Papa

He's the one who files my taxes
and worries about my car.
Who helps me find insurance,
searching to make sure that it's on par.

Who makes sure I change my oil
and slips me money for gas.
Who helps me handle it all
when I have an accidental crash.

It's he who taught me football
and how to use a hammer.
Who taught me to mow a lawn
and water it in the right manner.

He's the one who fixes things,
whenever they are broken.
With him I am always sure
what he says with his loving token.

We may not say it often,
but I know that he loves me.
With me and Papa, we use
loving actions as our currency.

My Mother Taught Me...

...a million things
more than I could ever actually quantify

...things important and mundane,
quick to realize and slow to rectify.

She taught me...
...how to clean a bathroom
and make a bed.
...that the kitchen isn't clean unless the floor is swept
and the counter cleansed.

She taught me...
...how to present a gift
and not just wrap it;
and that I should never go to the bathroom a lone.

She taught me...
...how to know when to just
step away.
...and how good it feels
to make someone's day.

She taught me...
...hospitality,
and common courtesy,
and how to clean up after myself.

She taught me...
...the beauty of surprises
and how to care for a child.
...and what it feels like to always have somewhere
to come home from the wild.

She taught me...
...how to care,
and to share,
and to put my fists away.

She taught me...
...how to love,
unconditionally.
...and how to show it,
actively.

She taught me...
...a million things
more than I could ever quantify.

...things important and mundane,
quick to realize and slow to rectify.

She taught me...
...how to love,
unbounded.
...and what it feels like to always have a home
to keep me grounded.

gratitude

i think that it's worth taking time every once in awhile- ok, actually i think it's worth taking the time very often, to notice the good things in your life and say thank you in some way - to god, to the universe, to fate, to the flying spaghetti monster, to nothing at all, whatever. the very act of noticing and recognizing that it doesn't have to be that way is an incredibly powerful positive force.

today is a day when i feel overwhelmed by how lucky i am. maybe i'm just being emotional or sentimental today, i don't know. regardless, i've been incredibly fortunate in the circumstances in my life. i am surrounded by people who love and support me. i have every opportunity open to me. there are so many people in this world for whom one or both of those statements are simply not true.

i'm not saying every moment has been easy and wonderful. i know that life isn't perfect. i know that the real trials are still to come. but, for today at least, my ducks are (mostly) in a row and life is good. i am happy and grateful.

Moroccan Alphabet

A is for Ali Baba and his 40 thieves.
B is for Bear Grylls's ridiculous antics.
C is for camels for eating and riding.
D is for dunes waiting for climbing.
E is for Erg Chebi, our desert home.
F is for French for speaking (or faking).
G is for green, life-giving oases.
H is for hammams for scrubbing and talking.
I is for imams who call for the prayers.
J is for juices made from avocados and oranges.
K is for kasbahs made to be rocked.
L is for lions, the biggest danger of all.
M is for monkeys, fed in the snow.
N is for Naim, our driver and guide.
O is for olives served with every meal.
P is for pictures of buddies with thumbs at the ready.
Q is for quaint towns of locals with smiles.
R is for red clay for buildings and pots.
S is for snails to be slurped form their shells.
T is for tagines made of beef, chicken or goat.
U is for unwanted guides at the ready.
V is for values to be had in the markets.
W is for winding streets of medinas.
X is for x-pert Mohamed, our desert guide.
Y is for yogurt, made fresh at home.
Z is for zingers galore, thanks to Andrew and Gabe.

Smile, you're in Morocco!

There was
camel in Taddart and street food in Fez.
snails in Casablanca and pastries in Paris.
tagines with meat and couscous with vegetables.

But always
there were french fries on the side.

We
rode camels to the desert and climbed the dunes.
watched the video then met the man.
strolled the markets and ancient squares.

But always
we stopped for sweet tea with mint.

There was
snow in the High Atlas and sun in the desert.
green oases by rivers and red earth everywhere else.
bustle in the cities and peace in the villages.

But always
there was Catan.

We
fed the monkeys and watched the flocks.
braved the lion and the tannery's stench.
toured the mosque and rocked the kasbahs.

But always
we laughed - Ali Babba, Shakira, Mak and their Bodyguard.