This is probably the first year I've ever known what I wanted to get my Mom for her Birthday. My sons and I walked into the shop to the area I knew it was. I asked for the price and was given the answer. "Can I have it?" I asked, delighted it was within the budget I set for her gift.
The man referred to it as the best in the world and I thought to myself, yes, it is.
When I left the shop I thought about what he said. I wondered if he was reading aloud what I thought about it. Yes, I do think it's the best thing in the world.
My son asked, "Can I give it to Grandma?"
I replied, "Yes".
He smiled, "I'm excited and nervous to give it to her."
I smile with more than just my mouth.
This is my children's book, Something Special, written with poetic thoughts and creative illustrations inspired by Iranian artwork, Canadian artwork, nature, artwork based off of ideas and Moon of Mine.
This is my Children’s Book, Moon of Mine. The kid talks to the moon as it goes through it’s monthly cycle (based off of NASA’s moon cycle from the month of November, 2014). I hope you enjoy!
I sit down at the table with my new pen in hand. It says two letters I'm familiar with as a result of a family history full of them... RN.
It was in the drawer of a piece of furniture my Mom bought Michael and I for our Birthdays. I opened the drawer, expecting no more than emptiness and I found it.
The pen matches the particular piece of furniture it was in. It's relatively ancient. I look at it and think, "It's gorgeous!". Not to mention, it writes well.
I love it. Not for what it is exactly, but because it gives me thoughts of hope, health, love, healing and wellness.
A gifted piece of furniture, sourced from some of my favorite people and RN's, arrives this pen. Was it intentionally placed in the drawer for me?
I wonder.
And so I decide to make it work.
I have some coins my Father gave me recently that are World Cup 1994 coins. These are valuable coins, not just because of their value, but because I went to the 1994 World Cup final game with my Father. We had good seats, it was hot and a guy in one of the seats behind us had a stroke during the game. I remember details like that. Especially that guy because I remember looking at him and wondering what was happening to him followed by him having the actual stroke and members of the Emergency Crew swarming around to help him.
That Brazil vs Italy game went into shootouts and ended with Brazil as the winner. I was playing club soccer at the time and was extremely passionate about the sport. I'd grown up going to cheer for my Dad's team every Sunday as a kid and having the opportunity to attend that final game was such a gift. The game was exciting all the way up until the last goal. I am forever grateful for the memories I have surrounding the sport of soccer. Of course I hope that guy who had a stroke lived through it and had a happy life.
As a human being, we know what it's like to be passionate about life. We know what it's like to feel sad, and what it's like to feel happy, excited, upset, tired, energized... We have empathy for one another's suffering and great joy together through triumphs. Even animals have human like qualities when it comes to characteristics such as these.
I went to visit my parents with my sons today and when I walked into the house, the U.S. vs England Women's World Cup game was on. I was delighted to sit and watch the remainder of the game with my Mom and Dad. We even had my 2 year old son running around the table toward the end of the game, chanting, "U.S.A., U.S.A.!!!".
We were happy to see the U.S. win and celebrate with hugging and elated emotions! And, of course, when the player from the England team was laying on the ground after the game, my 4 year old son asked, "What is she doing laying on the ground?", I had to pause with empathy when I replied, "She's probably crying." Then we watched as the other tear filled eyes England player waved to the crowds. She had the look in her eyes that told me she was happy, even though her team didn't win, because she gave it her all.
My Father always told me when he was my soccer coach, if you walk onto the field and give everything you have to each moment of the game, you will exit the field with happiness, even when you're sad because your team didn't win, knowing you gave it your all. I was so happy to celebrate with the U.S., knowing when we cheer for the U.S. team, greatness happens all over the world. And I was blessed to look into those eyes of the woman from the United Kingdom, reminding me of the beautiful lessons, forever ingrained in my soul.
I've been looking at the houses of our parents and parent's friends going up for sale recently. Simultaneously, admiring the fact that our parent's friends, parents and family are, once again, showing us how much they care for us. Giving us shade like a tall tree to a young boy in a sunny garden. One generation to the next.
While we're getting situated in our forever home, buying our forever home, or planting the thought seeds about the possibility of living in our dream home, the generation who raised us is continuing to do so by closing doors of the past and opening bright possibilities.
While we were looking at places we could "potentially afford", our guides are teaching our spirits to believe bigger and better. The generation who raised us are opening the houses that we grew up in. We know those houses and love them. We loved playing in them, sleeping in them, swimming at them and simply feeling at home in and around them.
Instead of knowing a house is for sale and not having the courage to walk through the open house because it's "out of our price range", we are excited to walk through the house to reimagine the great memories that continue to live in those spaces. We're guided to think of pure and happy memories that make a home.
To those of you who love, support, raise and lead us, thank you, once again, for giving us the freedom to pursue happiness and find life in our living. One generation to the next.
