20 September 2009

Eid Mubarak!

Wow! Summer came and went without a single blog post. Actually, I spent very little time on the computer this summer (my new unlocked and jailbroken iPhone, well, that's a different story.) I'm back now, though. I think, for now.

I like my job much better than my old job. The work is difficult and stressful, but it's rewarding and interesting. I adore the kids I work with. They amaze and frustrate me every single day. I love working days, and working close to home. The parts I dislike are just parts I dislike.

I didn't go to GenCon, and didn't publish the final edition of Fisherman's Wife, and I'm okay with that. The final will come out at Dreamation in February (wouldn't it be cool if I got it done by Valentine's Day?). The fancy handmade decoupaged copies that I sold but didn't get to bind with ashcan contents will be bound with final contents. I hope they're worth the wait, but if you bought one at the last GenCon and need something to tide (tie? tithe?) you over shoot me an email and I'll send you a pdf of the ashcan.

My friend Ingrid Steblea is doing the cover art and a few other decorative elements, which makes me really excited! She designed our wedding invitations. We've been married for almost 11 years!

Today is Eid. I fasted during Ramadan this year, save a few days where a migraine knocked me flat followed by a nasty cold. I'll make them up next month. I got up this morning, dressed in my finest clothes (a beautiful embroidered and beaded kaftan from Saudi Arabia and a shimmery shayla from H & M) and went to the masjid. When I walked in, three sisters jumped up and embraced me with love and affection. I hadn't been in a while, and I did all my iftars at home. I didn't intend it to be, but this Ramadan was a bit isolating by my own design. I'm not sure why, but it won't happen next year. I want that warmth and sorority as much as possible!

I don't talk about my faith on this blog much anymore. I had a very quiet and unremarkable shift from Unitarian Universalism to Islam a while back. If anything, it felt like I just switched cell phone service. Same conversations on a different carrier (and now I'm learning that whole texting thing.). But it's days like today, or when I attended Jumah even after working Thursday night, when I walk into the mosque and see my sisters from all over the world, that the conversion (reversion? extroversion?) feels right and real. Maybe the change was unremarkable because I first attended a mosque when I was 16 and for 20 years I tried to go back. I knew I'd get there, it was only a matter of time before I put one foot in front of another and did it.

But if choosing religion is as mundane as choosing a telephone service, why do it? I could say that I was looking for better coverage, and be all punny, but, no. Here's one, for me, for my area, where I am in life, the reception is better. with Islam. Ha ha.

Joking aside, today is a wonderful day for Eid. After Eid prayers (and a wonderful khutbah on the ease of being Muslim), I went to the wedding of my dear friend Jeremy where I saw friends old and new, feasted on excellent food, and witnessed the union of two loving souls. Happiness and gratitude abound. Alhamdulilah!