Best Weekend

I had a wonderful weekend.  Friday night was a lovely time and a great dinner.  Magic.
On Saturday, Christi drove down from New Hampshire to spend time with me.  We got a bit of a late start but finally made it to Back Bay and Newbury Street for a little shopping.  I spied this little view and an iron heart.

Faith in Between

iron heart

I returned an ill fitting dress and exchanged it for a new one: Kate Spade Pippa dress. Then we had a sushi lunch. I enjoyed a giant bowl of tuna and salmon sashimi with sliced avocados on the side.  Afterward we picked up some cupcakes for a late evening snack.

By the time we made it back to Wellesley, we were ready to relax at home.  My friend Jenny and Christi's college friend, Kristin, came over to share some pizza, wine, champagne, beer (oh my!), cupcakes, chocolate, and laughs.  There were lots of laughs.  But we also had really serious conversations.  All of us are in different places in life and lots of support was offered.  Everyone has a story.  Everyone should have the chance to tell it.  Every woman should be so lucky to have an audience of beautiful and smart friends to help sustain her faith in between while she is reaching for those 2012 miracles. Those are some lovely ladies.  I am so thankful for my friends.

May the longtime sun shine upon you, friends.

Six Word Memoir

What is your six word memoir?

Mine is:
"I did my very best, always."

May the longtime sun shine upon you, friends.

Shhh

I am so excited to attend a talk by Pico Ayer next Monday.

He wrote this fantastic article recently about the joy of quiet.  I am notorious for always listening to music or having some background noise in my office and home.  I am not vacationing in monastic hideaways (though I asked about going to one over the holidays and my Mom notified me that there was actually one close by home, then she commented I should just go sit on a beach alone and be quiet if I wanted silence...monasteries seemed too dreary, she felt...perhaps). I do try to take a few moments of quiet everyday.  Often, it is on my walk to work. The longest period of silence I experience (aside from sleep) is usually during my weekly meditation sessions.  I do feel more peaceful after quiet time.

Shh, friends;)

Boomie!!

So, some of you know that my childhood pet name is "Boomie." In Arabic that means "little owl." Anyways, I have a slight owl obsession.  Christi (who is having a slumber party with me this weekend!!!) had this lovely conversation with me and shared the best owl video ever.


Our conversation:
Christi:

I do enjoy this owl: Happy owls 

Nadya:

OMG

i love the owl

this is going on my blog

you rock

haha

Christi:

hahahahah

I watch it over and over

Nadya:

it is so cute

i am in love

lets get owls

harry potter style

that is what we will do on saturday

okay?

okay

that is settled

Christi:

only if they are baby owls that like to be petted

Nadya:

good point

So excited for Saturday and a pet owl;)

On Missing Someone

I am so lucky to have people in my life that love me no matter how far away I am.  I am in the early planning stages of my summer research trips to the Middle East. The creeping anxiety I feel as I plan these trips is that I am going to leave for several weeks and no one will miss me or I will be forgotten. When I am alone in a refugee camp and I feel a bit homesick and friend sick, it means the world to know that I am missed. Threads of my other life are knitted to my soul no matter the distance. If you are missing someone today, do let her know.  It says that you love them and that they matter.

My conversation with Emily about it all…

Nadya:

when i travel

for work alone

the thing i love hearing

is that i will be missed

why?

because it means that your presence matters to them

that when you are away

that your smile/voice/presence would be greatly missed at home

that you matter!

i always tell people that i miss them

when i do

just saying

J

Emily:

J

Nadya:

so i miss you

is what i am saying to you

dear emily

haha

Emily:

haha

i miss you too

Nadya:

aww yay

i was kinda fishing for that one

from you

Emily:

hahaha

no need, it's true!

Life is gooood

There are these moments in life when I realize I just might be brilliant.  It is rare, but they happen.  Today, January 24, on the eve of the new semester I woke up with a smile but also with a pitter patter in my heart.  Why? Classes start tomorrow.  Gone are my relaxed research days and 2-4pm lunch breaks of Murder She Wrote on my sofa at home. Sigh.

Be still my beating heart, you are smart.  Aside from the fact that lectures for Thursday are done, a week ago I booked a massage for myself for Tuesday January 24 at 3pm.  One hour of deep tissue massage with a focus on my aching Zumba neck and tense computer shoulders.
Goodness, I am one smart cookie.

Relax, friends.

Ache

I don't dedicate my poems, but this is for my friend. I feel her ache. Sending you lots of red string from Wellesley to Champaign.  xoxo, Nadya

...

Myogenic muscular organ

Red and pulsating

Rhythmic contractions

Actually whole.

Actually strong

Capable of pumping

for a long

Long

Time.

Figuratively split open

Figuratively knitted together

Red fibrous threads

Clinging to the hope

It will permanently heal

Scar tissue will meld

Absorb into the body

Harmonious.

nsh, 1/23/12