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Category Archives: Sabbatical

The Past

We assume that the past is written in stone, only it isn’t is it? Experiencing it is one memory. Retrieving its memory can produce almost an infinite amount of versions,…

The Body Intuitive

First. The ear situation is fully on the mend. Gauze was removed this morning, and a little more work done by the doc. Though there was some pain, and I…

The Closing Of The Chapter

The Universe makes things obvious but then gives our stupid asses the choice to do what we wish with the provided information. Really, the free will to choose stupidly. These last…

The Recovery

I discovered that I am allergic to the anti-inflammatory medication. At least Fares made certain I had Danny the Dragon to snuggle. Today, I am grateful for: 1. Vomiting. Fastest…

The Over-Cleaning

These are the five medications I have to take over the next eight days. Fun Fact! You can over-clean your ears to the point of creating an abscess. Guess who did…

The Prayers

Prayers sent up this afternoon for some beloveds – for safekeeping, and easing loneliness. For strength, and facilitating children. For ease of heart, and calming of anxiety. For a marriage’s…

The Roots

This was my lunch date today. We really were far more excited than we appear to be. I am a sucker for little kids in glasses. We spent the day…

The Lightness

One of the unexpected pleasures of Tunisia has been the staycation portion of my time here. Though we’ve been out most days, it has been a willful slow-roll, with late…

The Morning Kiss

Sissina and me were having our morning coffee when she mentioned I had a rainbow on my lips. A morning kiss through the window, perfectly placed. A good omen, I…

The Hammam

I’d never experienced this before, so was super excited to get this done. I asked Sissina that we go to a more traditional, rather than posh one, and she delivered….

The VD

This is a dinner menu which they restaurant staff carry from table to table. (My hand is there so that you might have a thing against which to compare its…

The High Heels

I got to wear my high heels tonight, and have dinner with excellent company. One of the perks of my job is having friends stationed all over the world. Today,…

The Forgiving

It was a door sudden, and swung open. It has brought with it such lightness and fresh air. Today, I am grateful for: 1. Coffee by the oceanside. Salt-water air…

The Intention

I have been thinking much about intention – what it means to behave with the purest of intentions and what it looks like when one does not do this. Off…

The Perfect(ish) Man

We were discussing relationships today and I was asked what would my perfect man look like. First, is that he is a Believer. Not necessarily a Muslim, but a man…

The Pepper

Today was a day. It would not have passed well without my Pepper. She knows who she is. Send all of your prayers to her, for her safekeeping always. Today,…

The Munafiq

Remember, one of my main goals was to advance and deepen my own understanding of Islam. Someone recently asked me if I had ever questioned the choice of Islam, since…

The Fortune Teller

We drank coffee by the sea at Hammamet today, where she read my cup after I had let it rest to draw itself forward, into tomorrow. I’ll share her prescience…

The Coincidences

We spent the day in the Old City of Tunis, also known as médina. Crowded, and beautiful it was; the colours dance off every surface and I was overwhelmed by…

The Dreaming

I dreamt that a clear drinking glass was in front of me, empty. I poured into it hot water, and it cracked, though nothing was spilled. In Islamic dream interpretation,…

The Gift

Do you know what it is with which you have been gifted? And do you wish it had been other than this? We spent the better part of our evening down the…

The Witchy Senses

I’ve mentioned before what some of my girlfriends have referred to as my ‘witchy senses’. Always, it is specific to men. Always, it shows itself as absolutely, beyond a shadow…

The Peaceful Heart

We found an as-of-yet unopened art gallery, and the gentlemen were kind enough to let us poke around inside and enjoy the art work. I am absolutely in love with…

The Tumor

It was a lounging day, and quite a welcome one at that. Except for one minor tooth incident. When I arrived home last night, I felt something slightly off on…

The Sidi

All over Tunis, there are areas and monuments beginning with ‘Sidi’. Today I learned that each one of these men and women are mukarameen. They were former residents of the area,…

The Unmatched Hospitality

She comes from Nabeul, an approximate hour away from Tunis proper. It’s a small town, with an old traditional souq, rarely visited by tourists (much to our loss). Haifa is…

The Khadra

Tunis is known as El Khadra (The Green), because of its lushness. Forget about what you know as ‘North Africa’ and look at this beauty. Driving through the city today,…

The North African Connection

We sat with coffees in hand and ten years of catch-ups to start unraveling. I am surrounded by more extraordinary women, and our mouths are whirling dervishes between French, Arabic,…

The Cozy

It hailed in Paris today, so we decided to neither get out of our cozies, nor leave the apartment. Instead, it was a day filled with hearty conversation, home-cooked ‘ruffage’,…

The Hopeful Pivot

I had my coffee in bed this morning, while creepily watching the woman in the photo. She spent over 30 minutes tending to her small window-garden (the equivalent of two…

The Carousel Loner

I was the only one on the carousel again today. This time at Hôtel de Ville. Do French people not like merry-go-rounds? Why are these rides always stationary? I realised…

The Museum

It’s my favourite one, Musée d’Orsay. Unpopular opinion in this city, but I will always prefer it here to any other. My entire day was spent enjoying its beauty before…

The Mount Of Martyrs

My first stop, en route to Montmartre was Le Menhir. The woman in the below photo is Eva, the proprietor. Eva and I discussed politics. All in French. I may…

The Dreamer

Someone asked me today how I knew I was good. I had to think about it for a moment, because healing is more emotional than it is cognitive. I explained…

The Photographer

At lunch, I was sat next to a photographer who showed me where to look on my phone; he recommended this as the best angle. He took this pic and…

The City Of Love (?)

The elevator in the apartment is meant for three. I am a small person, as is Jennifer. Facing one another in the elevator, we can barely breathe. I would take…

The Rainy Saturday

We spent five hours wandering the insanely frigid and wet streets of this beautiful city. I wore a beret, because that’s what one does here (with naturally curly hair that…

The French

I forgot how handsome the men are in Paris. And how well put together they all are. How am I so dumb? Not to mention how helpful they are when…

The Sisterhood

My last day in the UAE, this evening, and shortly I head to the airport. Reemo, Omar, and me became proper little roommates these last two weeks, and I’m sad…

The Salt-Water Skin

Our skin has memory. When I dip into salt-water, it is a homecoming. Sun-kissed, I spent the evening with Nizar. We started off at Shades, at Address Hotel in Marina,…