Early on, I learned that the kitchen was a special place.  Some of my fondest memories were aromas coming from my mother’s kitchen. I can never forget coming from school and smelling her fresh baked bread, baklawa, and rice dishes to die for. I still see the kitchen as a place that imparts love. And that love should be imparted to the rest of the world. My parents taught us that sharing a meal, which bestows kindness, is an obligatory part of life.  It is something, we Americans refer to as old fashioned hospitality.  Everyone I knew was invited to a meal. One never said “no” to an invite. I can see my father actually dragging one to the table if they refused. The dinner proceeded as such: the guests were invited to the table first, the house ate afterward then soda was served, followed by tea, coffee, nuts, and a dessert. As a child, I could not understand why it was necessary to wait until guests ate before I did. And, at times, I questioned the gesture. It would be later that I understood the value of the lesson.

 The act taught me there was a bigger world out there, and I was not the center of it. Others should be respected and considered as well. Most importantly, it showed me that kindness was a necessary virtue in life if one wanted to live in complacency. These were priceless life lessons. And I could never be more thankful then to have learned them.

 

 

The other day, I watched one of my favorite movies, a black and white version of “The Day the Earth Stood Still” with the late actress Patricia Neal. If anyone hasn’t watched the movie, it is about a flying saucer that lands in Washington D.C. When the space ship opens, a strange dressed alien pops out and speaks English. Behind him is an 8 ft. robot. As expected, the army, camera crews, and curious by standers all rush to the sight. The alien is shot and killed but is revived by his robot with the help of one human. Seeing hopelessness, the space man reveals the purpose of his mission which is to bring earthly peace. He then leaves the same way he came.

There are several reasons I like the movie. First, it never gets old. In over six decades, people haven’t changed much, and it shows in the movie. Then there are the lessons learned. For instance the obvious, it is human tendency to pre-judge those who are different. Instead of seeing that the alien was a peaceful being, the human characters already had a fixed mind that he was a contender to war. And they hunted him down like an enemy. Second, humans are quick to use violence as a means for maintaining order rather than dialogue. If the earthlings had only taken time to listen to the space man, they may have discovered that his ingenuous plan for peace may have created a lasting peace in their own world. Instead, they shot him dead to silence him forever. And then there is the alien’s famous line: “There must be security for all or no one is secure.” Peace cannot be achieved without equality, fairness, and justice being served. Otherwise, there is no true peace. I really like this movie.

“Dripping water hollows out stone, not through force but through persistence.”

(Ovid)

You are never too young or too old to envision.

You are never too young or too old to set goals.

 

But you must depend on no one but yourself,

And you must go about it with perseverance.

There’s a possibility you may not make it.

Still at least you know you’ve tried.

And that’s the same as if you’ve made it

Knowing you’ve positioned the stone for the drip.

Have a blessed Friday.

 

Diana 

Dear Friends,

My novel, The Sands of Kedar, will be released tomorrow, September 17, 2015. It has been described as “powerful”, “full of insight”, and a “good read.” Please take the time to order it online or to buy it from Barnes and Noble. I know you will enjoy it.

 

Thanks,

Diana Khalil