap

before you jump

off your mum’s lap

Baby blues

Well are Faz n I winners, losers or on lookers?
waiting for dodo?
Uncles too in waiting
till the stork arrives
with the gift of the season that
even Santa can not match.

Season of babies
hopefully will end with
the her arrival.,Will it really?
wait n see........

Then shaving of head, aqiqas, sadaqa, naming ceremonies and
robes ,a lot more to be done.
the first baths, meals and
prams and of course the commodes
and other comforts
Oh what a lot for these
bundles of joy..........

Next year Insha Allah
December will be fun
with so many birthdays parties
which the new uncles and aunties
can organise....may be in Little England

But Are we going to be the freshest
and the youngest grandfathers of the year
or do we put an end to the celebrations after
Zainab joins the group.

My fear is
by then will all the parents regroup
and recharge

May god bless all the new arrivals
and many more to come.
more the better