Thursday, November 11, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Eulogy for the Beloved Ezat Sanjar
Eulogy for Ezat Sanjar - Angels carried my beautiful grandmother up to the heavens at 7:30 a.m. on November 4, 2010. She died peacefully in her sleep with her children around her. She was 92 years old.
This Eulogy was given by me on Monday, November 8, 2010 during her funeral services.
******************
Our Maman had a Zest for life – A “Joie de Vivre” that was contagious – She was always up for fun and excitement. You could wake her up at 2 a.m. and tell her there is a party do you want to go? And she’d say “Let’s go!”
The Jewel that was always ready to celebrate life and take from it as much as she could.
She even danced until the last moments of her life. That is truly having a Joy for life! Her joy in living simply made life beautiful to everyone around her.
Maman was the matriarch of our family. All the main events of our lives as a family would go back to her and bounce off of her. She defined so many key family events, she shaped so many of us. Shaped so many lives. Shaped so many events. I would say she was a true force. Showing us her will and determination. Some of it was done quietly and gently – and some of it not always quietly but always diplomatically.
My fondest memory of Maman is how in Mashhad she would put us to bed. Oh my god! What lucky children we were! She would have these great beds laid out in the yard for each of us and as we were crawling into them they had been cooled by the lovely Mashhad air. We would look up into the vast indigo night and the tiny but abundant stars up above and wiggle and get all comfortable. Getting ready for her to tell us her stories.
She was a most gifted story teller and a grand actress as she recited stories called Naranj & toranj or Amir Arsalan the Brave! She had us mesmerized and recited these adventures which literally went on for weeks!
To this day I have not experienced anything better than those innocent nights under the starry sky and falling asleep to the sweet cadence of her voice. What a gift those memories are! Thank you maman jon. Thank you! Thank you for spending all those nights to put us to bed. Thank you for being that story teller in my life and through your words and actions for teaching me the art of reading and the love of reading. That alone has been one of the most tremendous gifts I’ve ever received in my life. And I owe it all to you.
I’m grateful, that we, her children are all here because Baba fell in love with her. That is anoth
er story that I loved hearing from Baba. How she was squatting by the small pool in the back of the house and brushing her long thick lovely hair and Baba secretly peeking at her and thinking he must marry the beautiful Ezat.
He was hopelessly in love and had to have her. It’s even more romantic when I tell you that he remained in love with her until his last days and when he passed on she was right there beside him to the very end of their days together. She was a good wife to him and he was a loving husband to her.
Together they had 5 amazing daughters who in turn gave them the best grandchildren and she was finally blessed to even see her great grandchildren. How wonderful is that? I am here because a lovesick young man fell in love with a feisty beauty. Again, how wonderful is that?
I remember as a mother she was fierce. Cyrus used to say in a voice full of awe that mammon is a lioness & you better not mess with her when it comes to her kids. And he was right. She loved her children.
She taught each of her daughters something that defined them and carried them through life. She taught them to have strength and that it can come from many places such as happiness, fearlessness, bravery, anger, from within & from friends, family, from not giving up and persevering.
She had a poetic and philosophical mind. To have a glimpse into her brilliant thoughts, just think of the names she gave her children. Homa, Forough, Nushin, Farzaneh and Mitra. To each she gave a poetic name and a wish she had wanted to be fulfilled in her own life and the life of her children. Names that were uncommon among Iranian women at the time. Each a symbol of the philosophies she believed in.
I know that I say and believe she had a good life but she also experienced great tragedies in her life. And that is truly the test of one’s mettle. Those tragedies are what proved that she is a great woman indeed.
She lost her mother when she was but a child, lived through two world wars, a revolution, had to change her country, leave her lovely home and friends to live in a foreign land with no knowledge of that language, at one point due to war she couldn’t nurse one of her children and had to face the possibility of losing her child. She lost her eyesight in the latter years of her life and I know that was a difficult struggle for her as she’d cry over her inability to read. I also know it bothered her that she could no longer see the physical changes in her children.
Therefore, she was no stranger to loss. She lost infants to death, her husband left her side too soon, she lost a vivacious and beautiful young daughter to a rare disease and a much beloved grandson whom she loved as her own.
However, she went on and by her quiet grace and elegant actions she showed us that life is to be lived. Anyone who knew her and knew of the kind of life she had led marveled at her strength, at her loveliness. She was always gentle, a lady and never harsh even though if she had wanted she had earned the right through her trials in life to at least be bitter at times. But we never saw that in her. She was all strength and always a true matriarch and leader.
My Maman, My beautiful beloved grandma. What shall we do without you? We’ll miss you. We’ll miss your kind eyes, you sweet smile, your soft white hair, your gentleness, your will, your devotion, your joyfulness, your judgement, your wisdom, your sharp mind, your knowledge, you advice, your mothering, your grandmothering and your love for life and your love for us all. So many things to miss about you Mamon. SO. Many. Things…
I think my son Bijan said it best. He said, “Maman meant something different to each of us but she was the light in the family for all of us.”
Goodbye dearest maman. We already miss you and one day I’ll see you once again but this time on the other side!
This Eulogy was given by me on Monday, November 8, 2010 during her funeral services.
Our Maman had a Zest for life – A “Joie de Vivre” that was contagious – She was always up for fun and excitement. You could wake her up at 2 a.m. and tell her there is a party do you want to go? And she’d say “Let’s go!”
The Jewel that was always ready to celebrate life and take from it as much as she could.
She even danced until the last moments of her life. That is truly having a Joy for life! Her joy in living simply made life beautiful to everyone around her.
Maman was the matriarch of our family. All the main events of our lives as a family would go back to her and bounce off of her. She defined so many key family events, she shaped so many of us. Shaped so many lives. Shaped so many events. I would say she was a true force. Showing us her will and determination. Some of it was done quietly and gently – and some of it not always quietly but always diplomatically.
My fondest memory of Maman is how in Mashhad she would put us to bed. Oh my god! What lucky children we were! She would have these great beds laid out in the yard for each of us and as we were crawling into them they had been cooled by the lovely Mashhad air. We would look up into the vast indigo night and the tiny but abundant stars up above and wiggle and get all comfortable. Getting ready for her to tell us her stories.
She was a most gifted story teller and a grand actress as she recited stories called Naranj & toranj or Amir Arsalan the Brave! She had us mesmerized and recited these adventures which literally went on for weeks!
To this day I have not experienced anything better than those innocent nights under the starry sky and falling asleep to the sweet cadence of her voice. What a gift those memories are! Thank you maman jon. Thank you! Thank you for spending all those nights to put us to bed. Thank you for being that story teller in my life and through your words and actions for teaching me the art of reading and the love of reading. That alone has been one of the most tremendous gifts I’ve ever received in my life. And I owe it all to you.
I’m grateful, that we, her children are all here because Baba fell in love with her. That is anoth
er story that I loved hearing from Baba. How she was squatting by the small pool in the back of the house and brushing her long thick lovely hair and Baba secretly peeking at her and thinking he must marry the beautiful Ezat.
He was hopelessly in love and had to have her. It’s even more romantic when I tell you that he remained in love with her until his last days and when he passed on she was right there beside him to the very end of their days together. She was a good wife to him and he was a loving husband to her.
Together they had 5 amazing daughters who in turn gave them the best grandchildren and she was finally blessed to even see her great grandchildren. How wonderful is that? I am here because a lovesick young man fell in love with a feisty beauty. Again, how wonderful is that?
I remember as a mother she was fierce. Cyrus used to say in a voice full of awe that mammon is a lioness & you better not mess with her when it comes to her kids. And he was right. She loved her children.
She taught each of her daughters something that defined them and carried them through life. She taught them to have strength and that it can come from many places such as happiness, fearlessness, bravery, anger, from within & from friends, family, from not giving up and persevering.
She had a poetic and philosophical mind. To have a glimpse into her brilliant thoughts, just think of the names she gave her children. Homa, Forough, Nushin, Farzaneh and Mitra. To each she gave a poetic name and a wish she had wanted to be fulfilled in her own life and the life of her children. Names that were uncommon among Iranian women at the time. Each a symbol of the philosophies she believed in.
I know that I say and believe she had a good life but she also experienced great tragedies in her life. And that is truly the test of one’s mettle. Those tragedies are what proved that she is a great woman indeed.
She lost her mother when she was but a child, lived through two world wars, a revolution, had to change her country, leave her lovely home and friends to live in a foreign land with no knowledge of that language, at one point due to war she couldn’t nurse one of her children and had to face the possibility of losing her child. She lost her eyesight in the latter years of her life and I know that was a difficult struggle for her as she’d cry over her inability to read. I also know it bothered her that she could no longer see the physical changes in her children.
Therefore, she was no stranger to loss. She lost infants to death, her husband left her side too soon, she lost a vivacious and beautiful young daughter to a rare disease and a much beloved grandson whom she loved as her own.
However, she went on and by her quiet grace and elegant actions she showed us that life is to be lived. Anyone who knew her and knew of the kind of life she had led marveled at her strength, at her loveliness. She was always gentle, a lady and never harsh even though if she had wanted she had earned the right through her trials in life to at least be bitter at times. But we never saw that in her. She was all strength and always a true matriarch and leader.
My Maman, My beautiful beloved grandma. What shall we do without you? We’ll miss you. We’ll miss your kind eyes, you sweet smile, your soft white hair, your gentleness, your will, your devotion, your joyfulness, your judgement, your wisdom, your sharp mind, your knowledge, you advice, your mothering, your grandmothering and your love for life and your love for us all. So many things to miss about you Mamon. SO. Many. Things…
I think my son Bijan said it best. He said, “Maman meant something different to each of us but she was the light in the family for all of us.”
Goodbye dearest maman. We already miss you and one day I’ll see you once again but this time on the other side!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
FIFA Is Sorry About Bad Ref Calls, Will Reconsider Using Video Technology
by Stan Schroeder from Mashable.com
Everyone that watched Sunday’s World Cup match between England and Germany on TV saw that Frank Lampard scored a goal — everyone except the referee, and thus England was denied the goal.
That call, together with another bad call later that day when the referee missed a clear offside when Argentina took the lead against Mexico, spurred a heated debate about using technology to aid the refs in football games.
For more see: http://bit.ly/bKUWSP
Everyone that watched Sunday’s World Cup match between England and Germany on TV saw that Frank Lampard scored a goal — everyone except the referee, and thus England was denied the goal.
That call, together with another bad call later that day when the referee missed a clear offside when Argentina took the lead against Mexico, spurred a heated debate about using technology to aid the refs in football games.
For more see: http://bit.ly/bKUWSP
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Do You Remember These?
As a kid in Iran, I loved Negrokiss. The dome shaped chocolate-coated marshmallow treats that were so... just so... Perfect! Cracking the choco layer to get to the smooth filling... and then... YUM! How the chocolate melted soothingly with the marshmallow.. Heavenly! A perfect combination. Chocolate with Marshmellow, black and white, smooth and crackly. Thin layer, thick filling and it all ended with a sweet little wafer that you'd lick before just finishing the treat.In the States these treats are known as Mellomars. And alas not as tasty but they will do. Here they are seasonal cookies. Every October I buy a box, devour it with relish and then do not dare go near them again - fearing weight gain. I just found out that 70% of all Mellomars produced (by Nabisco) between October and April are sold in New York! Wow...
Check out it's history on the Wiki!
Check out it's history on the Wiki!
Feeling Nostalgic for Childhood Friends and Favorite Candies
As I am re-connecting with childhood friends on Facebook - I find myself becoming very wistful for the days gone by. There are times I have a hard time believing that I'm no longer a child. When did that happen? All in the blink of an eye as if I just rode a roller coaster and suddenly found myself at the end of the ride that is the here and now. No, I'm not that old. But the trip to this age seems just as fast-a-ride as a roller coaster ride. I'm happy to find for single moments that I have no difficulty connecting to that child of so many years ago, specially when I find a new old-friend again.
Sweets were always a part of that interaction and connected to my childhood happiness.
In Switzerland my favorite candy was Sugus... Such innocent pleasure and best shared with friends. Lemony Yellow! Orangey Orange! Raspberry Red! Bright Red Cherry! and Pinapple is Blue? Oh, it doesn't matter sweety! And oh so chewy chewy chewy!
- "Hey, look! I got a bright red one, again!"
- "Do you want my blue for your orange one? No? Ok..."
We'd quickly each chew one - as quick as the candy would allow itself to be chewed only to dig into the bag for the next flavor again and again.
Sometimes we'd make a game by closing our eyes and putting our hand in the bag, searching around and around a couple of times as if for a lottery ticket among the colorful squares. And after a few rounds in the bag, we'd finally pick one out. Still without looking, we'd rip the paper off the candy carefully, and pop it into our mouth to see if we could recognize the taste. We'd guess the taste, then open our mouth for our friend to look inside our mouth to verify the color. That's how we'd know whether we guessed right. It didn't matter if you guessed right or wrong. You did it for the fun, for the interaction. For feeling the sweet juice make it's way down your throat.
Sometimes we'd make a game by closing our eyes and putting our hand in the bag, searching around and around a couple of times as if for a lottery ticket among the colorful squares. And after a few rounds in the bag, we'd finally pick one out. Still without looking, we'd rip the paper off the candy carefully, and pop it into our mouth to see if we could recognize the taste. We'd guess the taste, then open our mouth for our friend to look inside our mouth to verify the color. That's how we'd know whether we guessed right. It didn't matter if you guessed right or wrong. You did it for the fun, for the interaction. For feeling the sweet juice make it's way down your throat.
Soon our tongues would be raw with the sweet tangy taste of the square pieces, we could no longer decipher the taste and the bag would be finished and we'd be all happy.
But we grow up and rudly have to face those teenage years that bring along pimples and the years that you somehow manage to choose THE worst hair styles to go with your pimply face.
Next just as you are relieved to no longer being a teenager, college comes along. That's the time that all you need to do is simply look at food to make your hips grow (tempting you to think "maybe the pimples weren't so bad?") That's the age of the most silent competition with your friends - that of being the thinnest among them. And so you find that even the nature of your friendships have changed and you are getting farther and farther away from that child. And that soon you have to become more responsible. You find that you are thinking about your teeth and that you are thinking about your weight.
And then much later - much later - you realize you have forgotten how wonderful and freeing a little piece of candy could taste, and how close you could feel to your friends over a little colorful square. You realize that with many of those friends that maybe it wasn't really that candy that was the sweetest but that time of your life with other children as friends.
No wonder I miss those years.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Forbes Magazine: Twenty-One Women Entrepreneurs Reveal Their Favorite Business Books
Even the savviest businesswomen get their inspiration from somewhere. Find out what's on their nightstands.
Article by: Kelly Watson
I've read or planning to read a few of the books on this list.
See full article here.
- Four Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss - I tried reading it once and it didn't grab me. Now that I see it on this list, I think I might give it another try.
I Love Malcolm Gladwell's work. Also, check him on TED and Spagetti Sauce - Sounds dorky but it is NOT to be missed! Books recommended on this list are:
- The Tipping Point
- Outliers - originally, I didn't want to read it, since not a single example includes a woman - How can that be?
On my TBD list are the following which make an appearance on this list as well:
- Women Don't Ask by Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever (I haven't finished the first chapter and I've already learned a lot!)
- Nice Girls Don't Get The Corner Office by Lois Frankel, Ph.D. - We'll see how this goes. A self-assessment begins early in the book.
Article by: Kelly Watson
I've read or planning to read a few of the books on this list.
See full article here.
- Four Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss - I tried reading it once and it didn't grab me. Now that I see it on this list, I think I might give it another try.
I Love Malcolm Gladwell's work. Also, check him on TED and Spagetti Sauce - Sounds dorky but it is NOT to be missed! Books recommended on this list are:
- The Tipping Point
- Outliers - originally, I didn't want to read it, since not a single example includes a woman - How can that be?
On my TBD list are the following which make an appearance on this list as well:
- Women Don't Ask by Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever (I haven't finished the first chapter and I've already learned a lot!)
- Nice Girls Don't Get The Corner Office by Lois Frankel, Ph.D. - We'll see how this goes. A self-assessment begins early in the book.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Recent Books
[For the Zombie blurb scroll down to the next post]
I read, "The Help" and it was a delightful read. There were parts of the book that I wish it just wasn't a part of the American culture. But that's what makes this country so wonderful it's good and bad all mixed together.The story is about three women in the early 1960's set in Jackson, Mississipi. Two of the women are Black women that work in white households as maids. The 3rd character, Skeeter, wants to write their story annonymously. At first there is resistance but finally the two women along with a a few other maids agree to help Skeeter write her book. And the stories are lovely and wonderful. It was one of those books that I wished would never end. And when I finished it, it was as if I knew these characters and they did not feel fictional at all.
Next, I'm reading Cutting for Stone written by Abraham Verghese (an MD). A wonderful book about twins born to an angelic nun who was a superb nurse. She dies in childbirth and their father, the surgeon whom she worked with, disappears shortly only to reappear later in their lives in the United States. I had a hard time getting past the birthing scene. It is graphic and bloody. But I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this wonderfully written book.Earlier this week, I finished reading Lisa Kleypas' "Smooth Talking Stranger." Lisa can do no wrong. I happen to like her historical romances better though. Smooth is a wonderful modern day romance. Rich Guy - Poor Girl. etc. etc. The interaction between the two characters and the dialog are just so fun you want to believe people like this exist. And that its possible for the Prince to pick the poor beautiful girl to be his partner. Hey I need a little feel good fantasy in my life... to keep me sane and this was the right dose this month. Can't wait for her upcoming historical later this month... May 25th to be exact.
Finally, I'm also reading "The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite" written by David Kessler. He is the same person that demonized the tobacco industry and is now working on demonizing the food industry. In the book there is candid accounts of his own struggle with eating and weight gain. The book is an eye opener and it discribes in somewhat scientific terms (it is accessible as far as the reading goes) how these foods are built to make them tasty to the point of food becoming an obssession.
Good reads! I feel lucky and blessed by the Reading Gods...
Pride and Prejudice and the Zombies
Yes, yes - I read this book and let me tell you the parts that were Jane Austen's writing were simply delightful. I can never get tired of reading her and every time I do read P&P I see something new. Something wise, wonderful and witty. I've often said if I could travel back in time, I'd be at Jane's door step in a heart beat.
Now the Zombie part. I admit, that it did surprise me as to how well this "mashable" feature worked and fit into the book - for the most part. Some of it was hilarious and I liked how at one point early in the book it showed that the Bennet sisters can work well as a team despite their differences. And that there can be a sisterly cohesiveness between them. However, I think that thought only works if you've read the book previously.
I also loved how Elizabeth thirsted for blood and at one point is able to yank out the heart of her enemy and eat it. It is so over the top and it gives a hilarious aspect to that particular scene. I kind of imagined her standing there and eating this live beating heart as you would a Red Delicious apple. But I didn't like a few lines given to my beloved Lizzy. In the following scene Lizzy is responding to Lydia who thinks she can find husbands for each of her sisters. In this book Wickham becomes and invalid who is constantly lying down in his own piss on a matterss and has to be constantly changed out of diapers.
Elizabeth says to Lydia: "I thank you for my share of the favour," said Elizabeth, "but I do not particularly desire the rest of my life spent emptying piss pots." - Elizabeth is way way too elegant in wit and her use of language to ever say something blatant like the word "piss". So I really didn't like this particular line and a few like it when it came to Lizzy.
The next character is Mrs. Bennet. What is funny is that in this case there was nothing Grahame-Smith could add to her character. Austin topped him in regards to that character and is probably laughing at him from the beyond.
The parts written by Seth Grahame-Smith at times worked too hard to be funny in a very juvenile way. Almost reminded me of the Austin Power movies and all the pee jokes. Grahame-Smith went out of his way for the charcters to vomit or in the case of Charlotte and the things he did to her it felt more tragic than funny. Specially since the poor girl is already married to the insufferable Mr. Collins.
But at the end Lizzy is Lizzy and Mr. Darcy is Mr. Darcy and still a great love story. The two are perfect even as Zombie slayers.
Friday, January 15, 2010
This month's Books
The Guernsey Potato Peel Pie Literary Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows- Delightful! No other was to say it. The last part of the book is one of the best romances I've read in a LONG time.- Wicked All Day by Liz Carlyle- Nothing compares to Lisa Kleypas' stories. Sorry Liz!
The White Tiger by Arvind Adiga - Enlightening. The antidote to lyrical India. Reminds me of Kiran Desai's book "The Inheritance of Loss" - It has a certain sadness to it although the narrator is so witty and edgy and so easily uses the "F" word that I found it funny. Just love it. - As The Great World Spins by Colum McCann- Takes you right back to the 70's and it very thought provoking. Reminds you of the Vietname, Nixon, sex and Studio 56 days. I simply LOVE the writing. So smooth and clean and well thought out. Its as if the text is just scrubbed clean for the reader but it is not sterile by any means.
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart - Action packed. A Great book with many good moral lessons and how kids can use their smarts to get out of tight situations. I love watching my son getting into the book and imagining himself as part of the Benedict Society and how he might have been able to contribute to help the situation.
The Antidote to Lyrical India: The White Tiger
Balram Halwai is about a man who manages to improve his lot in life by becoming a driver for a rich family. The book is one long letter to the premier of China as he writes about India's entrepreneurial skills. The narration has a sarcastic edge to it and makes him very endearing.
I'm still reading the book but can't help myself writing about it. So far, there was a few things that surprised me.
I'm still reading the book but can't help myself writing about it. So far, there was a few things that surprised me.
- How easily accepts someone as "Master" and not question the system. And how early in the book the master talks about the Balram as if he is not there and talks about how ignorant Balram is as his master's wife giggles. Later we find this guy also punches his wife in the face.
- He kills his master. Slits his throat...wow...
- When his father tells him he wants his son to be a man and not treated as an animal. His dad pulls rickshaws.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Stimulus Package helping out Scholastic
Ever since the Harry Potter series have ended, Scholastic has been experiencing a slump in it sales. Fortunately, the Stimulus Package is helping the company out:
Scholastic Graduates From Harry Potter to Stimulus for Sales
President Barack Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan are using $100 billion in stimulus funds to try to reshape U.S. education. About $22 billion of the money allocated so far has gone to federal programs for the low-income and disabled students Scholastic’s remedial programs target.
Scholastic Graduates From Harry Potter to Stimulus for Sales
President Barack Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan are using $100 billion in stimulus funds to try to reshape U.S. education. About $22 billion of the money allocated so far has gone to federal programs for the low-income and disabled students Scholastic’s remedial programs target.
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