quotes

So, after all, we have not
failed to make use of these spaces, these
spaces of ours. (How frighteningly great they must be,
since thousands of years have not made them overflow with our
feelings.)

i feel that way when i travel, don't you? the place is just bursting with freshness and vividness and experience and life, and you wonder, is the place the source? or is it me?

on travel:

"i must have pictured myself as rich in something i couldn't spend."

"even when you can't wait to get out of some hellhole you've chosen to visit, later you're never sorry you were there."

(this second quote reminds me of a line i might have posted earlier- voltaire- "if we do not find anything pleasant, at least we shall find something new." same sentiment, prettier prose.)

little tornado in the bed

this week one of my closest friends, farida, was in town with her 7-month old son, saifuddin. she slept over from tuesday to thursday, and taher graciously gave up the bed and slept in the living room so that farida and i could share the bed and whisper all night.

saifuddin slept between us, and yesterday morning he woke us by crawling around the bed with "let's play! why are you trying to sleep? don't you want to JUMP?" types of gestures.

it was awesome.

he has the best baby-smile ever, this kid. it's huge and joyous and it can persuade you to give up sleep in favor of playing! and rolling! and making silly noises!

:)

genius child

the last few days, i have been getting phone calls from my 3-year-old niece, sakina. she knows to pick up her mother's phone and dial 36 and press talk, and it will get her zahra faijee on the line.

of course, i am infinitely tickled every single time she calls me on her own. she'll chat with me, and then either one of her parents will walk into the room and she'll squeal, "look! zahra faijee!" and they'll get on the phone and apologize for bothering me, and not completely believe me that no matter what i'm in the middle of, sakina is the most welcome of interruptions. *grin*

life is good.