Happy Birthday, Eliza!

Wow, when did she get to be so old? 9 years old is hard to believe. At least for me. Eliza is such a joy in our life. She has always been a loving sister & daughter, willing to help and so caring. As I was hunting through pictures (mental note: organize non-digital pictures), I really couldn't believe how far she's come. One minute she's the same size as a Tickle-Me-Elmo and the next she's that angel in the top left of the collage.

A short narration of the above pictures; starting at the top row, left corner: This December in the Nativity as the angel Gabriel; (straw hat) 3 1/2 years old at Yellowstone; 3 days old; about 15 months old; bottom row, left: about 3-4 weeks old; almost 4 years old; with the straw, 10 months old; kindergarten picture, almost 6 years old.

Happy Birthday, my Eliza Claire! My oldest daughter and first joy!

Bye-bye

Hello hello. Goodbye, bye-bye, later, hasta la pasta, see you later, adios, ma'asalama, ciao! A despedida**, a farewell is something we say every day when we hang up the phone, close the door or leave a place a business. Here in Egypt, they have a special way of saying goodbye.

I should back up and let you know what "goodbye" is in Arabic. It is Ma'asalama. That is the best transliteration I know how to spell.

So, the unique way they say "Goodbye" on the phone . . . . how to put it? They don't quit. The goodbye-ing doesn't stop. And sometimes they do say, "bye-bye." A combination of it all. I was just on the phone with the Orbitz satellite guy and he didn't quit.

me: "Alright, ma'asalama."
him: Ma'asalama, bye-bye
me: bye
him: okay, bye-bye. bye-bye
me: ma'asalama
him: ma'asalama, okay, bye-bye, bye-bye

Onandonandonandon. After 4 years, you would think I'd get used to it. Nope. It still cracks me up! I can overhear my housekeeper's cell phone conversations and her trying to get off the phone with her sister, son, or pharmacist.

ReRe: Okay, bye-bye, bye-bye, yalla ma'asalama, bye-bye, okay, bye-bye.

And you just hang up. Mid-ma'asalama. The only way to get off the phone is just to hang up. You aren't offending them, it's just the way to say goodbye. Okay, bye-bye, adios, ciao, aurevoir, auf-wiederzein, domo arigato (mr. roboto) cheers, you can quit reading, see you later alligator, really, I won't be offended, goodbye, bye-bye, see you later . . . .




**isn't it frustrating when something is just better described in another language? Despedida or to despedir is a word to describe saying goodbye. I guess you could call it the equivalent of farewell. "He bade them a sorrowful farewell." also fitting in the category: semaforo, insha'allah, jalas But this is all good fodder for another post.

10 Years Ago . . .

The day has finally come. Spencer and I have been married 10 years. And it feels like it was just last week. Then I'm jolted back to reality by my 8 (almost 9) year old Eliza asking if she can play the Wii. And then Mairyn wanting to play, too. Grant running along throwing Legos and Jacqueline screaming, "Me too, me too!"

Who would have thought that 10 years from this day we would be in Cairo, Egypt sharing the adventure of our lives? I scoff a lot of people (when we go back to the states) that ooh and ahh about our "exotic" life.

"I never thought it would feel so . . . normal. School, clubs, errands and grocery shopping." I tell them.

But in some ways, it is a new adventure every week. Not necessarily one of my choosing, but still, not every day life in the States. And nonetheless, an adventure I get to share with my best friend and confidant, Spencer. Who knows what the next 10 years hold for us?

Christmas Photos

I figured I had better get some Christmas pictures up before the season passes. That and the fact that I have semi-decent Internet right now. Sheesh.

We made salt dough decorations for the Christmas tree this year. I didn't feel like getting out all the fancy, fragile ones and it suited us perfectly. Quite a few were broken, but no tears from Mommy.

We made lots of goodies.

Also, our family reenactment of the Nativity and dressing up went well this year. Jacqueline did not want to be dressed up she did her own thang.

The Christmas morning picture

Daddy's Birthday Greetings

This is Eliza's birthday card to Spencer. And he isn't sick. I asked Eliza why she put that and she said that this morning Daddy said his stomach hurt. "His stomach hurt?" "Yeah, he said he needed breakfast." Ok, well, alright, whatever. The joke at the bottom is a mortgage company magazine advertisement. She told me the joke last week when we were unloading groceries. I did the obligatory "ha-ha, that's funny" and asked her where she heard that. She said,

"Oh, I saw it in one of your magazines, Mommy. I think it was Time."

Good, good. Time magazine, the source of all jokes for birthday cards!

Crushin' on me

I know as of late I've posted a lot about my little man, Grant, but he's just saying the best things right now. We were talking about when we grow up. (I'm still getting there) What will he do, what will be his job, where he wants to live, etc. I know where this conversation is going. You can have this conversation with any little boy and they will answer the same thing. I just wanted to hear it from him.

"So, what are you going to do when you grow up?"

"I want to be a man like Daddy."

"Really? And what does Daddy do?"

"He grow up & get married & go to work."

"Who are you going to marry when you are a man like Daddy?"

"You, Mommy!"

Aww, Mommies just need to hear that! So I posed the dilemma back at him,

"But I'm already married to Daddy."

"Then I marry Mairyn because she my best friend."

I'm just pleased that he would call his sister his best friend. Something is getting through to that little brain of his!

**We did continue the conversation and discuss the social no-no's of marrying ones sibling or mother. He'll get things straightened out eventually!

Sunday Quotations

'Tis the season for Christmas movies like "It's a Wonderful Life". We tried watching this and other such films with the kidlets. "Tried" being the operative word. Some of the flicks went over better than others. Here's a quiz: Given the choice between 'Elf' or 'It's a Wonderful Life' which do you think held the kids' attention longer? If you chose the former, you would be right. Although I remember gradually warming up to the latter such film as the years passed. It's a gem. The following quote isn't actually uttered in the film, but is in a frame underneath Father Bailey's picture in the 'ol Building and Loan office.

"All you can take with you is that which you've given away."

George and Uncle Billy are faced with the closure of the family business and George glances at his father's picture and framed quote. This is when George puts up $2000 of his own money to keep his friends out from under Potter's thumb. No truer words could be hand-stitched for posterity. Later Clarence, George's angel, reminds him of this ever important phrase.

"Remember George, no man is a failure who has friends."

Truer words could not be uttered. In these times of worshipping material possesions, we need to remember we can only be truly wealthy if we surround ourselves with the best of friends and the warmest of feelings. Merry Christmas!!