Challah and kebobs

For lunch my Good friend and I drove 7 minutes to biyrani kebob house. It's my favorite Afganastanian restaurant in the city. Together we ate our delicious tandori wraps.  Just as the taxi drivers had promised, this was the tastiest food in town.  She and I laughed as we shared our lunch.  We giggled as we imitated different accents, hoping that no one around us could hear.  We blushed as the good looking afghanis men walked by.  She's a South African Muslim with an indian dad.  I adore her.

When lunch was over we drove to our favorite coffee shop.  Our close buddies, the owners, are a loving bunch from Jordan.  When we sit there, we feel at home.  Warm lattes, sweet almond croissants all make us happy as we enjoy together.  As a unit we let the hours tick on by.

I rush down the road to pick up my two from public school.  My son's Portuguese teacher is a doll and runs to tell me what a great day he had.  I stand with another mother friend, a lively vivacious spitfire from China originally.  Our other friend, a British dentist of Indian Muslim descent joins our chat.  Then my dearest, a gorgeous gregarious gal from Gianna jumps in mid conversation.  We laugh about the day and dread the evening routine.  Dinner, bath, books, bed.

I look around the play ground and smile. We are all so different.  Blondes, brunettes.  Asians, Europeans and every sort of background.  Together we stand. In solidarity.  Trying to slug it out. One day at a time.  One packed lunch after the other. One load of laundry and then the next.

At home, my sweet and caring babysitter is from Brazil. She adores my kids and they love her.  She shares with them wonderful dishes from her country.  Each week they beg for her tomato and onion vinegar salad. I swoon when I see them eating foods from other cultures. Sushi, indian, thai.  They're always up for a new delight. 

Our other sitter is from Eritrea.  She's a young religious Muslim girl. For months I worried about telling her we were jewish. When I did,  she embraced it.  She sked questions and was interested. Her mom cooked us an Ethiopian feast complete with goat stew and injera bread. It was amazing.  We were connected for life.  

So many of our days are enriched by the multicultural nature of our city and for that I'm grateful.  My children will never know what it's like to hate or discriminate based on race, creed or colour. They will never judge by the tone of someone's skin or the twang in their accent.  I hope they'll continue to have friends from all over the globe.  My dream is that they'll love to travel to experience the world up close.

 

I feel sorry for kids who have a different view of people.  So many people I know send their kids to religious schools and it makes me wonder. What benefit can your kids reap when everyone is the same at school?  All jewish? All catholic?  All muslim? No thanks. I just don't understand.  But then again, everyone is entitled to their opinion. 

Thankfully my husband agrees with my views wholeheartedly.  I guess in a marriage, this is a pretty important value!?  We'll continue to share Shabbat challah with our Muslim friends and we'll eat kofta and kebob with them whenever we can. Namaste. Xo

if i should die before i wake...

I'm going in for surgery next month. It hardly feels real to me, but I know it to be so because that burning pain is forever branded in my mind. That and I keep a bottle of perkaset in my purse at All times. 

So it's not a major deal, but I'll need to go under anesthesia.  I'm pretty nervous. Terrified actually.  I hate the idea of being under and unaware. Surrendering control. Out of it.  At least my doctor seems sweet. He does this all day long. So he says.  

I can't help but worry for my kids.  I mean, accidents happen, no?

So here's a letter, I hope no one will ever read. 

Dear family,

Let me first tell you that your mere existence is a true gift to me.  I've loved you from the moment I laid eyes on your perfect teeny faces.  Sure, riley, that postpartum nonsense made our first days tough, but my love for you runs so deep that even those trying days I recall with fondness.  Mateo, there were times before you were born that I didn't want you to be so. I was sure we'd be happier without you.  

Was I ever wrong.  Life is just sweeter because my babes are in this world. 

So as I prepare to go under, let me share these words with you:

1) please remember that you are amazing just the way you are.  Riley, your curls make you special and don't let anyone tell you different.  Don't be afraid to straighten them, but please don't make a habit of it. Mateo, let your shiny straight hair grow long. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't be Repunzel one day.   

2)please keep tasting the world.  Keep curious. Keep questioning. Continue to travel. By now you've been to iceland, London, Paris, Mexico, nyc, Argentina and chile. Make mommy proud. Live and love abroad. But please settle down close to daddy eventually.

 Enjoy the foods from different countries and respect the respective cultures and communities. Today we ate foods from the Middle East to Mongolia and you enjoyed every bite. Please don't stop sampling. Cheeses. Chocolate. Pita. Challa. Kofta. Cantelope and kiwi. 

3) please never forget your manners. Because mommy says manner matter. A lot. 

4) always be good to each other.  Remember you have grown up together. Shared tears, kisses and even baths.  Make sure you have the others back. No matter what. Believe me, some days will be easier than others. 

5) keep active. Hard to imagine you ever being inactive?! Keep biking and swimming and skating.  Ski. Play tennis. Run.  Jump.  Mommy spent many hours watching you soar at your lessons.  It would be a shame to give up now. Find something you love and practice it.  This goes for non sport stuff too. 

6) keep cooking.  Both of you are my tiny little chefs. From omelettes to soups and everything in between, it gives me a warm heart to see you work in the kitchen.  Feed friends. Feed family. Feed the homeless.  Continue to shine on through food and cooking. 

7) finally guys, just try to be decent and love. Share your love everywhere.  Sing. Dance. Help people in need.  Never think you're better than anyone.  Please find a partner who loves and respects you and offer them all that and more in exchange.  And don't forget to take care of family first. Be good to Grammy and baboo. And aunt Jodi's gang. Cousins, aunts and the like. And please take care of daddy.  Love you to the moon and back my babies!! 

Love,

Your mommy