MY RECENT ABSENCE HERE

Assalaamu alaikum, readers.

I haven't posted any new articles here for quite a while. Actually, my articles are only monthly. And, as I recall, I missed last month's.

This past summer has been rather strenuous. In late spring, I had news from my family that my father had been diagnosed with severe lung cancer. He went thru the treatments of chemo and radiation, and survived it all pretty well, considering his drastic weight loss before the regimen.

During that time, I was in hectic preparation for my youngest son's wedding in early July. The time was quite bitter-sweet to me, trying to be happy for my son beginning his new life, while all the time coming to realization that my father's life was coming to an end and I could not be there with him at the time.

The wedding went well, and I heard good news from my father and the rest of the family that he had completed his treatments, and was apparently on his way to recovery. So, did not make plans to travel to visit him at that time. After some travel myself nearer home after the wedding, I returned and contacted my family to enquire as to my father's health. Was reassured immediately that everything was OK, they were just waiting on the results from the latest test to reveal to them the condition of the cancer after the regimen of treatments.

After only two days passed, I could no longer wait for the rest of the week for the results of the tests, so called once more, only to find my father's condition drastically falling quickly. In just a period of two short days, he had dropped from the strong father I had heard on the telephone, to a weak old man, suffering from dehydration, because he could no longer force himself to drink properly. They had taken him to the cancer center where he had been treated, for emergency fluid infusions by IV.

We immediately made plans for me to travel at earliest possible date to visit him, which was a whole week away. With summer time coming to an end soon, airlines were fully booked both coming and going. Hard to get a flight at all, and impossible to get anything immediate.

I went to visit him, but he had died the morning before I traveled. I was only able to spend time with the rest of the family, and to be there for his funeral.

Surely, we come from Allah, and it is to Him that is our return.

So, my dear readers...no article for last month, as I was in no condition emotionally for writing at that time.

Now I resume my writing, and I will also be opening up a new blog to air out my personal thoughts on all this, as I feel I need that outlet.

Thankyou for your support, and your patience, and your loyalty in reading my work.

May Allah help and guide us all to that which is best.

Balqees.