February 2004

Asana Mohamad • Doing Nothing

The best thing about winter break is the ability and freedom to do nothing, absolutely nothing—which is exactly what Fuseina and I did. Sure, Fuseina had a job over break (I didn’t), but we didn’t have to go to the library, we didn’t have to crack open a book, and even though I had vowed to start studying for my DATs, I didn’t.

Instead, Zee came over from Kansas and spent about four weeks of the break with us. That was my big plan for the winter break—do nothing, except hang out with my sisters. It’s strange how many people feel sorry for you when they hear that. “So, what are you doing for the break?” they’ll ask. “Oh, nothing. Our older sister is coming from Kansas to spend the break with us. We’ll just hang out.” “Oh,” the person will say with the utmost sympathetic look, “You’re not going to go home for Christmas!”

I guess people are just trying to be nice, but since I’m Muslim we don’t celebrate Christmas. Of course, I missed seeing Mommy and Daddy over the break, but I really didn’t think about specifically not spending Christmas with them.

But, we did celebrate New Year’s Day. I made a chicken dinner and we got sparkling white grape juice (though Zee and I joked that, since she’s 22, she should buy some real champagne). Curled up warm and snug on the living room futons, we watched two movies that we’d borrowed from the public library. The best times are spent being able to do nothing guiltlessly.

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