Its been...

quiet and peaceful. We're reaching the final week of Ramadhan but it has been that way, since the 1st day of Ramadhan...thats what mak says.

No Geylang, no shopping to buy new carpet, clothes, shoes, bags except having to make kueh tart and some cookies and cook a big meal for raya and for our raya visitation on that first day.

Naturally, Eid is not a national holiday here. Luckily, it falls on a Saturday which means that we could visit our malay friends after Eid prayers in the morning.

I thought mak would be homesick thinking about home during this time...but she had proved me wrong. She says that she feels peaceful...that she does not have to think of having to go to the market during the raya rush, and think of stuff to do for Raya. But she surely is excited to meet up with Sharun's and Kak Jah's family on the 1st day of raya as she had bought 6 empty tubs to pack the cookies that she will be baking.

It surely has been nice experiencing Ramadhan with mak...someone who is as peaceful as this miracle month of Ramadhan.

I thought I could resist from listening to Raya songs. I played the songs for mak. She suddenly sprang up from the sofa and directed me to hang the curtains in our rooms. Such Raya songs can turn a docile mak to a directive one...regardless of wherever she could be. (I peeked into the living room...mak is eating Doritos with a remote control in her hand...shes 10% americanized!).

First tune of lagu Raya...I cried. I think of home. I think of my sister, bapak, my nieces and my precious son. During this time if I was there, we would be roaming Geylang, me being so fascinated by the people spending their precious money.

My son, I miss my son the most during this time. This time last year, I was very pregnant and was a total wreck when I heard Raya songs. I always wonder how he celebrated Raya without his family. We all think of him here.

To all Muslim friends out there...Eid Mubarak!!! Maaf Zahir Batin...