East Coast, the new Sodom & Gammorah?

Tuesday 08/23/11. Was in a meeting on the 12th floor when I felt the ground shake. I sat absolutely still to make sure that it was not my tired mind playing tricks on me. Within seconds a second stronger 'shake'. It was like being in a vibrating chair and the window panes rattled. My first initial reaction was..."Holy fuck a bomb just exploded!"

9/11 just being around the corner and also combined with the fact that the institution I work for has been listed as a target, it was a legitimate worry.

I grab my handbag, cell, kicked off my heels and was out the door before you could even say "fish". I was trembling like a leaf by the time I got down and out. Hundreds of us were out in the streets without a clue as to what had just happened. Networks had gone down too. Slowly we got news that we'd just been hit by a 5.9 earthquake.

Holy Mother of Turtles...an effing earthquake!

There was panic and chaos in DC. We were told to go back home because the engineers had to check for structural damages and didn't want us in the way. You didn't have to tell me twice! I wanted to go home to check on my house but traffic in DC felt like it was 9/11 all over again. Gridlocked. Where were the evacuation routes? Dammit DC!

So that was tuesday...four days later we were hit my Hurricane Irene. Another event which brought chaos. Folks were flocking to stores buying out water, batteries & canned food. Evacuation centers were set up not only for residents but also for pets.

Although by the time Irene hit the east coast she had been downgraded from a category 3 to 1, the damage she caused in her wake was almighty. We were lucky being north of DC, our area wasn't too badly affected. Downed trees and power but no flooding and large scale damage to properties & vehicles. And most certainly no deaths...thank god!

It was frightening nonetheless to hear the winds howling and the trees swaying and dancing to a rhythm of their own. My house is surrounded by loads of trees, needless to say I had a sleepless night. Apart for a few broken tree limbs, all was good.

I hear now that there's a potential Hurricane Katia & Lee brewing.... say what?!?

Stick a fork me me already cause I'm DONE!

Disapproving Faces

It is not necessarily a pleasant experience, but there will be times in my life when I come across people who do not like me. As it is known, like attracts like, so usually when they don’t like me it is because they are not like me. Rather than taking it personally, I can let them be who they are, accepting that each of us is allowed to have different perspectives and opinions. When I give others that freedom, I claim it for myself as well, releasing myself from the need for their approval so I can devote my energy toward more rewarding pursuits.

While I agree, approval from others is a nice feeling, however, when I come to depend on it I feel I may lose my way on my own path. There are those who will not like me no matter what I do, but that doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong with us. Each of us has our own filters built from our experiences over time. They may see in me something that is merely a projection of their understanding, but I have no control over the interpretations of others. The best I can do is to hope that the role I play in the script of their lives is helpful to them, and follow my own inner guidance with integrity.

As I reap the benefits of walking my perfect path, I grow to appreciate the feeling of fully being myself. The need to have everyone like me is replaced by the exhilaration of discovering that I am attracting like-minded individuals into my life—people who like me because they understand and appreciate the truth of who I am.

I free myself from trying to twist into shapes that will fit the spaces provided by others’ limited understanding and gain a new sense of freedom, allowing me to expand into becoming EXACTLY who I am meant to be!

Gone But Not Forgotten

Every time I close my eyes I see his face...Hussain bin Abdul Kadir, my brother-in-law, whom God called for this afternoon at 2.45pm (M'sian time).

He'd been battling diabetes for so many years, initially not taking it seriously. There was always something more important to do. But that is the way of life for a father and husband. He'd always put his family before self.

Hussain was a good man. I will miss him. He had a quirky sense of humor and was fond of seeing the bigger picture. "Always be happy" was his constant parting shot to me.

I am glad I did not see him in the last few weeks of his life because now the image and memories I have of him will always be of him smiling at me.

I am sad you are no more but I assure you, you will be far from forgotten. Rest In Peace, my dear, for you are in a better place.

xoxo