Hello there, my beautiful Natty

How are you?  I do so hope that you are being calm and patient.  I'm sure things seem very exciting, but please try not to get nervous, because you need to look after your precious heart beginning at a young age.  And your precious tummy.  So meditate!  You know.  Relax!  Read a book.  And don't forget to pray.  Don't worry, my beloved.  Everything will work out nicely for us inshaAllah.

I had a busy day today.  I went to pay bills after doing the morning chores, then got back in time to cook my lunch and nap before Mary Unknown7's daily session.  In the evening, I began to take apart the dead old amra tree by my front gate.  It's a big tree and I was scared, so I used a lot of rope to help control the fall of each heavy limb.  Today went without any bad incident, so alhamdulillah.  For dinner, I bought some sweet pancakes at the night market to go with my sauerkraut dogs.  I'm afraid my kraut dogs were a failure: the bamboo shoots sauerkraut I made wasn't sour enough, and I could still taste the bitterness of the bamboo shoots.  Plus the buns I used were too soft for kraut dogs.  Maybe I should just go back to using cabbage for sauerkraut.  But my gherkins are almost ready.  It looks like cheeseburgers are on the menu in the near future, and maybe I'll try making sweet relish.

Hm...

I recognize the lips, but I don't recognize the hair.  Cool shades, though.  And so many pretty flowers, including you.  What's the occasion?  Seems cold over there.  I wish I were there with you to warm you up.

It's nice and cool here right now.  It's been a busy morning, but I just had a nice nap, the weather is so comfortable right now.  Alhamdulillah.  It's almost time for Mary Unknown7's session, so I have to get ready.  I love you!

Sunday is black!  Oh dear, that is a short dress...  maybe I should have had her put on some shorts...

Every ingredient

Hi Natty!  What's going on today?  I hope you are taking things nice and easy, or even nice and slow.  I want you to know that I love you very much and I think of you always.  And I want you not to worry, because everything is going to work out just great for us inshaAllah.

It's not always possible to take it nice and slow, but this evening I had a chance to do so.  Well, with dinner at least.  I had my usual bunch of errands to do throughout the day, but I took my time with making dinner.  It's fried noodles again!  I took my time and made sure every element of the fried noodles tasted good.  From the sauce, the crispy shrimp, the boiled chicken marinated in turmeric, how bloated the noodles got after cooking in the sauce, and how many eggs I used to thicken it up.  I made sure the noodles tasted good by itself without the added meats and veggies.  Well, mostly because I had to pause cooking for the sunset prayer.  Then after that, I was free to mix it all up and eat.  I am pleased to say that tonight's dinner was a success.  Making sure every ingredient and step was just right made the whole thing just right.  Taking it nice and slow.  A true luxury.  Alhamdulillah.

Movie night

Hi Natty!  How are you feeling?  Aw, don't you worry my love.  I won't abandon you inshaAllah.  You are MY girl, you are beautiful, and I love you.  So what if people are crazier than usual.  Let's watch a movie, OK?  I think I already had you watch this movie, I don't remember.  Let's watch it again together, shall we?  It's supposed to be a dark comedy, but I think it also qualifies as an educational movie.  You should give Greta a call and have her watch this movie too.

Sleeping under a blanket of superfluous legal paper

Hi Natty!  How are you feeling, my love?  Don't you worry about a thing my darling, I'm not going to abandon you inshaAllah.  You are MY girl, and I love you.  I absolutely intend to keep my promise to marry you, so please be patient and pray OK?  In the meanwhile, please try to have fun and enjoy what Allah has given you.

I admit it's a bit noisy out there in the crowd.  But you should try to see things from my perspective, especially if you were to be at my side.  To me, it's been the same old situation for decades already.  Nobody seems to grasp this: not my family, not the locals, nobody.  They all have to play it out the hard way, I guess.  Life isn't supposed to be easy, I guess.

This dress doesn't quite fit, but that's life.  It's also normal, isn't it?  To wear clothes that don't quite fit so you can look better?  Mary Unknown7 is just a normal girl at heart.  Surrender to Allah!