Letter to Julia 20110820

Letter to Julia 20110820

Oh, laundry. I don't like to do laundry, but it must be done. I remember hauling my laundry to the laundromat on my bicycle. It was a girl's bicycle, with 2 baskets at the back. I think I was on my way back from doing my laundry when I had my first distinct spiritual moment. I was pedaling slowly, when I saw what I thought was Janis Joplin coming out of the convenience store. I went to take a closer look, so I followed her to the traffic light. She must have been about 19 years old, and she looked exactly like Janis: body, face, hair, clothes and all! I stopped at the light while she crossed the road, and she glanced back at me with a nervous look, and lit a cigarette. I didn't mean to scare her, I was just stunned at the her appearance. As I was temporarily paralyzed at the crossing, another girl nearly ran into me on a bicycle that was identical to mine. She looked exactly like Karen Carpenter! She was about 19, and she wore glasses like mine. She grinned at me as she rode away. I turned to look at Janis, but she was gone. Then I turned to see Karen again, but she had disappeared.

But, laundry. My Mom gave me a washer, but I don't have a dryer. I set up the washer in the same room I take a shower in. Well actually, I use a rubber hose to squirt myself down with. There is a shower head connected to an electric water heater, but the climate is too hot for me anyway, so I never use it. I suppose I have to install a shower enclosure, with sliding glass doors. I hope you aren't the type who likes long, hot baths: I have so much trouble trying to cool down around here, and I figure hot baths would play havoc with your body. Lately there's been one of those huge brown spiders hanging out in my shower/laundry room. This one is about 5 inches across, with 7 legs, and seems to be nursing some young in a tightly packed web case which she carries with her mandibles, pinning it to her stomach. Spiders rule around here, so I'm kind of like her bodyguard. I hope you like spiders, too. I dry my clothes on a line I set up inside the house, in a corner of the room where my kitchen is. I don't dry my clothes outside because I usually do my laundry at night, and there are a lot of bugs outside. I don't have many clothes, and the clothes I do have are very humble indeed. I don't even use a flat iron. Totally unlike James Bond, huh? I lost a lot of my interest in clothes ever since my body lost its femininity. Darn those drums.

Yes, laundry. Obviously, I will need to get a washer and dryer specifically for your use. There are dry cleaners downtown, but I have never used them. I hardly ever see anyone immaculately dressed around here. Maybe it's too hot, or maybe they just don't really care. My Dad takes much pride in his clothes, but even he seems to be putting less effort in his wardrobe lately. I hope I'm not putting a bad influence on him. Even if I had the money, it's too hot to wear tailored suits around here. And there's nothing more comfortable than the ripped-up cargo pants I wear for gardening. Chee Cheah has much contempt for my wardrobe. Well, she used to be my Dad's cat: she even looks like my Dad. The other day, she peed in the corner where I hang up my wet clothes. I guess I would try a little harder to match up with Julia. I do want to keep my wardrobe WAY smaller than yours.

Qur'an 20110820

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

15. But when Our Clear Signs are rehearsed unto them, those who rest not their hope on their meeting with Us say, "Bring us a Qur'an other than this, or change this." Say, "It is not of my own accord to change it. I follow nothing but what is revealed unto me. If I were to disobey my Lord, I should myself fear the Penalty of a Great Day."

16. Say, "If Allah had so willed, I should not have rehearsed it to you, or would God have made it known to you. A whole lifetime before this have I tarried among you: will you not then understand?"

17. Who does more wrong than such as forge a lie against Allah, or deny God's Signs. But never will prosper those who sin.

18. They serve, besides Allah, things that hurt them not, nor profit them, and they say, "These are our intercessors with Allah." Say, "Do you indeed inform Allah of something God knows not, in the heavens, or on earth? Glory to God! And far is God above the partners they ascribe!"

19. Humankind was one nation, but differed. Had it not been for a Word that went forth from your Lord, their differences would have been settled between them.

20. They say, "Why is not a Sign sent down to him from his Lord?" Say, "The Unseen is only for Allah. Then wait you. I too will wait with you."

21. When We make mankind taste of some mercy after adversity has touched them, behold! They take to plotting against Our Signs! Say, "Swifter to plan is Allah!" Verily, Our messengers record all the plots that you make.

Jonah 10:15-21
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It is not of my own accord to change it. I follow nothing but what is revealed unto me. If I were to disobey my Lord, I should myself fear the Penalty of a Great Day.

If Allah had so willed, I should not have rehearsed it to you, or would God have made it known to you. A whole lifetime before this have I tarried among you: will you not then understand?

Do you indeed inform Allah of something God knows not, in the heavens, or on earth? Glory to God! And far is God above the partners they ascribe!

The Unseen is only for Allah. Then wait you. I too will wait with you.

Swifter to plan is Allah!