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Talking to strangers
A few days back my aged taxi driver Abdullah informed me of how Hafez was far from being a purist, he was a diluter of true Persian culture, writing in an Arab form. He quoted Ferdowsi and said, “now he is the man to study for pure Persian literary gems – go read Ferdowsi and…
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Tupperware boxes
They never come back like lost socks, hair-ties, countless ballpoint pens Tupperware boxes handed out after parties for that morning snack, extra mithai, tomorrow’s lunch Monday night jolted me Searing pain A little boy in ‘trash pack’ pyjamas “You be brave” “No, you be brave” “Do you think they will keep you here forever?” “I…
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Winter Sun and Yellow Things
Those who read this blog regularly know my fondness for Amstel Park. I have befriended each hidden corner, nook and cranny, secluded benches and ponds. I have read under its trees, played hide and seek between its bushes, ran through the maze, broken ice on its neglected fountains, eaten ice cream, bandaged scraped knees, criticized…
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Paris in the rain
Saturday, January 10, 2015, I was to be in Paris for the day to meet poet and translator Marilyn Hacker. I had many questions about her experience with the ghazal and ghazal poets; she was generous enough to offer her day to me. On Monday 5th I booked my tickets to travel by the Thalys…
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Yes, I have an only child and it’s fine, really
Yes, I have an only child and it’s fine, really.
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Flowers and the bees
The joys of Amstel Park, where Bambi and I often spend hours. He hates the bees and loves the flowers, how ironical, how can one exist without the other. In the park they have a toy train that goes inside what we like to call “the deep dark woods” (a nod to Julia Donaldson). We…
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What was that?
Me: So I am an evil mommy? Bambi: No you aren’t, you are making sensible decisions. Over the course of the summer I will exploring the identity crisis.
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The need to memorize
I am learning some of the most profound lessons from my son (age 7). This morning I tried on an outfit for work, I looked at our massive full length mirror, A: What does this look like? B: It looks like you. A: Do you think it is too much for work. B: Yes and…
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This parenting thing
So I asked Bambi can you speak about the things you say to me, and he said: B: “I want to play with the iPad.” A: What about the time you said, “Your food tastes like dirty sock” B: “Well, we are going to talk about the nice things.” B: “I want to go…
