I'm Back

Obviously as if the last self-indulgent blog run wasn’t enough, I return to the blogosphere yet again to share thoughts, rants, and raves with family and friends.

After chronicling my traveling and moving adventures to a friend in Jordan, she replied, “Sheesh, you guys are like bedouins!” I can safely say that adding up all the times I’ve been moving about for the last two and a half years (post marriage) makes it over five months or so that we’ve lived out of suitcases. Hence... the 21st Century Bedouins (yours truly and Siraj) have set our roots in Tampa, Florida...for now. Of course we haven’t truly rooted firmly, as the suitcases come out for excursions to Orlando, Maryland, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, you name it. Since returning to the States I’ve yet to see a full month without hauling out a suitcase for a road trip or airplane flight.

Here’s our travels in brief:

• Maryland (Home Base 1)
• Orlando (Home Base 2)
• Tennessee (vacation)
• Cincinnati (Sister in law...multiply this trip by 3 or 4!)
• New York (hundreds of relatives for Siraj, one aunt for me...again, multiple trips!)
• Los Angeles (cousins, mine and Siraj)
• Pennsylvania (relatives, Siraj, ancestral home: me. We’ve done one night runs up to here and back from Maryland, on weeknights at that!)
• JORDAN! (The best travel spot by far)
• Pakistan (ahhh, returning to one’s roots, the motherland...)
• United Arab Emirates (quick trip to see an old and dear friend and teacher)
• And now....Tampa... our “home” (errr, that is, when we’re not in Orlando)
  

Our next trip is in less than ten days, back to Maryland for Eid. I’m starting to wish I could just teleport or apparate wherever I need to go.

So what awaits this blog? Social commentary, tidbits on what’s going on in the Muslim communities here and there, reflections on past and present travels, teaching experiences, thoughts, and links to items of interest. Of course toes are guaranteed to be stepped on but that’s part of the fun. Although if hearts can be touched and funny bones tickled that will be satisfaction enough.

Till the next journey, then!