Saturday, October 28, 2006

a contact lense slipping behind the eye which nearly leads to the ER

a steamy shower setting off a fire alarm that brings three fire trucks to our doors

We can't help but ask...

"Alright Baha'u'llah...what are you trying to tell us?"

Monday, October 16, 2006

A Perfect Evening Marred

After several stressful days (or in some of our cases weeks), Navva, Seowah and I decided to have a girls night. And this meant we were going to go all out. We were going to listen to music, do our nails, and even eat cookie dough ice cream. With all of these goodies we felt we couldn't contain it to just ourselves. We invited Corinne and Sarah, two girls who live on campus ages 15 and 8 respectively. I had to run out and get rat food first and on our way back we stopped at a gas station to pick up the ice cream. (I miss having a grocery store a couple blocks away)

It was just Sarah and I who were going to get the ice cream, leaving Navva and Corinne to listen to music in the car. We hopped out of the car and I held my hand out for her to hold on to it and we skipped/danced our way to the door. I saw a guy in a car looking at me in an unsavory way so I hurried us along. I took a bit longer than I normally would have to give the young man time to have driven off. We emerged from the gas station, Sarah triumphantly holding my hand as if to show the world how she did it, she mangaed to elcit an invitation from the big girls for an evening of fun. I was more timid, a feeling that was intensfied by spotting the man, now joined with a friend.

"Hey sweet thing!" the first one called at me. My face burned crimson. My hands shook as I fumbled with my keys, my back facing them as I opened the car door. "Nice view!" They hooted. My face held a look of swift arriving anger and as quickly as that look came, those two offenders drove off. I sat in my car with these three spiritual sisters of mine and a number of things floated to my mind. Being the oldest one there, I feel naturally responsible for the others. It is what Reed would call my mother hen mind set. I look in my rear view mirror and see Sarah. Her eyes are rounded with fear and concern. We start driving. "Sarah, what just happened is not okay." I use a firm voice. "If something like that ever happens you need to let your mom or Corinne know, alright?" She nods her head.

For the rest of the night, that event is on my mind. I think of my sister's post similar to what happened. More than anything I wish I would've reacted. Had time to react. I would have turned to them and said,"What gives you the right to say those things to me? What is it that makes you feel entitled to say that in front of that little soul? She is somebody's baby girl. I am somebody's baby girl. Would you want those unwanted looks to fall on your sister? For those comments to reach your girlfriend's ears? Would you not blush if your mother were present?"

So I lay a challenge at your doorstep. Before making a comment, before giving a look, see your sister, your brother, that person's parents in that body. Ask yourself how these people who you love would feel if such an action was imposed on them.

Know thou, O handmaid, that in the sight of Baha, women are accounted the same as men, and God hath created all humankind in His own image, and after His own likeness.
Abdu'l-Baha