Congratulations on your engagement. Great forward leaps into the unknown are still possible, even in the life of a tetraplegic, even while under the authoritative care regime of an Italian hospital.
Of all the obsolete organic material that we shed, or otherwise jettison, throughout our lives “foot-dust” is the most romantic sounding. It trails behind our heels like sands from a fractured hourglass. 'He ran out of foot-dust' is a poetic alternative idiom to 'he ran out of time.'
I will ponder on the ethics of selling the horse that kicked you. Many years ago, I was chewing quat (a plant with mild amphetamine qualities) in a cafe in Sana'a, which is the capital of Yemen. I was gradually shifting from a very animated, talkative state, to a superficially torpid disposition, masking the inner truth - that my mind was racing so fast, it was like a spinning-top rotating at such speed that the colours had combined and blurred to white.
A man who had lived in Aden under colonial rule sat down next to me and began to reminisce fondly about the British, and what he called “the British promise”. This segued into a detailed blow-by-blow synopsis of the Falklands War. At the end of it, he asked me if I wanted to purchase a suit of armour. He had been the curator of a museum during one of the nation's many wars and had looted the piece on the understanding that if he didn't, then somebody else probably would.
I declined his offer, as I did not want to go to prison.
In all the time that I was resident in Yemen, only two women said “hello” to me in the street. On both occasions it was a shock. Occasionally eyes (the only part of the body that was visible) would meet. I always felt guilty, as I did not want to get anyone into trouble.
One thing I noticed was that, after a few weeks in the country, I began to tune-in to a feminine shape that was still evident underneath the amorphous and unflattering black garments that were worn by the women in public. A cynic might say that this was a manifestation of the male gaze formulating a new way in which to objectify the female form. I prefer to think of it in terms of a line of dialogue, spoken by Jeff Goldblum in the first Jurassic Park film: “Life finds a way.” Or in this case, the biological imperative recalibrates itself to a new standard.
I recently found myself browsing florescent socks on Amazon – a throwback to my childhood where they were worn mismatched.
In regard to your own sartorial journey, I would advise that you follow your heart. I recently walked behind a lady with thinning hair that had been cut short and dyed bright red. I assume that she was in her 60s, or maybe even her early 70s. She was wearing dark sweatpants with the word 'juicy' embroidered across the top of the buttocks in pale-pink cursive script. She seemed at ease with herself and at peace with the world.
Hanif , I am a new devotee to your daily missives. Today I attended an ‘away day ‘ for team building with , amongst others , Nicola . She urged me to sign up and because I admire her and you and have done so . I have been working in the same industry for 30 years , have always slightly hated group bonding with colleagues but I now feel I’ve reached a maturity where I can enjoy the sensation of being part of a bigger picture . I even enjoyed the scavenger hunt which allowed all of us to reveal our true ,highly-competitive natures . I am writing to you because Nicola informed me that this is something you enjoy . I would like , in a small way , to contribute to your well being as I am a huge admire of your work . Amities Judy
How I missed reading these chronicles! 😍 thank you for sharing and thank you mooore for the digression in your writings. I love how you move, in all liberty, from one thought/story to another. I send you much love and prayers to get well, soon !
Congratulations!!! What wonderful news. It reminds me of a favorite saying. Leap and the net will appear. Each day you leap and nets appear for you. I am humbled by your example
Congratulations Hanif and Isabella on your engagement. What a lovely scene you paint of red toenails, tended eyebrows, horses and Isabella's laughter...I can see and hear it so vividly, rising above this shitty world. As always your writing makes as laugh, sigh, gasp, cry...we are there with you. Sending love and thank you for continuing to share with us and give us so much xx
Ahh Hanif, congratulations on your engagement to Isabella. So now a celebration with a pedicure and painted toenails, ha. This posting on the life in the hospital had me laughing, obviously no Nurse Ratched around. The notion of someone showing you the photo of a horse is outrageous and hilarious at the same time. When my middle daughter, an athletic 16 year old, had a severe case of Guillén-Barre syndrome, she was paralyzed, had to be taken to a a place to learn how to walk again. There was a strange protocol, no one could ask what caused the severe problems I saw everywhere, even of her roommate. One heard rumors, but no one could ask what happened. It was a terrible time, but she learned how to walk after four months, many tears, temper tantrums, and lots of sadness. Keep your wonderful spirit. Grab on to life! I just finished reading your book Intimacy. Brilliant! I wanted to include in my favorite short stories My son the Fanatic. I read it in the NYorker when it was published, I think, in the mid eighties. I loved the ending, which was perfect in my life with a extremely devout and judgemental Christian mother. Thank Hanif, keep on writing!
Hanif, greetings from Ireland. The weather could just be turning and we could soon see the first hints of Spring. I’m so delighted to get a dispatch from the hospital and even more delighted at your proposal and its acceptance by the amazing Isabella. I finished to Sir with Love yesterday which I hadn’t read before but picked up as a recommendation from yourself in one of your interviews. It was astonishing, and so so insightful and relevant almost seventy years on from the events depicted. I don’t think I’ll watch the film though as it has Lulu in it. I’ve nothing against her in particular but I’ve just never been able to comprehend her popularity. I’ve never understood why David Bowie allowed her to sing his composition the Man who sold the world. You probably know as you were lucky enough to know him.
Agree about the eyebrows. A former student makeup artist in one of my ESL classes once agreed to give tips. The most important was tend to your eyebrows, which I took seriously and it does make the biggest difference, even with no makeup. Hang in there, enjoy the nice moments, try to laugh off the awkward moments.
Glad to hear that your sartorial consciousness is in full flood. Regarding eyebrows, I have nearly no eyebrows at all. I am a blonde whose hair is turning grey but the eyebrows are sparse. Whenever I have attempted to create more visible eyebrows, they always look fake and plastic. I don't wear a lot of makeup anyway. But I like the idea of the colorful clothes. I like colors, too.
Congratulations on your engagement. Great forward leaps into the unknown are still possible, even in the life of a tetraplegic, even while under the authoritative care regime of an Italian hospital.
Of all the obsolete organic material that we shed, or otherwise jettison, throughout our lives “foot-dust” is the most romantic sounding. It trails behind our heels like sands from a fractured hourglass. 'He ran out of foot-dust' is a poetic alternative idiom to 'he ran out of time.'
I will ponder on the ethics of selling the horse that kicked you. Many years ago, I was chewing quat (a plant with mild amphetamine qualities) in a cafe in Sana'a, which is the capital of Yemen. I was gradually shifting from a very animated, talkative state, to a superficially torpid disposition, masking the inner truth - that my mind was racing so fast, it was like a spinning-top rotating at such speed that the colours had combined and blurred to white.
A man who had lived in Aden under colonial rule sat down next to me and began to reminisce fondly about the British, and what he called “the British promise”. This segued into a detailed blow-by-blow synopsis of the Falklands War. At the end of it, he asked me if I wanted to purchase a suit of armour. He had been the curator of a museum during one of the nation's many wars and had looted the piece on the understanding that if he didn't, then somebody else probably would.
I declined his offer, as I did not want to go to prison.
In all the time that I was resident in Yemen, only two women said “hello” to me in the street. On both occasions it was a shock. Occasionally eyes (the only part of the body that was visible) would meet. I always felt guilty, as I did not want to get anyone into trouble.
One thing I noticed was that, after a few weeks in the country, I began to tune-in to a feminine shape that was still evident underneath the amorphous and unflattering black garments that were worn by the women in public. A cynic might say that this was a manifestation of the male gaze formulating a new way in which to objectify the female form. I prefer to think of it in terms of a line of dialogue, spoken by Jeff Goldblum in the first Jurassic Park film: “Life finds a way.” Or in this case, the biological imperative recalibrates itself to a new standard.
I recently found myself browsing florescent socks on Amazon – a throwback to my childhood where they were worn mismatched.
In regard to your own sartorial journey, I would advise that you follow your heart. I recently walked behind a lady with thinning hair that had been cut short and dyed bright red. I assume that she was in her 60s, or maybe even her early 70s. She was wearing dark sweatpants with the word 'juicy' embroidered across the top of the buttocks in pale-pink cursive script. She seemed at ease with herself and at peace with the world.
Hanif , I am a new devotee to your daily missives. Today I attended an ‘away day ‘ for team building with , amongst others , Nicola . She urged me to sign up and because I admire her and you and have done so . I have been working in the same industry for 30 years , have always slightly hated group bonding with colleagues but I now feel I’ve reached a maturity where I can enjoy the sensation of being part of a bigger picture . I even enjoyed the scavenger hunt which allowed all of us to reveal our true ,highly-competitive natures . I am writing to you because Nicola informed me that this is something you enjoy . I would like , in a small way , to contribute to your well being as I am a huge admire of your work . Amities Judy
How I missed reading these chronicles! 😍 thank you for sharing and thank you mooore for the digression in your writings. I love how you move, in all liberty, from one thought/story to another. I send you much love and prayers to get well, soon !
Congratulations!!! What wonderful news. It reminds me of a favorite saying. Leap and the net will appear. Each day you leap and nets appear for you. I am humbled by your example
Congratulations Hanif and Isabella on your engagement. What a lovely scene you paint of red toenails, tended eyebrows, horses and Isabella's laughter...I can see and hear it so vividly, rising above this shitty world. As always your writing makes as laugh, sigh, gasp, cry...we are there with you. Sending love and thank you for continuing to share with us and give us so much xx
Congratulations! You truly drink deep from the cup of life. Thank you for your funny, thoughtful and wise writing - you are inspirational.
Ahh Hanif, congratulations on your engagement to Isabella. So now a celebration with a pedicure and painted toenails, ha. This posting on the life in the hospital had me laughing, obviously no Nurse Ratched around. The notion of someone showing you the photo of a horse is outrageous and hilarious at the same time. When my middle daughter, an athletic 16 year old, had a severe case of Guillén-Barre syndrome, she was paralyzed, had to be taken to a a place to learn how to walk again. There was a strange protocol, no one could ask what caused the severe problems I saw everywhere, even of her roommate. One heard rumors, but no one could ask what happened. It was a terrible time, but she learned how to walk after four months, many tears, temper tantrums, and lots of sadness. Keep your wonderful spirit. Grab on to life! I just finished reading your book Intimacy. Brilliant! I wanted to include in my favorite short stories My son the Fanatic. I read it in the NYorker when it was published, I think, in the mid eighties. I loved the ending, which was perfect in my life with a extremely devout and judgemental Christian mother. Thank Hanif, keep on writing!
You are full of life, Hanif. Next challenge: walking in Rome with those toenails in red. And then, who knows...
Turn up the volume indeed my friend. Congratulations on this happy news.
Better start planning your wedding eyebrows.
Hanif, greetings from Ireland. The weather could just be turning and we could soon see the first hints of Spring. I’m so delighted to get a dispatch from the hospital and even more delighted at your proposal and its acceptance by the amazing Isabella. I finished to Sir with Love yesterday which I hadn’t read before but picked up as a recommendation from yourself in one of your interviews. It was astonishing, and so so insightful and relevant almost seventy years on from the events depicted. I don’t think I’ll watch the film though as it has Lulu in it. I’ve nothing against her in particular but I’ve just never been able to comprehend her popularity. I’ve never understood why David Bowie allowed her to sing his composition the Man who sold the world. You probably know as you were lucky enough to know him.
Agree about the eyebrows. A former student makeup artist in one of my ESL classes once agreed to give tips. The most important was tend to your eyebrows, which I took seriously and it does make the biggest difference, even with no makeup. Hang in there, enjoy the nice moments, try to laugh off the awkward moments.
I laughed until I cried reading your delightful writing. Thank you for bringing hilarity to us in spite of your seriously difficult circumstances.
Congratulations! As my British husband would certainly say: marrying an Italian is the best thing you can do in life ! ;)
Congratulations on your engagement! Pics of the happy couple and pedicures to follow..? 🍾
Horses are regal creatures who only resort to kicking when all other options for peace have been exhausted.
Glad to hear that your sartorial consciousness is in full flood. Regarding eyebrows, I have nearly no eyebrows at all. I am a blonde whose hair is turning grey but the eyebrows are sparse. Whenever I have attempted to create more visible eyebrows, they always look fake and plastic. I don't wear a lot of makeup anyway. But I like the idea of the colorful clothes. I like colors, too.
Congrats on the engagement!