Standing on the porch, across from the Blue Ribbon factory,
up on the Ave,
I am, free as a bird, watching the cars go by.
The rush hour crowd is put on pause, as it waits for the light at the corner to
change.

They seem so lonely,
But are trying to look unbothered.

One checks her make-up.
One is keeping his nose clean.
One turns, looks at me,
I look back, and wave.

Stanley, with the long blond hair,
from Jimmy’s hot dog stand down the block,
cruises up, he too is waiting for the light.
Car window open: “This…

The death of George Floyd is really terrifying, but what is worst, is people watched it, filmed it, and did nothing. This is like a Turkish cartoon that I saw, where a couple sees a house on fire and the husband asks the wife, “Did you call the fire department? “No, I posted it on Twitter,” she replied.

Similarly, we, who witness these crimes, are pretending, as if hashtags and the social media protest of those who have no real experience living as an African American in the day-to-day structural violence of a white supremacist society can really affect change…

For my small, but magnificent group of followers and editors, commenters and clappers. I just wanted to write a note of thanks. For those who gave me a boost by with your claps, your highlights, and especially your comments, I must say a long overdue, Thank You ❤. I really appreciate you all for taking the time to tap out a little love and joy, even when you don’t agree, with me, it is all good.

You make me grow and learn. I am so honored to be in your circle. To my first commenter, Jean Carfantan, your comment was…

I guess you can tell from my picture that I am …… fill in the blanks. It’s ok. I don’t mind. Now, let me tell you the real deal.

I didn’t drink coffee until I was 26 years old, I am a mother of two girls and two boys. I love all things Turkish, some things Arabic, give me any language and I will try it. Oh, and, I am Muslim, all day ev’ry day.

Also, I am a journalist and former writer at the National Newspaper in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

No. I am not Arab. I am…

I am tired of fake people, lies, endless streams of meaningless quotes and clickbait.

“The Sun Shines Where the Window is Open” -Guess Who

I just made this quote up, so please, do not take it seriously. This sort of slippy hippy stuff is all over Facebook and Pinterest, it’s the new gospel of the Internet, or at least that’s how it’s used. Quotes, random opinions (unlike mine of course), are digital phlegm clogging up our days and ruining our society. And everybody’s lapping it up.

Why? Because we’re addicts.

Believe me, getting off this digital crack, is a struggle…

Thanks to recently reading, The Idiot’s Delight, I have become slightly versed in Italian, since it is on almost every page.. So, this was quite fun to read and enjoy.

Fugitives, devious specters, bumbling fools, and utter failures. These are some of the latest depictions of mothers in film and media, and now it looks it has seeped into everyday life.

The recent New York Times article, the Primal Scream, is about women who are stuck at home with their kids, as a result of the pandemic. For some, they are meeting their children and husbands for the first time, and they at their wits’ end. It is a great couple of essays, however, there is too much focus on the bad side of mommyhood.

Calling from the Iron Cage of Motherhood

From the screaming voice messages…