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The Trustworthy Man

He asked me why I had never married, and I told him it was because I had not yet met a truly honest and trustworthy man. Later, he said “I…

The Town

Before departing for Cairo, we stopped in the town of Bawidi to pick up some food for the long Saharan road back. Here, interestingly, by the man from whom I…

The White Desert

Late last night, Bedouin music took us to the Black, Crystal, and White deserts, in the heart of Egypt. I am most calmed next to water; today, sitting alone hearing…

The Cleverly Named Hospital

I spent my morning volunteering at 57357 Hospital. As mentioned yesterday, I wore my Cookie Monster t-shirt which was a definite big hit. I plan on dressing for the kids,…

The Twirling Skirts

I am now a volunteer at 57357 Hospital, an extraordinary institution dedicated solely to children, aged 18 and under, with cancer. I will volunteer with them every day I am…

The 15 Year Heartache

Pro  Tip 2: You never know where a bidet will target. If you don’t like surprises, turn the knobs very slowly. *** I went out for a 2 hour walk…

The Family History

Pro Tip: Always carry tissue with you while in Cairo. Though all public washrooms have bidets (yay!), they do not all have tissue. I mean. I’m all for a clean…

The Day with Baba

I spent more one-on-one time with Baba today than I have since possibly 2009. Quite happily, he took me to masjid Mohamed Aly (mosque), Al-Azhar Park, and then for a…

The Streets

We got our hair did, after which Heba was nice enough to agree to a partial walk home. During our walk, we received a few polite, albeit very curious looks…

The Traditional Breakfast

It was our final day in Sharm, spent primarily by the water. But not before a breakfast at which, though we were only five people, there were 27 threads of…

The Natural Wonders

Today was a great day split two ways: Hiking, and snorkeling. I am sharing only my favourite three moments, these a hard draw because everything was so wonderful – 1….

The Step-Siblings

It is amazing that my aim is to suddenly get through a day without ruining my winged (above eye) eyeliner. Why? Four reasons in four days, as follows: – Three…

The Salt-Water Softness Philosophy

Formatting Note: As with yesterday, should you keep swiping past the words, you will often find more photos from the day on which the piece was published. “I look at…

The Uncle

Fact which I share with all family members: He is my favourite patrilineal uncle. Some while back, the Israelis allowed him to leave Gaza, and come to Cairo. Since last…

The First Salaam

Shortly before the taking of The Sabbatical, T, my baba’s wife began planning the surprise for his 70th birthday – me. Last night, it all came together perfectly, much to…

The First Sunrise

Somewhere over Great Britain. I could have slept through her, but decided to keep her company instead, while drinking the truly shit Air Canada coffee. I am presently enjoying a…

The Starter Trip

I am sat at the airport enjoying the Christmas decorations and though it’s not yet December 1st, I am very good with this because I love Christmas and all of…

The 2018 Journal

Beginning January 1, 2018, this has served as my heart-keeper. Every year, since I was a very young child, I have created and kept a journal. This year, for the…

The Sabbatical

For years, I have wanted to take my one year sabbatical. For years, I have always held off because I didn’t wish to take it without a partner, with whom…

Traditional roads to dating (aka How to confuse the shit out of your friends for $500)

I just told you about my summer, and the man a part of it, over this way. What I hadn’t mentioned was that we met in a more formal and…

Heart-swells

Over the course of 3.5 months, I was involved with someone; near two months ago, we became uninvolved. Though short-lived, it was an important situation which taught me much about…

“Mistakes are the entrance of discovery”

As equally as I believe that we all need to be responsible for our bad behaviour, I too believe that almost everyone is deserving of the space to make mistakes, and…

Imagine if we were swans?

Editorial Note: Originally published on 2012/04/06. ——————– Imagine if we were swans? We’d croak when our partner died. No fun. Two days ago, I was discussing soul mates with my…

The Order In The Country

I can neither drive a motorcycle, nor identify a getaway plan were I able to motor this thing. Imagine then my sadness when I came upon it and could do…

From terrible, to v good poetry

It has been a minute since I wrote you, and for this I am sorry. I have read every single message you sent, and I thank you for your overwhelming…

*New* Maha Monday: I’m worried that my faith wavers

Hello – It has been a minute! Thank you for all of your gracious messages that continue to filter in, and for your kind words asking after me. I am…

Let them eat cake

He and I met for coffee at Elgin Street’s Bridgehead. It was a really lovely afternoon of caffeine and conversation, and I had been over the moon to see him….

On Healthy Silence

Two things: (1) I am a Super Communicator and Clarifier. I go above and beyond the call of normal communication to make certain that the person before me is always…

A Near Perfect Time (would you?)

Rumi wrote: There’s joy in my heart: I have joined my lover tonight; Finally free from the pain of our parting tonight. As I dance with my lover I pray, oh…

Recipe for BFFship

Last post, I promised to write something less toxic, so this is it – I have been thinking about both the personal characteristics and the characteristics of friendship itself, required to…

On Mean-Girls

Preamble: I am using the feminine only for ease of writing. Do not misunderstand this to mean that men cannot be mean-girls. Being a little shit is not specific to…

Maha Monday: Lying to your partner about having babies

A woman has been taking contraceptives behind her husband’s back. Wow. She’s come to me to ask WHAT? (I all-too-often honestly don’t understand how people function.) That you don’t want…

Maha Monday: No polygamy, folks

At Chai Latte Diaries, a man wants to marry more than one woman. His wife has already said she will divorce his sorry ass if he does; she’s come to…

Maha Monday: On Muslim women dating non-Muslim men

A very unpopular subject this week about an often silenced conversation r- Muslim women being involved with non-Muslim men. We all know the ruling, but I focused on our freedom…

Maha Monday: Literally, how far would you go?

If you met someone who lived in a part of the world you had never considered moving to, would you cut your losses or would you pursue it and not…

Maha Monday column: Daughters-in-law

A Momma-in-law had hoped that she and her new daughter-in-law might become fast and intimate BFFs, but the daughter-in-law has very different ideas about family-in-law entanglements… “…the duties and obligations…

Maha Monday Column: When your gut screams against marriage

At Chai Latte Diaries, a woman is caught between her family’s pressure to pursue marriage, and her gut’s panic to absolutely NOT. “Fun Fact! It is always hard to find…

When exes message

I recently woke up to an email which read, in part: I fell in love with you the night H introduced us at Oliver’s and you argued with me about…