LIFE AS IT IS

I looked into the distance From the top of the mountain And I saw the port's yellow lights, Blinking and flickering, Blinking and flickering Like four fireflies in a jar. © Wara Karim 

I looked at the heaven above, And I saw an indigo stole.  Even with five rhinestones missing, Threads hanging loose,  And small rips here and there, It was the prettiest stole  I had ever seen.  A thunder strikes.  The pretty stole begins to descend, Descend on me... To keep me warm till eternity. © Wara Karim

I was at a clinic yesterday morning for my annual health screening. The first person I talked to was the front desk receptionist, a woman whose head was covered in hijab. She looked biracial to me (African American + European American). The doctor who saw me was a young Pakistani American woman, also in hijab. She said she was born in Pakistan but grew up in the US. Last year, a European American doctor saw me during my physical. I didn’t know she was a Muslim until she said “Ass alamualaikum” to me before leaving the room at the end of the physical. I was surprised! She said both she and her husband converted to Islam more than a decade ago - both of them were students at the time of their conversion.  Anyway, from the clinic we went to the nearby Dunkin Donuts to grab some sandwiches - the young lady who took my order was a Bangladeshi. The middle-aged man who handed me our sandwiches was a Bangladeshi, too. Bangladeshi and Muslim.  My OB/GYN (Obstetrician/Gynecol...

A pinch of tolerance, a dash of respect, a bit of openness, and a handful of love. Mix, and you have the potion to make this world a better place to live! Now, drink up, please. © Wara Karim 

I thought it was easier to love than to hate. The truth is, hatred comes more easily to the human heart.  I thought all lives were precious. The truth is, some lives are more precious than others. I thought religions brought peace and harmony. The truth is, to many, religion is only a tool to spread tyranny. What a fool I was to believe in things that are untrue! But I would rather be a fool and believe in good things Than be a disbeliever of human goodness.  © Wara Karim

I was at an urgent care centre on a November morning following a severe allergic reaction to some cough medication I took the night before. It was 8 a.m. and after filling out some forms, I was sitting in the waiting area, waiting to be called. As a woman walked through the front door, I nonchalantly looked up at her. I was not at all expecting to see something that I never saw before, but I did.  The woman, who was Caucasian, appeared to be in her 40s, and had a split lower lip and a black eye, which she tried to cover with her hair. I had seen victims of abuse and domestic violence in pictures and videos before, but it was the first time I saw one in real life.  I did not look at her twice though. She was clearly in a lot of mental and physical pain and I didn't want to add to her discomfort. But I was breaking inside. I felt like going up to her and telling her that things would be better for her sooner than she thought. But of course, I did not do any of that. I wa...

What is it that we chase? Money, power, dream, love? Or just a mirage? Often, the closer we get to it The faster it disappears. Our hope shatters. But we don't give in We start anew with renewed hope A journey to touch another mirage. © Wara Karim 

Such a short life, yet we run after money and power like we will live here forever. I feel pity for ourselves. 

Roasted peanuts from Whole Foods Market. They taste just like the ones from my childhood days in Bangladesh! I got them for the second time yesterday. These are that good! If you eat them with some salt+chili powder, they taste even better. 

It asked me to look at the sky,  I looked above my head, And I saw mechanical bees, Humming and hovering, Searching for their next targets. It asked me to look at the horizon,  I did and I saw red, A cushy blanket red in blood. That day, I witnessed not a sunset,  But the sad demise of humanity. It asked me to look at open fields. I saw no fields, only barren lands. I saw bodies of slain men, women and children, I saw books, toys, pots and pans - All burnt and broken. It then asked me to look at a busy street. I did and the siren deafened me. I saw ambulance and police car, I saw fire truck and yellow tape, I saw chaos, I heard cries, I also saw a bleeding man - his right arm missing. Writer's page © Wara Karim

Summer bid goodbye not too long ago, but winter is already here, rushing to say hello. There is a short season between summer and winter though, a season that is crisp and colourful. During the presence of this short-lasting season, you feel neither the scorching summer heat nor the bone-freezing winter chill, both of which make life unbearable. I feel its presence in the afternoon when the mild sunshine and cool breeze flood me and my surroundings. Autumn reminds me of my winter days in Dhaka.  I loved winter in Dhaka. It never really got very cold in those days -- a jumper was enough to keep a child warm when he or she headed for school in the morning. It usually warmed up by afternoon and we would take our jumpers off and tie them around our waists. Autumn here in America feels like winter in Dhaka – a light jacket, jumper, or sweater is enough to keep myself warm and cosy.  On an autumn morning, I wake up and tiptoe to the living room in search of my slippers. The har...

The world is in my palm! "Global news?" Yes. "Weather updates?" Yes. "Friends and family?" Oh, yes. "Games?" Of course. "Camera?" Aye. "What's left?" Plants and animals perhaps. "Hmm... no living things then?" Nay, nothing alive, Also nothing that I can touch or feel.... "How do you then say the world is in your palm? Those people on your phone are just pictures, Those voices you hear are distant, You cannot see them, And you ignore them when they're in front of you." But... "Hush... Let me finish... You know why? Because you're too busy, Living life in your own little palm." © Wara Karim

Little things matter. Things as little as… The first drop of summer rain,  Or the first ray of sunshine At the end of a dull morn, Or a teensy bead of spring rain Dancing on a blade of grass.  Little things matter. Things as little as… A stranger’s smile on a crowded train, An unknown man’s hand of help When you can’t lift your own bag, Or a strange woman's pat on the head When you cry for your lost parent 30,000 feet in the air.  Little things matter. Things as little as... An unknown child’s “Hello”  In a crowded mall, A friend’s teary “Good-bye”  Before she boards the bus back to her city.  Or a lost friend's four words in your inbox - “Do you remember me?” © Wara Karim

It’s the little things in life That make life beautiful.  We carry a stranger’s smile,  Gesture of love, Drops of tears With us wherever we go.  We remember the first snowfall In a new country, The first dance in the summer rain,  Or the first rainbow in the western sky.  We remember who gave us a good meal When days were bad, Who uttered word of hope When there was no hope, Who held our hands and said, “It’s okay, it’s okay.” We remember the people, Who made us laugh  And made us feel That the world wasn’t a bad place at all. We remember the blind man We once met at the train station - His white cane was his scepter.  He radiated hope, he emanated courage.  Yes, it’s the little things and experiences That make life beautiful, Ask us to stand tall and brave storm, And tell us that the sun is there, Right there... behind those gray clouds.  You may not see it now, But it's there, ther...

Zara's long, slightly curly hair was hanging from the back of a white leather couch. She raised her head for a second and turned it right and then left. "Oh, my neck hurts!" she said to herself. She had been sitting like that for almost two long hours. She knew she needed to leave the couch and mind the million and one important things that were going on in her life, but she was fatigued, mentally. She did not even want to open those kolh-lined eyes of hers - she feared returning to reality. "Are you sure you want to spend the rest of your day here?" Saadi asked her with a smile. Saadi, Zara's husband, was a most loving and considerate man. Zara had always felt lucky being his better-half. No, they did not know each other well before their marriage; they were not romantically involved in any kind of relationship. It was a marriage arranged by their families. But things clicked on their wedding night - they realized soon after tying the knot that nothing c...

I’m alone, alone in this wintry morning The skies grey, the trees brown, The roads wet from last night’s rain. I wait amongst all these, Waiting for a perfect moment. A white sedan passes Not big enough, I think. I need a van, or something larger. As I think of the perfect way, The perfect way to end my world,  A sparrow comes and stands by my feet. A tiny life, so tiny that I can crush him. He looks at me - carefree, fearless. I squat on the pavement, And hold my palm towards him. He leaps, Uneasy, but not afraid.  With my hands and knees on the ground I take a closer look at him. He looks back this time, Courageous and confident.  We exchange stares for two minutes, Communicate shhh...  silently. Then he flies away happily, Leaving behind a man, New, sure, and fearless. © Wara Karim 

If you knew you would die young, Would you have changed what you had planned for life? Would you have studied art instead of business? Would you have pursued music instead of medicine? Would you have left your job and become a full-time father? Write short stories instead of marketing plans? If you knew you would die young, Would you have taken that vacation to the mountains that you postponed twice before? Would you have soaked yourself in the rain every time the sky opened, If you knew you came to live in this world for only 30 years? You thought you'd live to celebrate your 70th birthday. But if you knew this thought would one day shatter into smithereens, Would you have spent more time with humans than with screens? Would you? © Wara Karim

Life is both short and long - it depends on how you look at it. It seems short to people who have some goals to attain - too many things to achieve in a short span of time - they wish a day was 48 hours long, instead of just 24 hours. But life perhaps seems long to people with no clear ambition or goal to  reach - each day, they wait for the sunset time to arrive - the sooner it arrives, the better for them...  

Link:  Nature's Grand Finale A short piece composed and read out by me. 

You don't know where you will meet your next friend! I was at the local mall with my daughter and so was she. My daughter saw her little girl and started running... I followed. Shan and I struck a conversation as our daughters talked with each other in their own baby language. We exchanged phone numbers... that was in July. Yesterday, we attended that little girl's second birthday party. There weren't many guests - Shan's mother, her in-laws and us. We had a lovely time. Shan and her family are vegetarians - they are the only white Americans I know who are vegetarians! After coming back from Shan's house yesterday afternoon I thought of becoming a vegetarian, too! (Although I just ate both fish and meat for lunch!) But I hope to eat less meat in the future! After meeting with her, I have become more health conscious than before. I already had a habit of reading food labels, but since knowing Shan, I have been reading these labels with even greater attention! It...

It was a beauty to behold and remember for decades to come! BDNEWS24.com link

The clock does not stop ticking for anyone (unless you take the battery out, or if the battery dies). :)

The Daily Star link Date of publication: Sept. 9, 2015 I first came across the word, Amish, in one of the volumes of Nancy Drew mystery stories series some 20 odd years ago. At that time, I knew nothing about the Amish and who they are. As I became older I read about them on the Internet at various times; I even watched several episodes of a reality TV show called “Breaking Amish” a couple of years ago. In short, the Amish and their lifestyle had intrigued me and I always wanted to see first-hand what the life of these simple people is like.  The Lancaster County of Pennsylvania is home to some 30,000 Amish people; it’s a major tourist destination for those who want to experience the Amish way of living. Pennsylvania is also the oldest Amish settlement in America. The Amish are a group of Anabaptist Christians, who believe in the baptism of adults, not infants. Amish, who confess their faith, are baptized again as adults -- the word ‘ana’ means, again. An Amish, who transg...

It's easier to hate than to love someone different from you. #xenophobia. I am glad my heart is not as hard as that of a xenophobic person.

I first came across the word, Amish, in one of the volumes of Nancy Drew mystery stories series some 20-25 years ago. At that time, I knew nothing about the Amish and who they are. As I became older I read about them on the Internet at various times; I even watched several episodes of a reality TV show called “Breaking Amish” a couple of years ago. In short, the Amish and their lifestyle had intrigued me and I always wanted to see first-hand what the life of these simple people is like. I finally made it last Saturday - we visited The Amish Village in Lancaster county of Pennsylvania. In the Amish Village, one gets to see an authentic Amish farmhouse, a barn with animals, an Amish schoolhouse, Amish buggy, plow, etc. Pennsylvania is the first and oldest Amish settlement in the U.S. It was a fun+educational trip.   Mr. Ed, the horse, in The Amish Village barn. He was so friendly!  The Amish Village.  Buggies and automobiles share narrow country roads. ...

I requested for a ride to the mall on Uber yesterday - my driver was a middle-aged Ethiopian man, who moved to the U.S. with his wife and three kids 16 years ago. I always like to talk with other  people and know about their lives. So, while I talked with the Ethiopian gentleman yesterday I learned that he is actually a teacher, who teaches at a local medical institute! I did not know quite understand the name of the institute though, and I was kind of shy to ask again. Anyway, he said he is working for Uber as school is closed for summer - this is not his full-time job. I also found out that he spent one month, training at a hospital in Dhaka, my home city! This came as a total surprise - how many times in your life do you meet an Ethiopian-American who lived for a month in your home country? On my way back from the mall, the driver, who gave me the ride, said he was a full-time graduate student and that he was driving for Uber to earn some extra money. He works at his universi...

Growing up in Bangladesh between '80s and '90s, vegetables were part of our daily diet. It began at breakfast time with round rotis and a preparation from mixed vegetables. Then during lunch time, vegetables were a must too. Lunch began with spinach or some other kind of leafy vegetable, a single or mixed vegetable preparation, meat or fish and dal (pulses). Here in the United States, however, daily diets of adults and children rely heavily on meat and carbohydrates. Potato is probably the most common vegetable in American diet. But I never treated potato as a vegetable before moving to the U.S. - potato is considered a source of carb in the part of the world where I grew up. In the past 6 years, I met very few American kids, who said they loved veggies. Parents are not to be blamed alone for their children's distaste toward veggies - it's an acquired taste. Besides, healthy foods are more expensive in this country. Meat costs much less than vegetables. In large fami...

No one's life comes at a standstill for anyone. 

The front camera of your phone is also a good mirror. Women out there, when you don't have a mirror handy, use it to apply/check your make-up and hair. :)

Yesterday, I was at the Pawpaw Folk Festival held in Wilmington, Delaware. There were many folk artists showcasing and selling their handicrafts, which ranged from woodworking, painting, pottery to jewelry and knit & yarn products. The elderly Amish woman in the pictures below was working at her loom - she was looming 100% woolen scarves and towels, which looked and felt so good. She appeared at least 80 years old but she seemed so active and full of life. I talked with her and asked if I could take some photos of hers - she agreed. I dedicate this blog post to all those men and women, who believe that age is just a number. My daughter and I had fun at the festival. I bought a blue stoneware soap dish from a woman named Nettie Green. Her pottery ranged from pots and dishes to kettles, milk pots, mugs, etc. Each item was unique, hand-crafted and painted beautifully in shades like orange, blue, brown, yellow, golden, etc.

Yesterday, I found in the bathroom cabinet a tube of Babo Botanicals sunscreen that I once bought for my daughter. I totally forgot that I had it. Anyway, when I checked the tube I saw that it expired on 07/2015. Dang! Thinking that it might still be effective I emailed Babo's customer service and asked that if I could still use it since it's been just a month. Guess what their reply was? They req uested me to send them my shipping address so that they can send a new one!! They added that they'd be happy if I write a product review for them after receiving the new tube, which I don't mind writing at all 'cause it's a good product. I was so moved by their gesture. I mean the sunscreen expired 'cause I forgot that I bought it yet they want to send me a new tube! Talk about luck! 

Yesterday, my 2-year-10-month-old daughter was sleeping on me. She weighs more than 30 pounds  and it became a little difficult for me to breathe a few minutes after she began to sleep on me with her face down. But I let her sleep on me because I was loving it. I was patting her back with my right hand and running the fingers of my left hand through her hair.  She smelled so good. She always smells great, or maybe I just love her smell 'cause she is my baby! Yesterday, she reminded me of the day we brought her home from the hospital. That afternoon, too, she slept on my chest. At birth, she weighed 5 lbs 13 oz, which means she was featherlight! Both of us slept peacefully that gloomy afternoon of September.  And, although I could feel her presence on me, I could not really feel her weight on my chest and abdomen. So yesterday when she slept on me, I kept thinking of how fast time flies and how quickly babies grow up. 

When my daughter takes her afternoon nap, I usually lie down beside her with my cell phone. And you know how you can kill many valuable hours browsing the net and facebooking on the phone. I was/am no difference. But I have been trying to make a change to this habit for the past few days. Today, I kept my phone in the kitchen before going to the bedroom to put my daughter down for a nap. After she fell asleep, I read the latest issue of TIME magazine. It felt so good reading something in the afternoon after so many years - it reminded me of my childhood and adolescent years when I always went to bed in the afternoon with a story book. I would read a book and doze off thinking about what I just read.  *Scrawled on August 10, 2015

Early morning is my favorite time of the day, especially during the summer time when the sun is up at 5:30 a.m. I have always been an early riser. I think getting up early is not only healthy, but this habit also helps us make optimum use of every day of our life. You can finish a lot of tasks and still find a lot of time to do more, or just to relax, read a book, or watch a movie. I think late risers do not know what it is like to watch sunshine flooding a kitchen or living room. There is something very energetic about the morning sunshine - it always makes me happy. I also love to wake up early because the world is quiet at that time. No zooming cars, no loud lawnmower in action, no banging of the door by your neighbor -- it is a very very peaceful time of the day.

"Like wildflowers; You must allow yourself to grow in all the places people thought you never would."  I spotted these pretty, purple wildflowers yesterday while taking a walk around our apartment complex.