Behind the Scenes

"After learning my flight was detained 4 hours, I heard the announcement: If anyone in the vicinity..."

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:31:40 -0400

“

After learning my flight was detained 4 hours,
I heard the announcement:
If anyone in the vicinity of gate 4-A understands any Arabic,
Please come to the gate immediately.

Well—one pauses these days. Gate 4-A was my own gate. I went there.
An older woman in full traditional Palestinian dress,
Just like my grandma wore, was crumpled to the floor, wailing loudly.
Help, said the flight service person. Talk to her. What is her
Problem? we told her the flight was going to be four hours late and she
Did this.

I put my arm around her and spoke to her haltingly.
Shu dow-a, shu- biduck habibti, stani stani schway, min fadlick,
Sho bit se-wee?

The minute she heard any words she knew—however poorly used—
She stopped crying.

She thought our flight had been canceled entirely.
She needed to be in El Paso for some major medical treatment the
Following day. I said no, no, we’re fine, you’ll get there, just late,

Who is picking you up? Let’s call him and tell him.
We called her son and I spoke with him in English.
I told him I would stay with his mother till we got on the plane and
Would ride next to her—Southwest.

She talked to him. Then we called her other sons just for the fun of it.

Then we called my dad and he and she spoke for a while in Arabic and
Found out of course they had ten shared friends.

Then I thought just for the heck of it why not call some Palestinian
Poets I know and let them chat with her. This all took up about 2 hours.

She was laughing a lot by then. Telling about her life. Answering
Questions.

She had pulled a sack of homemade mamool cookies—little powdered
Sugar crumbly mounds stuffed with dates and nuts—out of her bag—
And was offering them to all the women at the gate.

To my amazement, not a single woman declined one. It was like a
Sacrament. The traveler from Argentina, the traveler from California,
The lovely woman from Laredo—we were all covered with the same
Powdered sugar. And smiling. There are no better cookies.

And then the airline broke out the free beverages from huge coolers—
Non-alcoholic—and the two little girls for our flight, one African
American, one Mexican American—ran around serving us all apple juice
And lemonade and they were covered with powdered sugar too.

And I noticed my new best friend—by now we were holding hands—
Had a potted plant poking out of her bag, some medicinal thing,

With green furry leaves. Such an old country traveling tradition. Always
Carry a plant. Always stay rooted to somewhere.

And I looked around that gate of late and weary ones and thought,
This is the world I want to live in. The shared world.

Not a single person in this gate—once the crying of confusion stopped
—has seemed apprehensive about any other person.

They took the cookies. I wanted to hug all those other women too.
This can still happen anywhere.

Not everything is lost.

”

- Naomi Shihab Nye (b. 1952), “Wandering Around an Albuquerque Airport Terminal.” I think this poem may be making the rounds, this week, but that’s as it should be. (via oliviacirce)

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Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:28:35 -0400

humansofnewyork: “If you could give one piece of advice, what...

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 07:00:08 -0400

humansofnewyork:

“If you could give one piece of advice, what would it be?”
“Be in love.”
“How many times have you been in love?”
“Once.”

And then he walked away.

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Thu, 11 Apr 2013 23:27:18 -0400

This sums up my mom’s final week. I miss her deeply and...

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 00:19:24 -0400

This sums up my mom’s final week. I miss her deeply and still feel this way.

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Sat, 23 Mar 2013 17:35:52 -0400

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Sat, 23 Mar 2013 17:33:23 -0400

I found my clock!!

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 23:34:05 -0400

I found my clock!!

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Fri, 15 Mar 2013 23:14:39 -0400

@terrybeigie @jenontheedge inspiring!

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 23:12:50 -0400

@terrybeigie @jenontheedge inspiring!

marielikestodraw: This is the most “judging you” bird in the...

Sat, 09 Mar 2013 02:27:39 -0500

marielikestodraw:

This is the most “judging you” bird in the fucking universe.

Orly??

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Fri, 08 Mar 2013 23:58:27 -0500

My Workout For Thursday March 07

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 21:32:45 -0500

I earned 9 points for my workout on Fitocracy!

Walking (treadmill) +9 pts
- 0:20:00 || 0.67 mi (+9 pts)
- sloooooow like a snail, me.

Think you can beat me, or want to comment?

Fitocracy is the social fitness community that has helped hundreds of thousands level up their fitness. Start your fitness transformation today!

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Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:36:33 -0500

foreveralone-lyguy: Yes

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 20:24:18 -0500

foreveralone-lyguy:

Yes

lovethe50s: Interesting what old magazines were like....

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 10:48:10 -0500

lovethe50s:

Interesting what old magazines were like. #oldnagazines #50s #marilynmonroe #skinny #weight #gain #girls #fightforfit by fightforfit_13 http://instagr.am/p/WFBwDLrjG-/

hippiescreations: Thoughts about love and attractionI saw this...

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 09:27:05 -0500

hippiescreations:

Thoughts about love and attraction
I saw this picture an thought yes I agree with most points.. but some well I have my opinion… and…
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@majic13

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 09:20:07 -0500

@majic13

"An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward. So when life is dragging you back with..."

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 09:02:21 -0500

“An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward. So when life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means that it’s going to launch you into something great. So just focus, and keep aiming”

- Pablo Picasso (via iputstuffonmy)

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Tue, 19 Feb 2013 09:02:08 -0500