I had this title in mind for a post about our mid-Ramadan trip to the waterpark (at night since that’s when things are open during the month of Ramadan), but I’m trying to stay current and caught up on life so I’ll hopefully get to that one later this week and label it Part 2.
This is our 4th Ramadan and the least frustrating one yet. I think because I’ve given up trying to make Ramadan into something else. I didn’t even try to get anything accomplished (other than Calvin’s braces, which reinforced the idea of “don’t try to do anything during Ramadan”). The boys have had sports camps on base every day so I’m there for at least 2 hours while they run around the gym playing dodgeball, basketball, soccer or floor hockey and Camille and I have lunch, shop in the NEX, and hang out with the other refugee wives who are killing time with nowhere else to go. It’s been a great time to meet new people and get to know old friends better. Our kids eat Taco Bell tacos, we sip iced tea and cokes (which we can’t do if we’re off base unless we’re at home), and stay out of the heat. By the time the kids are done, I’ve had my human contact for the day and even feel mildly productive since I’ve gotten us all out of the house so I head home satisfied and spend the rest of the afternoon/evening reading, knitting and watching TV guilt free.
The other great thing about this Ramadan is the boys started going to the park near our house in the evenings to practice soccer and basketball. While there, they made some friends from the neighborhood and now the boys either plan to meet each other at the park at a particular time or our doorbell rings and it’s a group of kids asking for Carter and Caleb to come play.
This sight makes me happy. It only took 2 years.
It’s super hot and sweaty out. Dripping weather. We lasted less than 30 minutes. The boys often stay for 2 hours and come home red-faced and panting.
While the younger boys are playing and the girl is swinging, Calvin is playing basketball with about 20 Filipino men. Seriously. They play every evening and I told Calvin that if he wanted a shot at making the school basketball team he needed to be playing and practicing every day. One day he got up the nerve to join in and he’s been playing about 3 to 4 nights a week for the past month.
He and a friend are waiting for “next” though it’s a bit frustrating for them at times because the way this group plays pickup isn’t always logical or orderly. Sometimes the people just arriving get automatic next, other times times it’s Filipinos only, and sometimes they have no problem getting into the game. I told him to keep trying and as he plays more often and gets better (and taller!) he’ll be in high demand.
Overall, it’s been a very successful Ramadan for all of us.
This is my Ramadan victory tea. Our month was up on Sunday night so Eid Mubarak and happy drinking!