Connections

Here's the last paragraph of my memoir Reflections: A Journey of Transformation (2022):

"Now, I see my transformation, and I can’t believe what an intense life I’ve had. I'm grateful for my guardian angels, my dogs, and my true friends. I'm grateful for all the ugliness in my life, too. I can't have any regrets because without every single one of those lessons, I wouldn't be who I am — this version of me — today. I am grateful for where I am now, in this moment in time and space. I'm living my dream life, and I welcome every visitor, for each helps me become the person I am meant to be." 

...

Here's the preface of my memoir My Guest Book (2024):

“Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this, too, was a gift.”

Mary Oliver

Just as the most precious gifts from the universe often come in deceptive packaging, the guests from the invisible world passing through our hearts may appear in various cloaks. My Guest Book is a record of the guests I welcomed and entertained in 2023.

...

The final chapter of Reflections emphasizes the transformative power of embracing whatever the universe sends our way — "visitors" or "guests" —  and serves as the foundation for my latest book, My Guest Book. 

Ideas

Ideas come and go. I think of at least three to four ideas a day for books. I have a notebook full of potential projects. 

Sometimes I pick up my notebook, turn its pages, and scan my scribblings until one of these ideas gets my attention, and I spend some time with it. It might become a blog post, a short story, an outline, ... Who knows? 

Other times, I already know what I want to work on, but I don't know that I know... until one day, the words just pour out of me, and the first draft is done. 

Then comes the editing, the moment of truth. At times I keep what I've written and just try to improve my writing, but not always. Sometimes, the editing process takes me to an unexpected place, to that place I already knew I wanted to visit but didn't know I knew.

Writing is magic.

Karl Lagerfeld

“What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that’s gone forever, impossible to reproduce.”
Karl Lagerfeld

Iran

Uncle Abbas & Noosha
circa 1974

 

Remembering Philip Anderson

Here's the article that planted the seed of this new memoir:
https://www.independentliving.co.uk/philip-anderson/remembering-and-being-remembered/

I read this article by my friend Philip Anderson shortly after he wrote and published it. In response to his thought-provoking article, I wrote a blog post... and told him so in the form of a comment:

Dear Philip:

I was delighted to hear your voice and enjoyed listening to your story. Thanks for sharing it!

Reading your article made me think about some of my own memories and inspired me to write a blog post about the smell of rose water (https://nooshasblog.blogspot.com/2021/06/rose-water.html) and all the memories associated with it – those of my time spent with my grandmother, who passed away over a decade ago. It also inspired me to dedicate this week’s blog post by Gratitude Girl to my grandmother, whom I call Mamanbozorg – the Persian word for Grandma (maman: mom / bozorg: big).

Thank you for another wonderful article!

Though Philip is no longer with us — he died on October 28, 2022 — the impact of his work endures and continues to inspire.

Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai

"The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly."
Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai

Ten

My new memoir about my time with my grandmother contains a mix of stories, cultural insights, and several recipes. In just ten days, I'll unveil the book's cover, so get ready for your taste buds to tingle and your heartstrings to hum and let the countdown begin!

Mamanbozorg

In the U.S., people refer to or address their grandmothers using various terms, often influenced by cultural, regional, and family preferences. Some common terms include: grandma, granny, nana, nanny, mimi, grammy, gran, mamaw, meemaw, gigi.

These terms can vary widely based on personal and family traditions, with some families even inventing unique names that hold special meaning.

In Iran, people refer to or address their grandmothers using various terms that reflect cultural and linguistic traditions. These terms are often used with affection and respect, reflecting the important role grandmothers play in Iranian families and culture. Some common ways to address a grandmother in Iran include:

1. Maman Bozorg (مامان بزرگ) – literally "big mother"

2. Maman Joon (مامان جون) – a term of endearment meaning "dear mother"

3. Madar Bozorg (مادربزرگ) – literally "big mother"

4. Naneh (ننه) – an affectionate and traditional term

5. Bibi (بی بی) – a respectful and affectionate term

6. Nana (نانا) – similar to "Nana" in English

7. Aziz (عزیز) – literally "dear"

All of my grandmother's grandchildren called her Aziz. Originally Arabic, the word aziz has entered the Persian language and is used both as a noun to address a loved one — a common, informal way to refer to or address grandmothers in Iran — and as an adjective meaning “dear” when positioned after a noun or a name. 

I was the only one who called my paternal grandmother Mamanbozorg, literally Grandma in Persian (maman meaning mom or ma; bozorg meaning big, great, or grand).

Supersede

Here's a spelling tip that might help writers avoid a common mistake:

"Language is constantly evolving, with old spellings and meanings superseded by new ones over time. Naturally, supersede itself has its share of predecessors. Supersede ultimately comes from the Latin verb supersedēre, meaning "to sit on top of" (sedēre means "to sit"), "to be superior to," or "to refrain from," but it came to English through Scots Middle English, where it was rendered superceden and used synonymously with defer. Modern English speakers are often confused about how to spell supersede—it sometimes turns up as supercede. In fact, some of the earliest records of the word in English show it spelled with a c. Though both spellings can be etymologically justified, over time supersede won out as the "correct" version."
(taken from Merriam-Webster Word of the Day - June 22, 2024)

Book Review

 

Summer

Haiku

Thinking of my grandmother...

...

Her warm hands in mine,

Whispers of love through the years,

Memory's embrace.

...

Rose water's soft scent,

Grandma's laughter fills the air,

Love in every breath.

Dear Twelve-Year-Old Me

 

Rule of Fifty

A few days ago, I saw a post from a friend on social media saying that finished a big book she didn't like and she felt like she had wasted a week of her life. I used to finish every book I started, but then I realized, about two years ago, that I didn't deserve to punish myself by forcing myself to finish a book I didn't enjoy just because I had started it. Since then, I have abandoned several books after reading around forty or fifty pages of it. And even with those I went too far because by the time I had reached page twenty-five I knew I had no interest in continuing. 

Today, I accidentally came across Nancy Pearl's rule of 50. Nancy Pearl is an American librarian, a best-selling author, and a literary critic who said that if a reader is under fifty years old, then they should consume fifty pages before dropping a book, and if a reader is over fifty years old, they should take the number 100, subtract their age, and get the number of pages to read before moving on to the next book.

Forget Me Not

The common name of Myosotis, Forget Me Not, comes from a German legend. The legend says that a knight died trying to get the flowers, which are a symbol of true love and remembrance, for his lover, and with his last breath he called out, “Forget me not!” 

The Greek name of the flower, Myosotis (μυοσωτίς), means mouse's ear because the foliage — oval, furry leaves — resemble a mouse's ear. 

Myosotis is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. In the United States, they are known as forget-me-nots or scorpion grasses. 

Matt Kahn

"Despite how open, peaceful, and loving you attempt to be, people can only meet you, as deeply as they've met themselves. This is the heart of clarity."
Matt Kahn

Dear Flag

Dear Flag,

As I write this letter, I am filled with a profound sense of respect and admiration for all that you represent. You are not just a rectangular piece of fabric; your specific design and colors are a symbol of unity, freedom, and the enduring spirit of a nation. They tell the story of our struggles and triumphs. Countless individuals have fought, sacrificed, and worked tirelessly to uphold the values you embody. You stand as a testament to the ideals that we strive to achieve. 

Your presence serves as a powerful reminder of our shared identity, responsibility, and common purpose. Today more than ever, you bring us together, inspiring feelings of patriotism in the hearts of millions. You remind us of where we have been, the challenges we have faced, and the bright future toward which we continue to work.

Thank you for being a symbol of hope and resilience. Thank you for representing the dreams and aspirations of so many. I will always hold you in the highest regard, honoring the principles you stand for and the legacy you carry.

With deepest respect,

NR

a memoir by Afarin Rava

 

Emile Zola

“When truth is buried underground it grows, it chokes, it gathers such an explosive force that on the day it bursts out, it blows up everything with it.”
Emile Zola

Works in Progress

On May 13, 2024, I shared two of my four concurrent projects: 
https://afarinrava.blogspot.com/2024/05/concurrent-projects.html

Today, I want to write about the other two. 

One project is a collection of three short stories... for kids of all ages.

The other is a project I've been working on, on and off, since January 2022. It has to do with English grammar...and writing.

I do have a few other projects that I've started but that I've put aside for now. When those become active (again...maybe?), I'll share them.

Marcel Proust

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but having new eyes.”
Marcel Proust

Languages & Life Lessons

 

Saturn's Day

The moon has always played a remarkable role in art and literature around the world. Artists and writers have used the moon as a significant symbol in their works.

https://interestingliterature.com/2020/12/moon-symbolism-poetry-mythology/

Earth has one moon. Does this uniqueness make it special?

Did you know Saturn has 146 moons — as of a year ago today?

"Saturn is home to a vast array of intriguing and unique worlds. From the haze-shrouded surface of Titan to crater-riddled Phoebe, each of Saturn's moons tells another piece of the story surrounding the Saturn system. As of June 8, 2023, Saturn has 146 moons in its orbit, with others continually awaiting confirmation of their discovery and official naming by the International Astronomical Union (IAU)." (taken from https://science.nasa.gov/saturn/facts/)

If, instead of Earth, we lived on Saturn, which has 146 moons, would we consider these moons remarkable enough to use them as symbols in our literature?

Etymology

Etymology is the study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings and spellings have changed throughout history. I've always found etymology fascinating, particularly that of the words I use every day in my speaking and writing. I enjoy checking Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day, especially the Did You Know section of it. This month alone, I've learned about the origin and evolution of three different words, and it's only the seventh day of the month: svelte (June 1), moxie (June 6), and gossip (June 7). 
https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day

Book Review

 

Molière

Are you familiar with Molière? He is one of my favorite French writers from the seventeenth century. Known as the father of French comedy, he is a playwright and the author of many comedies, farces, and tragicomedies. 
Here's a piece that reflects his take on physicians: 
https://ethicalnag.org/2013/06/28/molieres-17th-century-take-on-physicians/#:~:text=They%20aren't%20any%20better,and%20the%20forces%20of%20nature. 

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Free Book

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https://www.amazon.com/Languages-Life-Lessons-Afarin-Rava-ebook/dp/B09GMYGGQ1

 

Languages & Life Lessons

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A Short Story - Part 5

I took my son out, hoping that a walk in nature would allow us the opportunity to talk about his mother. After a short while, I began by telling him how much I missed her. He calmly said that she was never coming back. He saw the surprised look on my face and explained that he had woken up that night and seen his mother lying dead and his grandmother quietly crying. He had felt sad but also relieved that his mother no longer suffered from the aches and pains that paralyzed her. I didn't know what to say. My son had known all along and just kept it to himself. He broke the silence by suggesting the two of us go on short adventures together while his disease hadn't taken away his ability to walk. 

And so began our journey...