Blog

Belief, Humanity, Love / 27.12.2017

His name was Benny or at least that’s what the stitching on his work shirt read. I don’t know her name. I guess I could ask my neighbor, but I relish the fact that we were total strangers, never having met before, and possibly never meeting again. As one of the few stay-at-home/work-from-home parents, I have the honor of not only retrieving my children after school but the children of two dear friends - five teenagers in all. Snack time is a must when “my kiddos” come home: fruit, veggies and dip, a sweet treat, chips and dip, fresh baked banana...

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Belief, Growing Up, Humanity, Religion / 19.12.2017

Christmastime is near and dear to my heart – raised as a Muslim, married into a Jewish family, and parenting three spiritual beings – heart. During the hottest days of the summer when temperatures top triple digits in our area and swimming under the desert sun is even unbearable, Damon will often come home to Christmas music resonating from our kitchen while I prepare supper. On some days when there is no rest for my weary soul, I call upon Jesus as well as all my other deities, but His name is uttered from my lips most often, asking for...

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Family, Joy, Love / 12.12.2017

The splinter was a few inches long, having torn through the sheer stockings, and lodging itself deep within the skin of my right foot. Two slices of our wedding cake sat next to me while my father-in-law (inaugurated within the last eight hours), meticulously and carefully, using very sharp tweezers, extracted the wood shard from his only daughter-in-law’s foot. My mother-in-law stood watch holding onto rubbing alcohol and cotton balls, awaiting instructions to “clean the area”. “Why should cake go to waste while I just sit next to it?” I thought, as I picked up one of the slices to consume....

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Growing Up, Love, Mindfulness / 06.12.2017

“Bayta [child], how is this itchy if you haven’t even tried it on?” Umme [Mom] patiently asked as I, much like a miniature-Pakistani, George Washington- resolute and determined- stood at the crossing of the Delaware, which was a local dress shop Umme ventured into in Karachi, Pakistan. Umme says I was an easy child to raise, probably because she literally had a village of elders watching, guiding, and nurturing me for most of my life. I said my salaams [greetings], respected my elders, was diligent with my education, prayed my namaz, and read the Quran. There was one condition that I...

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Circus / 15.07.2017

At one time, young adults threatened their parents to “run away with the circus” during their hormonal-filled teen years. I wish they had. They would have found a community, nay a family that looks after one another, supports each other, argues and bickers just like all families, and loves just as deeply. A Circus family is full of tears and smiles, triumphs and turmoil, heart-wrenching injuries and gut wrenching saves, all mixed in with lots of love. No matter where you turn: on stage, behind the curtain, in the Roust corner, behind the bleachers, in the Director’s area, in the hole,...

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Humanity / 14.05.2017

I don’t know hate anymore. I know it exists but I personally have veered away from hateful thoughts, acts, deeds or words. It is a conscious choice I make when I wake up in the morning to be guided by love: loving thoughts, joyful deeds, and a pure heart. I am living in a space that God would have me reside. It is sacred and holy, where solitude has become my best friend and companion. There is a difference between solitude and silence, so do not mistake my silence as acceptance. My heart is ready to fight and my mind...

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Women / 14.05.2017

I have one mother who gave birth to me; she’s my one and only Umme, and yet I have countless other people in my life who take on the role of “mother” whether for a brief moment in time or for decades. Two of my favorite mothers raised hundreds of children. They were my paternal great-aunts, Chotee and Bhari. Chotee Phuppo and Bhari Phuppo, as they were known, directly translates to little sister on my father’s side and older sister on my father’s side. Everyone called them that until I came along. I referred to them simply as Chotee and Bhari,...

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Humanity, Stories / 10.04.2017

Our soul tells a story. Each soul has numerous experiences that make up its journey. Whether that journey is short lived or aged into many lifetimes, it is a journey of moments which make up a story as individual as a fingerprint. According to my Daadi, I was born an “old soul” always gravitating to the elders: their conversations, their laughter, and stories were intoxicating. I couldn’t get enough! Sitting underneath the stars in Pakistan, in the basement of our family home in Chicago, or on the Persian carpet in our living room in Rialto, the stories were endless, the nights...

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Politics / 21.01.2017

I’m not sad to see President Obama leave the White House. He and his family have been under the most scrutinized lens from our nation and the world since he became president. The amount of grace and decency it took for the entire family to forge ahead with their lives is beyond me. President Obama and his family have earned a much needed respite from us, the American people, and the world. The president of the United States has the daunting responsibility of representing as many American people as he or she (one day soon) can. I consider President Obama my...

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Belief / 24.12.2016

I’ve always believed in Santa, even though my family doesn’t observe Christmas. A happy, older man, generous of spirit, giving back to the community was exactly who my Daada was so believing in Santa was not a stretch for my imagination. Even after my childhood friends outgrew their faith, I held onto the spirit of the season, believing that Santa existed throughout the year in many forms- a dear friend who struggles financially but seeks homeless people and buys them coats for the winter, good samaritans who stop after a car crash to help the injured, the single parent trying to...

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