Happy birthday to you...

So, cool. Happy birthday to those who have turned another year, one more day, 24 more hours. Enjoy the moment, and may you find that your capacity surprises even you. To Nigar, to Leif, to Nay, much love to you all.

October 29th was my sister's __th birthday. She lives about 3 hours away in Saratoga/Ballston Spa in NY living in an area which is more rural to me than is true in reality. I am wishing her an awesome birthday, year, and interesting challenges. She is energetic, intelligent, passionate and a determined woman. She is also very neat and tidy, sensitive and a great mother, especially when co-managing the kids with her awesome husband Michael (he rocks in qualities of being real, principled, incredibly smart, careful and a warm heart of gold).

In some ways my sister and I are alike, perhaps the speed in the way we walk (fast) or the speed in how we talk (fast), or how we laugh (heartily). Yet, we have several differences mostly in choices in our lives, how we take direction, lead, direct, and choose. Its interesting, how two sisters, two children in one family can veer so far apart in so many ways. I love her, I grew up admiring and envying her every move. Curious how this year will be for her, whether it will bring new changes and mysterious challenges, or content and calm moments.

Anyway, I wish her a great year, new discoveries and contentment.

To the others, Leif, you keep on with your daily posts about your adventure pioneering. You are learning so much, it is SO cool. Good luck and may your journey this coming year be filled with discovering layers of truth and experiences that bring you closer to your future path. Pieter & I wish you a huge hug and tons of wishes...

Nay, Happy birthday!! Havent heard from you but I and Pieter do think about you, Gefiliceteerd!!! Please drop us a line and let us know how you are. Much love, us.

chilling news...

I read and heard about yet another suicide bombing in the world today, by a suicide bomber who waited in line at a famous Falafel stand in Israel and then went boom. Today was the day that many children were off from school, and the falafel stand was in a crowded market place. Imagine if this type of insanity visited us here, a crowded mall where someone waits for an Auntie Anne's pretzel and then nothing more.

Reality can be like a cold shower...where we turn our heads to look what others are going through.

It is so chilling to acknowledge what state the world is in today. Although I am a firm believer in the utter paradigm shift of humanity towards spiritual growth and unity, I am also very well aware that the chaotic insanity we live in is also a necessary precurser to something better. I just don't know how long the precurser will last. What will make people understand that the overwhelming truths around eradicating racism, promotion of equality, regarding humanity as one, is a valid answer for today's overpowering ills? As a Bahai it is strange to feel this constant irony. If only man saw itself as one person, the hand, the arm, the leg all parts of differing unique cultures clustered together and connected through its heart. Yet somehow very few of the massess, heads of state and economic movers and shakers seek to acknowledge this reality and instead humanity and those in power continue to poison itself without noticing its slow demise. And the reason? Economic gain, material wealth, power, for a few. If humanity could for just a moment realize it was so connected, so interdependent, and realize the potential of working together as opposed to working apart, what would the new form of humanity look like? Abdul Baha expressed the transformation as the true nobility and illumination of man's potential:

"When love is realized and the ideal spiritual bonds unite the hearts of men, the whole human race will be uplifted, the world will continually grow more spiritual and radiant and the happiness and tranquillity of mankind be immeasurably increased. Warfare and strife will be uprooted, disagreement and dissension pass away and universal peace unite the nations and peoples of the world. All mankind will dwell together as one family, blend as the waves of one sea, shine as stars of one firmament and appear as fruits of the same tree. This is the happiness and felicity of humankind. This is the illumination of man, the glory eternal and life everlasting; this is the divine bestowal."

Lets do it...before many more innocent people are destroyed.

Times with family...and cool sounds

As I wind down from another hectic day, I reflect on my evening and happily take note of moments that make a typical evening... a really good night.

So today, like every Monday every week, my Mom was over taking care of and spending great quality time with Isabella and Alec. Usually she watches Alec during the day while taking Isabella out for a "night out" on the town in the evening for dinner. Bella prepares for her night all week realizing that a McDonalds/playland dinner or Applebees awaits her on Mondays when Mom (fondly named "Pumpkin" by Bella)arrive. If dinner is not on the agenda, sometimes she also plays in the playground and then takes a ride over at the local 7-11 for a special treat. Amazing how her memories and observations are being formed. Last weekend, for example Bella asked me whether I could, just once, take her to the special 7-11 where a special selection of chewing gum awaits. I replied that if and when we passed by it on a weekend, that I would take her and that it would be sometime soon. Her immediate reply: "Thank you Mom, Yeah!!!!!!!!"

So this Monday, after Pieter and I had dinner and chatted with Mom about the impending news regarding cousins and events, Mom and I sat down and chatted briefly before she departed to go home. So the 5 minutes became 10 minutes, became 20 and then all of a sudden we had already talked for about 2 hours. We talked about many things, family choices (including her own); new experiences; work events; Isabella's or Alec's newest habits; design choices in Mom's redecorating project for her house; and friends in general. We chatted about how 'Legos' have been keeping Bella and Alec busy or how Bella is so articulate about describing the summer deer/car accident that we were in.

Finally as the clock turned later, she had to drive back home and face a drive of about 2 hours (through the rain). I really didnt want her to leave...but since she had prior committments in the morning, she really had to go. I enjoyed the talk we had...

It was real.

I guess the cool thing about the "real" part is that she is more a friend in a funny unconditional sort of way that is hard to find in even the best friends we have. From a spiritual perpective, this is the kind of real stuff that lasts.

So right after she left, I reviewed a contract and made pencil markings for edits on a project I have working on for the past month. Sometimes reviewing my work AWAY from my PC is better. I get a different focus and am able to somehow see things with a clearer perspective.

Anyway, after my review of the contract, I had a great chat (2 for 2) with P. We chatted about work stuff, NDAs at tech expo's (for those of you who know what this means, great, who do not, move on...) Harriet M's issues with being confirmed or withdrawn and the recent legal blog activity around it...(thus far 9 Senators are looking to get her nomination withdrawn) and planning our weekend around kids, family and friends (start the list now, "pack & play, toys, snacks for car etc").

Before I forget, we were listening to NITIN SAWNEY's CD "Prophecy". It is a very nice, trance-like world fusion combination that I happily rediscovered this past weekend. (the cd jacket was mistakenly a SATIE jacket, not the right cover and hence the CD was forgotten for a while) Check his profile at BBC's site:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/profiles/sawhney.shtml

His songs make you think...and his premise is very cool. True reality is not about the quick paced techno centric world we live in, instead, we are human...and human connections live on...(Spiritual Cafe go'ers, we will play his music at our next meeting on 11/5: readings will be based on the topic "Progressive Revelation" For any more information on that go to hillsboroughbahai.org and click on the DEVOTIONS tab)

Anyway, now the night is over, and sleep awaits. May you have a Bon nuit and a happier tomorrow...

Birthday of the Bab

In the year 1844, a man and descendant of the Prophet Mohammed, 25 years of age made a pilgrimage to Mecca and publicly declared as he stood against the Ka'bah and laid hold of the ring on its door and repeated three times:

"I am that Qu'aim whose advent you have been waiting"
"I am that Qu'aim whose advent you have been waiting"
"I am that Qu'aim whose advent you have been waiting"

The Bab's mission was to teach the Word of God and to prepare the hearts and souls of men for the promised Qayy'um, the Promised One of all religions who was later known as Baha'u'llah. The Bab's name means the "Gate" and his mission of only 6 years ended in his own martyrdom and many thousands of his followers.

It was the Bab for whom we remembered on Thursday evening October 19th, 2005 commemorating his birthday of October 20, 1819. We invited the community, shared dessert and read selections of prayers and writings. Through all of the celebration, I could not keep my mind off the fact that the Bab was so young during his ministry. Young, powerful, spreading a message that he was killed for and motivated only by a path he did not choose. I do think of his birthday, his life and his announcement in the western part of Saudi Arabia publicly announcing to all that he existed and he was expected and for whom many awaited for was finally here.

Its fascinating, that when you read all the stories of each of the Messengers of God, no one except a small few among their peers believed and each Messenger suffered, were persecuted by the powerful who wanted to quash their message, to void their existence, to erase their memory. Only when years passed, it became obvious that the message they brought is and was relevant, timeless and caused the emergence of a shift in humanity's history.

So this year I am glad I took the day off, celebrated with friends, thought about the birth of the Bab, and thought about his relevance in human history.

To gain more perspective on the actual teachings of Baha'u'llah, who the Bab prepared for, check out www.hillsboroughbahai.org...




Peace.

Bella's recent smiley face, a good rendition how I felt after the tests were done!

Enduring the process, pinpricks and all

The results are in...So last time I had JUST found out that my blood test (costing 800.00 with the lab pre-insurance) came out positive. I saw a "specialist" in the field on a rainy Friday (yet another rainy day within a rainy week) where I had to endure a whole plethora of testing. First it started with about 25 health history related questions, luckily the nurse responded to my request of getting these tests done ias quickly as possible. I should have watched my words. (Typically, I am the person in the room that walks faster and processes information quickly. As a result, for the mundane things in life, I rush, or at minimum I tend to aim to get certain non-essential things done quickly...more of this in another blog entry) Anyway, the nurse happily acquiesced and I found myself being rushed through Q&A about my health history, and at the same time, I had another nurse stuff nasal sprays in each nostril to providing numbing on the nostrils for an exploratory adventure through my nose with some sort of nose-scope apparatus with a camera on tne end of it.

Following the nasal sprays, I had been asked to raise up my sleeves and the testing of allergy reaction to my skin would shortly begin. As the needle pricked various points along my forearm, it initially felt rather non-intrusive, just slightly uncomfortable... until a searing burning sensation eroded on each individual pin-prick, (did I mention there were about 15 on each arm?) leading to a reddish welt that throbbed with itchiness and heat for a duration of at least 18 hours, meanwhile, I was still answering health questions dating back to when I had eye surgery as a toddler, and then commenced breathing exercises where I had to exhale into a tube and breath all the air out of me while the nurse said loudly (breath and exhale good, 1....2....3....4....5.....6...)the purpose of which was to measure lung capacity stuff (hey I am a lawyer, not a doctor...).

So finally, at the end of all these testing, I was kind of (well not kind of...) annoyed at the burning on my arm. See I have had two children, delivered my first daughter in a 48 hour labor intensive natural birth process which I felt a lot of pain. However, it was expected, it coincided with a miraculous arrival of my daughter, I had preparation for that, prayers, thoughts, expectations, blessings, lots of love and support. Well, for this little test, I was not expecting the reaction I had. Frankly, the nurses were a bit surprised at 2 things, one: that their 6 yr old patients were better behaved than I was and two: that I had such a bad reaction to the skin tests.

Okay, so very long long story, made only slightly shorter, I was told that based on my profile, allergic reaction etc. that I should recieve allergy shots to provide me with hope to battle my weed, grass, tree enemies. Apparently, like many medical answers, the solution is not guaranteed, it could take a long time, and they need to monitor me each time I get injected with this "grassy cocktail" since they want to prevent any bad allergic reaction to the shots. Apart from daily bits of medication (nasal spray, eye drops etc.) the shots so far seem to be my best alternative.

So, I will be deciding in the next week or so whether to commit to receiving the shots etc. I am leaning towards yes, but something tells me to wait a little longer before launching into this allergy offensive.

Just a quick note, peanut was the worst of my food allergies, wheat, soybean and walnut only created a slight reaction. Nevertheless, I am steering away from donuts and crossants (until my trip to Paris) since avoiding those foods in the last week or so has been an interesting creative learning experience. (Has anyone tried Ryvita crackers? Awesome for rye flour...)

Also a quick response to the comments:

Hey...to my pioneering brother...Leif: I do expect we will have more diverse desserts at our Spiritual Cafe gatherings, but I will refrain from making spelt brownies...!Please bring some new recipes when you get back from St. Kitts!!!

To my dear friend Muni, thanks for your input and continued concern. It is so cool to know someone who is close at heart is in the Doctor-hood profession and who has an uncanny bedside manner...offering a much needed healing touch to those around her. You are unique, and I love you for it...

Finding your path through the allergens...

Okay, so it all started with a prayer...simply asking for more capacity. More capacity to handle life at large, teaching efforts, challenges in life and overall becoming a better person.

So time goes by, and I kept on getting this recurrent cold which lingered on and off for about 5 weeks. I figured it would go away, but as soon as I thought I was clear of the symptoms, it came back. Finally after my recurring sneezing was heard loud and clear at work, my colleague Nancy told me: "Go see a doctor...Go, go go!!" SHe said this with an exclamation because she knew that I would likely turn down the suggestion. I decided to go.

The Dr. checked for the usual suspects, strep, a cold, allergies, flu etc. After describing the meandering but un-severe symptoms, she reccomended a blood test for allergies. Okay, not a bad thing, further research is required, and a blood test has to happen. No problem.

Meanwhile, about a week later, I am feeling better, less symptomatic of a cold, but still I am wondering if it will come back.

Dr. calls and suprisingly informs me about my test results (suprisingly to her, and to me I actually made her "most allergic" record ) I end up finding out that I am allergic to 15 of the 19 tree/wildlife items AND I am allergic to 5 out of the 9 food items. 5 out of 9...5 out of 9 food items that I eat every day, wheat, peanuts, corn, walnuts, soybean...(not the scallops, which I never order)


Wow. Never knew, never suspected, not even a scratchy throat. Until now! Well, I could go on about my trips to the store looking for spelt bread and rye flour crackers, and how my trip to the allergist is already scheduled...but frankly I am curious what this all means. (after all, I am the big picture person where I like to see overall reasons and patterns that answer life's questions)

I guess I connect it back to the capacity I am seeking. I do not believe that my capacity is increased simply becuase I happen to be allergic. But I am interested in figuring a way to change my behavior, a very well known habitual behavior into something positive, graceful and better for me overall. So I will be without my crossants, Lu cookies, spaghetti and the hearty grain bread I so enjoy. But I am really lucky that I do not yet have anything that is worse, and am ever thankful about that too.

Besides, espresso and assam tea is still allowed, and so are spices. Life is still good. :)