Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Everyday

I had to look this up.  Everyday as one word means common while every day is literal.  I think this distinction is pretty cool.

Today is a special day and I was inspired by Zahra to write this.  It’s not great writing, but I want to come back to read this and remember how I was feeling when I wrote this.

Every Day is Everyday

The sunrises Everyday

The stars are in the sky Everyday

We make memories Everyday

Let the memories hold on to you Every Day

It’s hard, we’re just pathetic humans

Still,

Every Day is Everyday

— 

Taher, the sun rises every day.  Not just on vacation; it is literally everyday.

Sunday, June 15, 2025

Panera

Panera keeps giving!  I’m enjoying some relaxing time at Panera today. A week ago we were knee deep in Ashara planning, ITS that wouldn’t cooperate and was seriously frustrating, and complicated logistics. Stress was all around. It was damn near impossible to be calm. I knew it would all work out eventually. It always seems to. It was hard to remember that and it was so hard to reassure others. 

We got a good reminder yesterday in misaq and waaz. A part of the waaz that really stayed with me was just have baroso. You’ve got the main and important stuff, don’t worry. The misaq reinforced this Khuda koy ne aape koy ne na aape. Khuda koy ne uncha kare koy ne neecha kare. Don’t worry. And ends with Mubarak. You have this oath and you’ve made it. 

Today I’m enjoying some time at Panera. Just after I entered a dad came in with his one year old. The kids was in adorable. He was in the phase where he could walk and really couldn’t talk yet. The Panera employee saw this cute kid and gave him a cookie. He was so excited!!!  The cookie was about the size of his face!😁. A little while later an old guy with a walker was getting coffee. I was able to hold his coffee and the door so he could navigate getting out without spilling. Just now I saw some guy hold the door for someone else that was holding a bunch of stuff. It was great. It was a small thing. 

Taher, notice the small things at Panera. Taher, let the little things pile up. 

Thursday, June 12, 2025

Never know

I didn’t write this, but I’ve begun to appreciate it very much. It is very poetic and stands up very well without music. I want to come back and read later. 

—-


We're breaking and rebuildingAnd we're growing, always guessing
Never knowingShocking but we're nothingWe're just momentsWe're clever but we're cluelessWe're just humanAmusing and confusingWe're trying but where is this all leadingWe'll never know
It all happened so much faster than you could say disasterWanna take a time-lapse and look at it backwards from the last oneAnd maybe that's just the answer that we're afterBut after all we're just a bubble in a boiling potJust one breath in a chain of thoughtThe moments just combustingFeel certain but we'll never, never knowSure seems the same
—-

Taher, remember that you never know. Leave a margin for what’s important. Be the early bird

Sunday, June 08, 2025

Pina Colada

I've always associated the Pina Colada song (I think it's called Escape) with vacation.  It's a rather silly song.  It's about a guy who's bored with his marriage and puts out a personal ad.  He puts out the ad with all the things he wants.  He gets a response and plans to meet up with the woman.  In a twist, his wife answers the ad.  She's all the things he wants.  

This song is silly, but it is not a vacation song.  It's good to hear on vacation though.  Seems like it's easier to think about what you want while on vacation.  The guy in this song didn't realize he already had everything he wanted.  It's not about wanting something else, it's about wanting what you've got.

Taher, when you hear this song let it be a reminder to you that you already have everything you want.  Don't just listen to this song on vacation.