‘We spend the whole of our lives watching ourselves. But when a man becomes meek he has finished with all that.’ R. Kitabire

Today my parents celebrated 37 years  of being married to each other, however they have been dating for over 45 years! Of course am wondering whether this is ever going to happen for me? My mind has not gone too far as to imagine the details so I must leave it at that and be happy for them. They have had a wonderful day of smiles and reminiscing which they do always. 

Today, am also off to Raquel's farewell party where we are having Yemeni food - love it! I will miss Raquel so much, crocheting together and eating what the other has baked. I will miss seeing her across from my window, her head filled with springy curls and smiling no matter what the day brings. Am sure we shall see each other again, as John  Gay said,"We only part to meet again."

Just returned from Raquel's party, its 3 am, oh my! How we were stupid, oh! how we had fun.On our way to Meghan's for the party, Bianca and I walked through Tahrir, it was parked with people, Egyptians building posts for the protests that will demand that Tantawi step down and a civilian government rules. People seem adamant, I wonder how this one will go? I do not think Tanatawi will step down easy,  inshallah no one will die. 

Back to the party Meghan thinks that if we continue to hang out together we shall be good for no one esles' company but ours alone. We drank, We ate (my favorite part), We danced, laughed like crazy, took pictures in parents clothes (Raquel's and Meghan's moms outfits- which by the way were not meant for us ). 

We hang out on Meghan's rooftop where we could see so much of Cairo city and talked like we were avoiding our beds and looking at Cairo in the night was much more fun. Today we were ourselves, maybe we do not watch ourselves too much anymore, maybe we have finished with all that, and can be free with each and let each see who we really are, maybe we are meek the kind of meekness akin to a passionate lion! ah, even I feel like the walls have come down; how freeing! 

I need to hit the sack, my heart is glad :) yet it is also sad :( to see Raquel leave.

“Adversity is like a strong wind. I don't mean just that it holds us back from places we might otherwise go. It also tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that afterward we see ourselves as we really are, and not merely as we might like to be.”
― Arthur Golden, Memoirs of a Geisha

Why Not Be Polite?

Everyone

Is God speaking.

Why not be polite and

Listen to

Him?

Hafiz

Oh for life!

She became a liberated individual when  she smoked weed. He said it was good, that if  she did it, she would relax, and she did,  smiling with such childlike content. She had decided to have a  puff or two, freaked out at some point but decided to do it anyway. She lightened up, drank some wine, tasted gin, and then took a few more puffs. Oh, the feeling  She had was indescribable; you know that feeling you get when you feel like you are in control of who you are and you know what you are doing  is your own choice? There is something about this, that brings freedom to the table, you stare at it, smile at it and embrace it and in an instant you are free. "You just deflowered me,"She said smiling to Fulan who had given her the weed, He laughed and said she was crazy. It was an amazing night, a night where cares  had no space, laughter filled the air and everyone was a bundle of joy; oh for life!  - Excerpt from 'Deep Inside'

The invitation

By Oriah Mountain Dreamer

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.

I want to know what you ache for,

And if you dare to dream of meeting

Your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are.

I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool

For love, for your dream,

For the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon.

I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow,

If you have been opened by life's betrayals,

Or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain,

Mine or your own,

Without moving

To hide it or fade it or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy,

Mine or your own,

If you can dance with wildness

And let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes

Without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic,

Or to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true.

I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself,

If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul.

I want to know if you can be faithless and therefore am trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see beauty

Even when it is not pretty every day,

And if you can source your life

From its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure,

Yours and mine,

And still stand on the edge of a lake and shout to the silver of the full moon,

"Yes!"

It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have.

I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair,

Weary and bruised to the bone,

And do what needs to be done for the children.

It doesn't interest me who you are, how you came to be here.

I want to know if you will stand

In the center of the fire with me

And not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied.

I want to know what sustains you

From the inside

When all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone

" Its a mystery of human chemistry and I don't understand it, some people; as far as their senses are concerned, just feel like home. "  High Fidelity