Paris, the summary

Its funny, over the past several days (leaning into weeks now) I have been trying to set aside time to finally complete my Paris article and to properly savor the memories of such a fantastic trip. I think I have some excuses however so I will list them now: work has been going too fast, too much travel and too little time to give me ample moments to write; we have had visitors from Holland, a new air conditioner installed (which means a heat issue until its done) and just catching up in general leaving me little or no time to prepare my lines.

Before I completely forget the entire trip, and to make sure I at least complete a few thoughts, I want to mention a few things that stick in my mind even now.
Taking a pause.

Whether it is over a coffee, double espresso, gelato, or over dinner, the Parisians have a very nice way to stop time and enjoy the moments. I miss that probably more than ever. Why is it, that with even a cup of espresso, or hot tea in the morning I am multitasking away my day? I want the singular moment to enjoy, think, ponder and just slow down.

A surprise on our trip was a visit to an apartment, not just any place but a home that was witness to many talks & discussions in the early 1900's. This was the apartment that Abdu'l-Baha, the son of the Prophet Founder of the Baha'i Faith resided after he was released from a lifetime of persecution and prison (he was about 60 when he was allowed to travel after confinement) due to his and his father's belief in the essential oneness of humanity. At 4 Avenue de Camoens, in 1911, from October through December, presentations were given about a very new concept...recognizing people as one, regardless of politic, color, nationality or class. Talks were short, but very insightful, inspiring and revolutionary for its time. It was at this place that Pieter and I visited, and it was here that the moments of pause really mattered. It was almost as if we could see back in time and feel the warmth, graciousness and love of Abdul'Baha. That name may sound strange to readers unaware, but if you read his writings and find out about his life, one begins to understand the amazing sacrifice and compassion that this human being shared with everyone he met. In any event, we felt it there and were incredibly honored to have seen this place; as well as the 18 other Baha'is visiting that day ( from US, Africa, Australia, Holland and France)!

The rest
Shopping was great fun, we loved Le Bon Marche, that had an amazing array of foods, pastries, spices, furniture, and even clothes, (similar to Wegmans, Nordstrom and Whole Foods combined) We bought lots of little gifts and enjoyed trying to savor the French food, cheese, and artsy stuff that is literally unknown here. Ever see a butterfly patch with intricate design and sparkles that could be ironed on pants for girls? Or sugar cubes in the shape of a heart that fits on the rim of a cup? A toy air baloon made to an exact replica from a century ago?

Art was amazing, overwhelming, sometimes dizzying but great to experience. Seeing Monet across an entire wall, or the Mona Lisa surrounded by so many people, or my favorite, Rodin's Kiss. No words to describe that one.

Cafes, museums, moments, walking, friends, dinners etc. It was heaven, and I feel blessed that we could go. Missed my kids, but it was really worth it, every drop, every moment...J'aime Paris. Now I just have to remember to bring some Paris back home.

a Paris part 1

Describing Paris in words seems so inadequate; especially when so much was felt and experienced in ways I did not even expect. I could start at least by identifying some of the tastes and colors that were felt.

I can't describe it all, at least in one sitting, but will hit on a few high points and then continue on next time.

Overall
Amazing, gorgeous weather, spiritually uplifting and memorable in so many ways. Each passing minute felt like a gift. This was especially true when we spent time with our dear friends (Martijn knows Pieter since high school days...) from Holland, who took the train down to Paris for a family trip. Apart from the dinner (photo below) We were able to see them during the nights for late night chats over tea, on the balcony catching up on life.

These nights were unexpectedly a rekindling of a friendship of the best kind; one that doesn't need to much attention on a day to day basis; but just endures through time, places and life. We shared a lot and learned more than we probably expected. It was a unique opportunity to exchange our life lessons and I am so thankful we had this time together.

Walking perspectives
So many beautiful streets, shops, sidewalks, vistas, gardens, historic sites, museums, homes, cafes, bakeries, all nestled together from one place to the next. The continuation and extension of amazing places to see was just endless. It started with the adorable little boutique shops such as the one pictured above, that only specialized hot air balloons and music boxes. A few doors down (in the Quartier Latin) was the oldest restaurant in Paris, La Procope; the place Pieter and I visited when we were engaged back in 1994.


Art was everywhere, real art, and galleries as if every artist could have its own personal showroom for the world to see. Nothing like Soho where the grandness and vibe is connected with an artist for a few moments. Instead, it seems that Parisians appreciate all forms of art, even the doorways of buildings seemed elegant and striking.

People
Of course one of the most quintessential experiences is viewing the Parisians themselves. I was in awe of the splendor of the women in this city. Not that Pieter could truly notice what I was referring to; but I sensed that women, no matter the size, shape, color or background, were mostly (if not all) confident, tailored feminine, with an air of je ne sais quoi. (Okay hopefully my last and only cliche)

Not that there was a lot of makeup, fancy clothes or designer handbags, quite the opposite. I saw ladies who may have just been walking their dog, catching a smoke before their day started; or walking along just enjoying the art at a museum, but each of them had flair and style with a confidence I admired. It made their beauty shine from within as well as from the outside.

Diversity was everywhere, a rich tapestry of people from many countries, whether from Eastern Europe, Europe, Africa, Americas, everyone seemed to be there and it was not as distinct as NY or London where each group has their own subculture and can live amongst their own identities apart from everyone else. It felt like there was a closer knit community of French speaking people, and an acknowledgment that they all were connected somehow. I could be naive in this impression but it felt that way, and I liked the sense of respect no matter the color, background or nationality.

En fin...
Bon soir for now, I will add entries on food, art, history and shopping next time.

Paris here we come

5 minutes from now, Pieter and I will depart for Newark Airport. We are traveling to Paris for a few days without my adorable little ones. It will be a trip that we have been looking forward for a loooooooooong time and can't wait to get there. I am hoping that it will be a time for reflection, appreciation, many moments of fun, love and slowing down. We were last there when we were engaged, in 1994 during the coldest New Years Eve ever. Now, it is Spring and even though it may rain a little, this time will be ours.

So hopefully soon, about a week from now, I'll send an update, pictures and thoughts on how this Paris trip will be. Until then, my Bella and Alec are in my heart...

Au Revoir!!!!

Two new great blogs coming near you!!

A few weeks ago, my sister's family came to visit. Spending time with them is ordinarily great; but this time it was even more special since we were able to spend some alone time with my niece Natasha who just turned 13 and my nephew Nolan who is 11. It was just for a couple of days, but full of great memories and moments that I will cherish at least until I see them again. Watching them interact with my kids was amazing. Bella and Alec have only two cousins, but WOW they make the experience so great that even with a small family, my kids should feel lucky...

Even now, Alec (who just turned 3) asks about his cousin Nolan, wondering why he cannot play with him more. (we will need to visit them soon)

A few great things happened during their visit and I will name just a few:

-My niece babysat Isabella and Alec with Nolan's help so we all went out to see Namesake (they were great and handled their cousins very well, even during crying and missing of mommy and daddy)

-I was amazed at the talents, both musical, creative and kindness of these two kids (check out the Easter video two blog entries down...)

-Both Nolan & Tasha attended our Spiritual Cafe (our monthly devotional with 10-20 college aged kids with music, dessert and coffee and conversation about the readings which was based on the theme: Justice) They both sat through the entire event, and had a good time chatting with the friends. I think they even enjoyed it!

-We talked about writing, life and cool new games on the Internet where you can actually help save an island from a tsunami (serious games...a great site for kids)

-After talking about journals, reflections and computers, we discussed my blog, and you know what? They both decided to create their own.

So without further delay, check out Nolan's blog at wrestlingeinstein.blogspot.com and Natasha's blog at: tripl3threatbebe.blogspot.com. ENJOY

90 letter in 90 days

I watched Namesake as planned and I was very moved.

I forgot that as a child growing up in America fighting my parent's culture alongside my sister, that my parents had a very real struggle themselves. This film highlighted that view for me, with subtleties that sunk in in ways I never expected.

Seeing the transition of a young woman who lives in a fun-loving lifestyle, full of warmth, a close knit family, music, colors and warm weather as a backdrop, flies over to an unknown city (NY) but still considered a "better place" was a shock. The images of the departure from her family at the airport was a new idea to me; never had I even thought of the moment my parent's had left their home; and now I was dying to remember or find out and sense their feelings on the day they walked onto the plan towards a new life.

The arrival to a cold snowy NY seemed so barren despite the opportunities it promised. I wonder, whether the students/workers/families who travelled here ever realized that there was a huge cost to living in this lonely country. Yes, opportunities would be available; but was the overall long term return on investment truly understood? (For my Mom and Dad, I still don't know from their perspective that is.)

Amazing how so many immigrants decided to take the plunge, whether from India, Pakistan, China, Africa or from anywhere elsewhere, what a tough experience it must have been for them all.

Obviously, times have changed and the Internet, communications, phone calls or even skype are minutes away. But back then? None of this was easy, accessible or possible. I spoke to my step-Dad this weekend, and he told me when he studied in England, that he wrote 90 letters in 90 days because he missed his family. 90 letter in 90 days.

So as I reflect on this new understanding, I want to see the film again, but this time with my Mom in law who also experienced the "transition" experience. She moved from the Netherlands to New Zealand with her child and husband in the early 70's leaving her home presumably for always. She did eventually go back to Europe, as did my husband, but the journey back was not easy, nor was it as cozy as it was when they had left. The time was gone; and adjustment even back home was difficult.

Until now, I thought I had always understood her experience, since I too have moved from US to Europe; but again in this modern day, our days are easier than those before us.

So in short, I am pretty thankful that I watched the film; and even though not all of it was exactly relevant, parts will stay with me for a long time.

Easter 2007

Namesake the reality

I am looking forward to seeing the film "Namesake" next Friday with my sister and our husbands where we will watch a film that will probably remind us what it was like to be growing up in a Pakistani type household in suburban America. Many kids of my generation (1st generation American's of parents from somewhere else) experience the duality of living in one culture; but having roots to another very different foreign lifestyle; one where bringing the roots (parental culture) into ones own (American kid culture) daily life is daunting and not always welcomed.

As a girl who was not a White American (should White be capitalized i wonder?) I was often questioning why I was given such a difficult task; of not already fitting in or feeling like one of the crowd. At least that lasted until high school when we moved from a small suburb of Buffalo NY to NJ. NJ is different on SO MANY levels that the culture shock of what priorities existed overshadowed my insecurity of what I looked like. Big hair and cliques aside, I sought any retreat from the group culture as essential to my survival; and instead found contentment in seeking to be different and to be friends with many rather than few (also the same time when I was introduced to the Baha'i Faith and its worldwide, non prejudiced perspective became utterly refreshing).

Anyway, years later; as law school, career, motherhood, more career and grass roots in human interest govern my life; I find that the differences in each of us should be treasured since the human canvas is stunning with the varying hues of personalities, cultures, beliefs and ideas that merge into a larger human family. I realize that now; and when I look back to see my shyness or hesitancy in sharing my "roots" with anyone; I realize I could have taken a different perspective and maybe even appreciate what my parents shared with me with more value, respect and honor.

Lessons learned. Maybe once I see the film it will reiterate just that.

Creativity at its finest

It could start out as a song; a design; a few words; a witty comment or even a look. Sometimes I am amazed at how at how creativity can expose an inner beauty stored somewhere deep waiting to be revealed at the right time. I get this with my kids; i.e. Bella's beautiful illustrations, or Alec's engaging expressions in his eyes that can melt any heart, but I most often have found the most amazing treasures from my friend, closest companion/husband guy, Pieter.

Maybe it is his piercing blue eyes that contain the deep sense of reality that we cannot yet see yet; but I think he has a gift that needs to be shared. I guess I should recap to convey what I mean.

In my last 13 years of knowing this guy, I have seen transformation on an exponential level in the way he thinks, learns and tries to unravel this mysterious world we live in. Whether a successful IT director in charge of offices on the whole east coast for a huge company; a grass roots Faith activist for everything that needs to be right in this world; a chef of multi talents that will only find his pizza dough "decent" after 3 years of stretching; a phenomenal Father, teacher, mentor, hands on with his kids who will take actually 29 minutes in describing how blood flows through the body; and actually get my 6 year old to completely find satisfaction from every question she poses; a thoughtful kind true hearted person that can share his love with anyone who has the room to receive it; an expert wood crafter hobbyist, who can actually Autocad a gorgeous set of cabinets and carve them out of maple adding Euro sleek stainless steel pulls after 500 hours (in summer 2004, in less than 9 weeks).

And, to top it off, he is at the very exciting stage of writing a novel that will let others experience how a global/spiritual ethic is not only provocative, but necessary.

Tonight he finished the prototype for a new website to re-launch Next Level Radio; the super cool pod cast that is produced by our friend W Morrison III. You can go to nextlevelradio.org; but stay tuned for the new version coming to an Internet page near you...

Anyway, I had to pause and just appreciate, like the finest cup of espresso with the hint of crema, the moment had to be savored.

To check out his thoughts online, and to see great photos of the kitchen he made, go to indigored.com, enjoy...

Ayyam-i-Ha children's story...

What is the best way to explain to Isabella that Ayyam-I-Ha is a great holiday and that she should be proud of this time of gift giving and sharing and preparation for the upcoming Fast? Well, this year, it was a little hard because as a six year old, now she tells her friends about it, which is great except this year, no one believed her. She 1st mentioned it around Christmastime and since then when she descibed that she got usually at least 1 gift per day for 4-5 days before March, they just figured she was confused. So this year, we thought we try to change that.

"Remembering Isabella's Ayyam-I-Ha" created by illustrations made by Bella (12 of them) and set to a short story describes that Bella was having a hard time explaining and convincing her classmates that this holiday existed. Each child was convinced that she "must" have been thinking about their holiday, Christmas, Eid, Diwali, Hannukah etc. Instead of staying sad, Isabella asked her mommy to explain to her friends what this holiday was, and why we celebrate it...
With book in hand, gifts in a bag, and goodies to share, we brought this to her school yesterday and shared this story with ALL of her classmates from her entire school. It was a lot of fun reading it to each class and hearing many of Isabella's friends wish her a wonderful Ayyam-i-Ha. Finally, they will now NOT forget, and in the process learn about this new time of year for Baha'is all over the world...

1st day of fasting

As I hear the rain drops and the trees sway to the wind, I find several minutes of time in the AM where the kids are sleeping and I have prepared for the 1st day of fast.

Pieter and I got up this morning, enjoyed some tea, ate our early "pre-fast" breakfast and said some prayers. I did some Yoga to Shiva Rea, and now ready to reflect before my hectic day starts at work...

Fasting is a unique opportunity to reflect on things, pray for strength and to rely MORE upon the spiritual realities, rather just on our own patterns of life, where eating & drinking takes a much larger role. As a child, when my parents fasted for Ramadan, I would look on as a witness to a process that I rarely understood. It was never explained too much on the "why" or the benefits, but rather as an exercise in duty and reverence.

This year, there is a unique "spirit" in the air; like I am treading this path knowing it will be fine, excited about the opportunity and not too weary about the overall difficulties (yet) that the fast may have on me as an individual. Part of this surprises me, since my work has doubled since a few months ago, and my 80 hour work load per week has not unfortunately decreased. As a result, I am very curious to see how my legal counsel will be impacted without my coffee and tea to cheer me up during my crazy day.

Instead, I am going to bring a little care package to work with me; a prayer book, some inspiring writings and definitely my IPOD with all 3000 songs to keep me going.

"...Prayer and fasting is the cause of awakening and mindfulness and conducive to protection and preservation from tests..." --Abdu'l-Baha