Thriving on Vices...

Everyone wants to make the most of life. And in some or other way, we all tend to live life excessively. We thrive on vices. We harbour secret addictions. Chocoholism. Shoe fetishes. People addictions. Choose one and stick by it.

And in everything lies an element of contradiction. Ice, cold and hot. Water, both the source of life and destruction. Fire, warming hearths and burning forests. A few weeks ago, I heard that someone's home burnt down. (But, she says, her ghd survived thanks to its heat protection case:P) And two weeks ago, my parents were travelling on the N1 into Johannesburg and they experienced a raging roadside veld-fire that bellowed smoke across the highway, making driver vision a smoky nightmare. Foglights, are made for, well, 'fog'. Later, my mom said the view was so beautiful but in the anxiety of the moment, she forgot to take photo's.

So there you have it, the beauty and elation in something awesomely alive yet incredibly scary! I love the ocean, and the rain. We have been celebrating a friends wedding all week, despite and even because of the intense heat. (I am out in Polokwane about 200 km's south of the Tropic of Capricorn. Just got here on Tuesday with my parents. My brother and his wife, sister and her husband (and baby) arrived on Friday. I love LOVE love having a full house. We have a family home out here, and while we partied together on Friday night, the rain of blessings drenched our skins.

We arrived home to find a room or two in flood. Persian rugs swam a centimetre above maple wood floors. Porcelain tiles were easily transformed into gleaming ski-sites. And a smattering of sand from an apparent sandstorm was now reduced to a bit of mud here and there. So we rolled up raw silk shalwar pants and discarded studded sandals for rubber soled flip-flops and got to work with some mops and music at midnight in true Cinderella style.

I guess the dismay would have hurt had it not been for the energy of love around. And a giggling sixteen month old who wanted to wiggle her way out of her gran's arms so she could splash about with the rest of us.

Love and fear can go hand in hand.

And like water and fire, love too, is a thing of gregarious destruction and/or immense fascination, filled with the possibilities of replenishing thirsty souls, creating spirited life and manifesting itself in oh so many beautiful forms.

In Love, Water, Fire...
S

PS: GG, I think a sari would've soaked up the water with no fuss :P
But, no water wonderland last night, (luckily). Sigh.

Water, Water, Everywhere!!! Part II

A few days ago, I spoke of Water, and the devastating drought experienced in some parts of South Africa. And with the advent of blessed rainshowers, we offered thanks to the Almighty! Just this week, rains in the KZN area caused flooding and tragically claimed the lives of people living in make-shift homes. The Daily News reports that a mother and her three children were swept away while they slept on that fateful thursday night storm. Emergency rooms were filled with injured and traumatised peoples seeking shelter and solace. That same night, I was on a flight to Durban from Johannesburg and as we were due to land at 10pm, the storm seemed to reach its angriest zenith. A seasoned traveller, I can say for certain that from all the flights of momentary turbulence, I have never seen or experienced anything the likes of that night. Our string of flights were rerouted back to Johannesburg, passengers made to disembark and wait until weather conditions improved, and then flown back out to Durban at around 2am.

So this time, I wish not just for Love and Water, but a Love that replenishes the Soul, calms the Mind and strengthens the Heart, and I pray for rains of Rahmah (Mercy) that may benefit us, cleanse our streets of sin and nourish the forests of our Lives! Water that quenches the thirst of our trees and plants, animals and man; just enough to keep us in flourishing survival and not too much to allow in us a false arrogance in thinking that resource is infinite.

May Allah have Mercy on our souls, and may we learn the true value of appreciation.

Shafinaaz.

Water, Water, EverWhere...

"Water, water, everywhere..
And not a drop to drink!"
The words quoted, not my own
rang in the ears of
a mind mesmerized by the
sight before my eyes..
Taps undone to reveal
a gushing gurgle,
muddy mass and mangled mush:
my nose takes in the
waft of wormstew,
and then nothing!

Nothing.

Water wisdom lostand my thirst unabated.
This is the legacy that awaits
us who have been carelessly wasting the
everyday blessings
and earthly joys that Nature has dished
upon silver platters and crystal flutes.
Drinking up on Imagination and Delirium
can do much to nurture the lanky souls;
But what of the lot of barely blossomed bodies?
Theirs is the thirst and quench that loves rivers promise;
not to be held, just dreamed and yearned for.
Theirs is the Ultimate Delusion.

Want not? What a waste!

NOTE: A few days every month, I have the opportunity to travel to and live in a little city in the Limpopo Province, and for the last two weeks or so, much of the population has experienced water shortages due to the extensive drought session affecting us. In the past, we have had water restrictions imposed in order to control the usage. At the moment, resource has been shut down for days at a time. At some point, even opening a tap has revealed a tragic mush of muddy, murky undrinkable stuff. Thats the best way in which I can describe it. And the string of worded beads above is my little way of measuring the experience. The good news though, is that Today, we had rain! The Almightys blessings are upon us. Alhamdulillah!

Heres wishing you Love and Water..

Shafinaaz