Life is such a wonderful gift, regardless of the year, month, or day of our births.We have nothing to do with our birth place or time, but we have coutless things to appreciate about this divine gift.
What difference does it make if you were born in a special year when a war ended or started? Or when the first spaceship landed on the moon? Or when Romeo and Juliate died? The only thing that truly makes a difference is that you have been gifted with a life to live with all its ups and downs. You have been gifted with a life to sacredize its privicy, its authenticity, and its temporarity.
Have you been grateful to the One created you, gifted you with the most precious gift in your entire life: your Life?
Have you ever performed on stage or given a speech?
“Are you still quiet and shy as you used to be in university?” A friend asked me one day when we found each other on facebook. “I think I’ve changed, a bit.” I replied.
It seems like something I was born with. I am the youngest of my two siblings. My father used to take me everywhere. My relatives used to invite me for sleepovers which would extend for weeks. At school, my marks were always good. I never failed. In university, for my converstation exams, my responses were the briefest in class, but my marks were just as good. Still, I was that quiet, shy girl.
I married, moved and studied abroad, and now have three children; two graduate boys and a girl in her first year of high school. Still, I am that quiet, shy girl.
Therefore, going on stage for a speech or performance would be my nightmare. Of course I lived these moments as I had to do them sometimes at school or university. But even though with all my rehearsals and prayers, I couldn’t help my hands from trembling and my heart from pounding.
I always remember my graduation ceremony, it was such a funny, great day. My friends and I were full of the life of spring, shining in beautiful dresses, lining up in a long queue with many others of the same group. We couldn’t wait to step on stage to receive our B.A. certificates and shake hands with Her Honour, our smiley-faced dean. It went so well with all my friends: climbing the steps, shaking hands, turing for the memorable photo, and then climbing down the few steps and joining our families. Just that simple.
But, things went slightly different for the quiet, shy girl. I tripped over my long dress as climbed the steps, but thank God I straightened and steadied my legs, and didn’t fall down. I tried to forget and calm down, but then my graduation cap slipped down my hijab. Before it could fall, I grasped it and tried to put it back on my head, but it would not stay there. There was no time, Her Honour was already extending her hand with a genuine, warm smile. I believe she didn’t give others the same one. With one hand grasping my cap over my head, I shook her hand and receive my certificate. Then I hurried down the steps, and forgot to take that memorable photo with the certificate and the smile.
But I took other photos and laughed long and hard that day. Sometimes, the quiet, shy girl can be more special and fun than the others.
One of the best things about living in the countryside is the ability to handle difficult problems and situations. There, people live and strive to thrive. Using basic ingredients, they can make the most delicious meals and desserts. They can fix broken things, mend old clothes or sew new ones, and even save lives as quickly as an ambulance.
I’m not sure if countryside life is still the same nowadays as it was when I was a little kid vising my grandparents for a month during summer holidays? But to be honest, though I enjoyed it, I couldn’t wait to go back to my easy life in Cairo.
I remembered that becuase of today’s prompt. I am not sure if a scorpion can be considered as a wild animal, but I am making it one in my post for today.
It was one of those long, hot summar nights, and I was having a sleepover at my Aunt’s country house. We had just come back from visiting one of her neighbours. We were laughing and joking, and couldn’t wait to hit the pillow. My aunt rested on a wooden bench in the big, high ceiling, and so dimly lit hall, pondering her next day chores. I headed straight to the bedroom I used to share with her, but just before getting changed, her screams filled the house. I ran out, and saw her hands tightened around one of her calves, as she lifted her leg, trying to slow her blood circulation. ( of course I understood that later). ‘Scorpion,’ she shouted, and her sister ran outside to get some help from their neighbour, asking another to fetch the village doctor. That night, she survived, and I went to bed whispering one prayer: ‘Please God keep that dreadful insect away from me. Amen,’ I prayed and fell into a sound sleep. Next morning, life went back to normal, with my aunt doing her chores and me playing around.
By the way, did you know that scorpions don’t live in Antarctica, although they can adapt to almost every other place on Earth. Of course, they would freeze, be unable to use their venomous sting, be easily seen, and their lifespan would be cut down to a few days. Don’t you think this can also apply to wild, evil people?
What’s the hardest decision you’ve ever had to make? Why?
I am reading The Caliph’s House right now. It is a travel memoir, a type of biography. It’s full of adventures, cultural explorations, self discoveries, and humorous characters and stories. However, it has also some misinterpretations of Islamic teachings, perhaps becuase it’s written in the first person, mainly reflecting and generalising personal views. Here is the link for my book review. Have a look, and hope you will like it
Any way, the more I read from the book, the more I am totally convinced that ‘don’t go back,’ though the hardest decision one might take, is also the right decision. It something like; forgive but don’t forget. Or, time never goes back, so why would you? Or, don’t cry over spilled milk! These all could be hard decisions taken in different ways and on different occasions.
My point can apply to places, people, and even careers. Once you step out of something, you change and so do the others. You become a different person, and so will your old place, your old friends, and your work experience. It will be not only disappointing but also torturous to imagine yourself, the others, or your old place, the same as in the old days.
So, the best, though also the hardest, is to not go back which of course doesn’t mean abandonment. Eventully, you will call your old friend, visit your old place, and relish the memories of your old job. But that will be it, no more expectations, no more memories.
Do you or your family make any special dishes for the holidays?
We often hear that men do not know how to cook, or even worse, their cooking is terrible, don’t we?
But isn’t it strange when you find out that they can, or can do very well.
Cooking is mostly one of everyday mandatory chores, but it can also be fun and a special hobby.
I still remember my father’s baked potatoes with meat. Although he mainly used basic spices, that dish was like nothing else- delicious. I remember he used to cook this dish, mainly, but not often, during the summar holidays. The aroma would waft through our house, making our mouth water. I remember how he looked so proud and happy of his achievement.
Strange how simple things, such as baked potatos with meat, can be carved in children’s memories. And, how strange that some parents deny their children such beautiful moments to relish later on when they grow up.
If it weren’t for the speciality of the chef, the love it was made with, and my family around it, I am sure that dish wouldn’t have crossed my mind for today’s prompt.
If you didn’t need sleep, what would you do with all the extra time?
It’s not that I would post more on WordPress. I am satisfied if I manage to share one post a day, as my hands are full with other priorities and chores.
But, if I have extra free time I would like to check and read more posts on WordPress, especially from you, my visitors and subscribers. It’s not mainly because you are reading mine, but also because I might get some inspiration from your posts or learn something new. It’s such a wonderful experience, as though you’re meeting different people and hearing their voices from all around the world. Though, in actual life, our paths might never cross.
I really appreciate your visits, likes, and comments, and I wish I could have some extra time to read more of your posts.
‘I can’t find,’ the everyday phrase that makes me mad ‘Mama, there aren’t any clean glasses in the cupboard?’ Shouted my son from the kitchen downstairs. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply as it was just an hour or so ago that I had taken a dozen from the dishwasher and arranged all the sparkly clean glasses in the cupboard. ‘Go and borrow some from the neighbours, then,’ I shouted back from my bedroom.
‘After you.‘ The kind but also annoying phrase. ‘After you,’ I said with a smile and took a step back so the next person, mostly an elderly, could get on the bus. But then the third followed, and the fourth, and the fifth. And, I became the last to get on. (To be honest, sometimes I am the second in line who accepted the first’s sacrifice and caused the martyer more delay)
‘I am not complaining,’ the phrase that gives me a terrible headache. ‘Such a horrible day! My muscles ache. Traffic, traffic, traffic. No one understands. No one cares. Everyday expenses. Blocks on social media, etc., but, I am not complaining.’
‘Don’t judge‘ the phrase that makes me feel so unfair, so inconsiderate though I am not. ‘He didn’t stop swearing all evening.’ ’Don’t judge.’ ‘How can this be judging?’ ’Because you mean he is a bad person.’ ’But I didn’t say that, and he might be better than all of us. I was just referring to something that was obvious and improper.’
The poor drama, that makes me so disappointed, so hurt. ’I was busy with relocation and all its fuss.’ ‘You moved, really? Where? Why? How is it?’ And I answered, joined in, detailing what the other already knew.
I was raised in a culture that generally adored cats and disliked dogs. But, please don’t contextualise this attitude within a religious framework that some consider insignificant and cruel to the poor creature. ‘Muslims are not allowed to have dogs as a pet.’ How many times have you come across this statement? But believe me, things are totally different.
First, it’s mainly for hygine reasons that we are not supposed to keep dogs indoors. Second, we have lots of beautiful stories in our holy book and tradition about the friendship between humans and dogs. Third, we are not the odd ones out on this issue. It was really so funny when one day my boys told me that some of their English friends are keeping their dogs outdoors for hygiene reasons. Fourth, who said that dogs like to be kept indoors? But since I am not a specialist to provide detailed explanations, I’d advise you to search online if you wish to learn more about this issue.
Now, back to the issue of preference between dogs and cats, I think it’s all culturally based mainly on bad experiences, frightening tales, and ignorance.
When I was a kid, about six or seven years, my aunt, during one of our family gatherings at my grandparents’ country house, narrated how she was bitten by a brutal dog. On another visit, my cousin and I were enjoying our lunch after a long run outdoors, and out of the blue, she told me about a neighbour got bitten by a brutal dog.
Things about dogs were a bit different and less scary in Cairo but unfortunately, the poor creature’s name and his family were mainly used as an unforgivable insult in people’s fightings and disputes.
Given this context, wouldn’t you keep miles away from those barking dogs but adore those warm, soft, furry, and purring creatures named cats?
Do you think Heidi, the girl of the Swiss Alps, would have been the same if her story started in a city by the seaside instead of the mountains? Let’s first imagine how things might have changed in her story.
Her gruff grandfather, instead of tending to his sheep and house, he might have been a fisherman. Her best friend, the shepherd, might be a sailor. The green scenery, the endless open green space, the towering mountains, the fresh air, the sheep, cows, and horses grazing around the mountains, and the free activities of climbing and hiking, might all be replaced by the different location.There would be the blue, endless sea, its close, reachable sky, its salty, fresh breeze, its rocky or sandy beach, its boats and ships, its colourful marine life, and its free activities of swimming, diving, and sailing.
Both places are amazing, full of space and freedom. Perhaps Heidi would have liked her life in a city by the seaside. She moved in the first place to live with her grandfather, the only living relative who had time and space to look after the orphaned Heidi. So, she would love it anywhere as long as she had his company. But the story would not be the same. It would have a different beauty.
I think I would like ‘Heidi, the girl of the Swiss Alps’ more than than ‘Heidi, the girl of the ocean’, but perhaps both can enjoy a short visit to each other on holidays.
If you could meet a historical figure, who would it be and why?
Sorry but I don’t know why I couldn’t help laughing when I read today’s prompt, and am still laughing. I am just wondering why I would want to meet with any historical figure. What’s the point? Honestly, the only figure I want to meet right now is my next-door neighbour whom I haven’t met yet though I have been in my new place for more than three months. The day I meet her will be historical, indeed.
Of course there are great historical figures, noble people whose names and achievements are like lumnious stars in the history of humanity, but I don’t know what I shall tell them.
In such interviews, people usually start with: ‘It’s a great honour to meet you. I can’t find the words to express how I am feeling right now, and I am actually at loss of words.’ But some people are not good at giving this eloqunt introduction. I am one of them. Then, there is this second paragraph: ‘I read your memoirs, your history word by word, from cover to cover, and learned a lot, really a lot.’ Again, some people are not so good at this art of exaggeration. They simply wouldn’t like to be at risk of being asked to give examples of this list of readings or achievements (especially if there’s little if not none). Then there’s the ending of this magnificant interview: ‘Thank you for standing for morals and principles.’ I would like so much to say that, but would also explain that today many are shouting loudly while saying that morals and principles have no market these days. And finally with the last praise while waving goodbye: “And, thank you so much for saving humanity.” But, “unfortunately the new “historical figures” are planning to destroy it, smash it into tiny pieces,” I would add with broken heart and destroy the pleasure of the whole thing.
I don’t know about you, but I think that if you read about great people, noble figures, it would be like meeting them. You will hear their voices, learn from their wisdom, and honour them in your heart with no flattery, no shame, and no lies.
Pure and Simple 