June 23, 2015

What a Lovely Day

What a lovely day, indeed. I think I am finally falling into a healthy Ramadan routine. I was having a bit of trouble finding time to blog, but I was able to negotiate an hour after Fajr(morning prayer), which works beautifully, as it’s a time when everything is calm and I am with my thoughts without any stress. And after I am done, I just crash, waking up at a nice early hour … or noon, to be precise. Hey, to be fair, I’m up most of the night!!

But the rest of the day was pretty great. I woke up with goal to accomplish many things and I think I did a fair job. I even snuck in a walk, which was absolutely lovely, as the weather was just super gorgeous.

Alhumdulillah (Praise be to God) is the only way I can describe today.

Well… Except for this incident…

Attack of the June Bug!

So this happened. Before going into this story, you should know that I am super afraid of most flying insects. They just gross me out. Even butterflies. And all who know me think this is funny because I am known for my weird obsession with animals like snakes, which I have absolutely no problem being near, and even holding. But hey, thats the way life sometimes works … weirdly.

So I encountered this flying menace people call a June Bug several days ago when it ventured into our house. I know it didn’t mean to come inside. Heck, it means no harm, in all honesty. But when I am unreasonable, there’s nothing that can change my mind.

This June Bug, in particular,  has a vendetta against me.

We first crossed paths a couple of days ago, when I was coming into the house from the garage. I was minding my own business, oblivious to all around me, when a walnut-sized black winged thing zooms close by my right ear. Intolerant to all that flies (within enclosed spaces — birds, insects, etc.), I let out a yelp of surprise, followed by a scream of acknowledgement. I made beeline for the kitchen, opening the fridge door and hiding behind it. Well, of course, this was a source of hilarity for those who witnessed this terrifying event. My sister-in-law, who concluded that my assailant was a June Bug, went to check and get rid of this critter. But alas, the trickster was no where to be found.

And all was quiet.

Until today, when the winged walnut struck again.

Picture Source: Wikipedia 

It happened at Suhoor time, when I was just sitting there, eating my sandwich and, again, minding my own business, when the fiend dared to fly into the kitchen and streak through, flying in between my legs. It quickly circled back through the dining area and drawing room, back into the hallway. I, of course, didn’t realize it until my mom-in-law, with a smile, told me of this happening. I gave a huge internal shudder and went on to finish my sandwich. Quickly after eating, I raced upstairs in order to further avoid confrontation with this beetle.

Often, it happens, when you think you are about to outsmart your enemy, they surprise you with the upper hand. This is the story of my life with bugs. The more I try to run away, the more they follow me. It’s like they know I’m afraid of them and they use this info to get a kick out of my pain (or so I think.)

I shake off my near encounter in my room, take a deep breath and relax. And I get up to go to the washroom to make Wudu (act of purifying before offering prayer.) I walk with a purpose, totally excited to pray, write, and then crash. I opened the light of the washroom and…

(Think of the worst case scenario that could happen, with the little history of the two days I have given already)

…That’s right, the menace was there, fluttering up a frenzie. Me? I freaked out, dashing (well, more like stumbling and tumbling) from the bathroom to my study, slamming the door behind me.

I quickly peeked out to see where that monstrous beetle was, just in time to see it glide into the guest room across from the washroom. I quickly dashed into my own room, waking up my hubby (by standing next to him and wringing my hands and whispering his name.) He rose to the occasion like a gallant knight, only to find that the bug had cozied up somewhere in the guest room and was not found.

What happened next, you say?

We closed the door of the guest room. It is still in that room, sitting in some corner, planning on what would be the best way to undermine me. Or so I’d like to think!