While talking about Zia, one of Pakistan's more notorious leaders, I realised that one of my first memories is of his funeral. My uncle had a house that overlooked the Faisal Mosque, a huge mosque that sits at the base of the Margallah hills in Islamabad. I remember we were there during the summers (we lived in Faislabad at that time and would always go to Islamabad during the summers), and I guess I must have seen the funeral through the windows. I remember there were hundreds of people there.

Now, I must've been about 5 at the time, so there's a huge possibility that in reality I just saw the funeral on TV and not in real life. But I also remember my aunt getting my a wind-up toy seal that summer, one that would do back flips and rotate a beach ball on its nose.

Anyway, this is something I must ask my mom about. Fortunately since I'm going home tomorrow - finally! - I can ask her over a big pile of pancakes! I've missed pancakes! I'm so happy I'm going home.

Some things never change. I know exactly what I'll be doing over the next two days. not that I've planned anything, I just happen to do the same thing every time! The minute I step out of the car the cook will come up with a big grin on his face. He's been with our family only a few years but feels like family now. I'll sit and chill for a little while then I'll call up both my aunts, we'll go over to their house first chance we get, talk about everything under the sun, maybe have dinner together. I'll catch up with my grandfather, something I've come to realise I'll miss when he's not around. He'll tell me about pre-partition India, stories I love hearing. I never knew until last year that my ancestors were from Jalandhar! My mom will ask me what I want to eat, the next two days will be filled with food I shouldn't eat but will anyway! One of my cousins has moved back from New York so we'll spend a lot of time catching up with him. My sister's visiting, that means my neice will be there as well. My and my sister will probably off-load her on my mom atleast one day and go shopping for books - our biggest passion! I'll catch up with her, she'll lecture me about grades. Same old stuff.

All of the above will have happened by Sunday night. After that, it's pretty much just chilling out at home. Catching up on @ stuff. Before I know it, one month will be gone. I'll be headed back here. Another year, my last year with my friends. more on that later.