Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground..

I don’t know who said that, Roosevelt?

I try to live with my feet on the ground. Do the daily routines and achieve what needs to be achieved, but I feel haunted by many interests and passions that need to be catered. The multiple facets of the modern life border an existence with multiple identities. It is particularly more significant to the islands of us. People who migrated but still live, at heart, in a parallel world. Back home… It reaches a stage, though, where you might lose sight of your personal truth. Our identity, as Kundera defines it, is a reflection of people upon us and the effect of our perception of them and the world. If that is true, then do we ever know who we truly are…

Thursday: Good day at work. Meeting days is when I put on my professional little outfits and act like a dignified business woman trying to sell her ideas and defend her data. Then off we go… Feed the cats, small talk with the neighbor, throw on a classy little number, hair down, humble attire, and pearls? Hell, no…A lovely evening at the Met with Romeo and Juliette. Opera is so dreamy.. If you can’t live it, watch it. Got a bite to eat, did some compulsive shopping, went home early that day. Listened to Eddy Izzard..He helps me sleep.

Friday: Sexy number. Cute movie with cute friends. I ran to meet the girls. Beer at the local all-American Rodeo bar, apple Martinis at Marquee, belly dancing in west village with the fabulous Jo, then Latin ambiance till dawn…

Saturday: I have my Hip-hop hat on today. Strutting down on Soho, the art gang, blue note and all that Jazz.. Little comedy routine by the upcoming Improv kids. Diner at my favorite little Indian restaurant. Shots with the NYU crowd and Cappuccino at a café trottoire in east village, meeting you..My artist, Kung Fu master friend. Hip-hop moods and wasting in a cloud.

Sunday: Nostalgia in the morning as I sip through my cup of Turkish coffee talking to my mom on the phone. My nephew said his first word today. My sister cuts in, like she always does, okay baby I’ll see you soon, like we always say. Fresh bread from the corner, cooking for you. I feel like your mother sometimes. Dessert at Sensa. They’re out of fondant au chocolat, I have a melt-down, we leave.

Monday: Great day at work. Then the New England symphonic ensemble. Traveler got through to me, depicting the journey we all go through. The energy in the music in the beginning reflects a quick beat of life in full stride and the meditative quiet ending reflects the tapering of life’s battles as the soul is preparing for the next step. It leaves you breathless.

Tuesday…..Wednesday

Thursday: Back to the Opera…

I don’t want to stop, not for one second. Not to think of you…never to think of you…

Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground..
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6 comments:

Ramzi said...

"Who am I?" looms large, overshadowed only by "Does it matter?"

9:24 AM
Laila K said...

most people spend their whole lives defining themselves the way society does. and the small minority spend their lives unlearning what society taught them and trying to find out who they really are. the thing is even that is in vain because we're constantly changing and learning and unlearning, and to me that's the beauty of us.

10:03 AM
Unknown said...

that's very true laila. we are constantly changing and that is the beauty of life but don't you feel that you have left behind a completely different identity when you left home. everytime i go back, i'm back to being that girl. so the personna you live in here is what, temporary?

1:59 PM
Laila K said...

i don't know, but i try to really stay true to myself when i go back. with me it's kind of a mutual effort between me, and my family and friends to accomodate the changes in interests, personality, maturity. sometimes it's uncomfortable, but in general it's really great and so enriching. the love, care,memories and fun are all still there, and that's the most important thing for me..but i know what you mean, going back to being that girl, it's so tempting to just be the little papmered irresponsible one again!

3:31 PM
Unknown said...

yeah, exactly. the memories are all there. i sat with my sisters all night talking and laughing like when we were kids. it didn't happen the first time i went back, or the second time. but eventually you feel that you're over the change, you do embrace it, i know. and know you're sampling something much deeper while indulging in sweet memories and the love of people you really care about. it's still there though. the feeling of detachment from back there and over here and it's growing by the day.

4:21 PM
Ghassan said...
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10:52 AM

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