Marrakech: and a tale of fluttering wings

So the conversation went something like this:

Him: You know about IQs, right? You know, like, people with high IQs?

Me: Umm, yes.

Him: Well, you know that there was a lot of buzz over EQs -- Emotional Quotients -- being more valuable than IQs.

Me: Oh right. EQs. I remember that.

Him: Well, one of the central ideas is that people with high EQs are able to bounce back from adversity very quickly.  

Me: Uh-huh.

Him:  Yep, people with high EQs are able to deal with challenges super fast and get right back in the game.  They're the successful ones.  The world is theirs.  

Me:  Umm....Are you trying to tell me something?

Him: Who me?  Would I try to tell you something? Nah, I'd never try to do that. 

You can't keep a bird down for long. (Hope is the thing with feathers.)

Thank you for all your sweet, wise comments.

Photos taken with an iphone in Essaouira, Morocco.

Morocco: and a tale of disappointment

I've had disappointments lately. Yes, several.

There has been inconsideration that - literally - took my breath away.
There have been friends who were, in fact, not friends.
There have been promises made that were then broken.
There have been lies told to me.  (But oh why?)
There has been shabby behavior.

It's enough to make me -- the supposed brave one-- want to crawl under a chair and just hide.

Please let me know when it's safe to come out.

Photos taken in Essaouira Morocco.

Essaouira: and a tale of Jean and a life filled with adventure

My grandmother Jean was a native New Yorker from Greenwich Village.  Standing nearly six feet tall in her stocking feet (but never hesitating to wear heels), she wore a bold red cape and chunky tribal jewelry. Her perfect posture had been learned by balancing books on her head.  You could see her from blocks away, particularly as she was always flanked by her immaculately clipped standard poodles (that had names like Genevieve and Charles).

Growing up nearby in Chappaqua, I spent many enjoyable weekends with my grandmother. A graduate of the Juliard School of Music, she would play pieces for me on her Steinway grand piano, her hands quickly turning the note-filled pages.  She would also cook for me, as if I were a grown up.  Her specialty was banana flambé, and I'd be ushered into the kitchen to watch with excitement the cognac-induced flames.

Over civilized lunches, my grandmother would advise me about all manners of things.  Often, she would invite interesting cab drivers from Punjab or Lagos or Cairo to join us, and I learned about their countries of origin over prolonged cups of tea.  In typical fashion (for her) my grandmother began learning Arabic when she was 60 – not surprisingly, the sounds rolled right off her tongue.

She was, quite simply, like no one else.  Not even close.

I remember – as if it were last week – a particular conversation that we had.  She said this to me: Maryam, don’t live an ordinary life -- anyone can do that.  Be brave. Live a life filled with adventure.

And so it is that now I pass on that message to you.

 

Images from Essaouira.

Marrakech: and a tale of a party at Jawad Kadiri's house, high Moroccan decorating drama

Jawad Kadiri.  His house had been on the cover of Elle Decor.  His hotel had been home to the cast of Sex and the City II during filming in Marrakech.  He had an over-the-top night club with belly dancers.

But most importantly, he looked awfully darling in this shell encrusted hat. (French friend, Alain, looked rather pasha-like, too.)

A handful of people -- including lucky us -- spent New Year's Eve with him at his eye popping house in Marrakech.

Oh my.  High drama.

Sculptural arches, saturated colors, tadelakt wall finishings, amazing light fixtures.

Oh!

Moody accessories.  

Glamorous girls. 

Dancing in a sunken lounge under a huge dome ....

jumps for joy.

Secrets....

We left at around 3:30am but not without kicking up our heels.  (Ahem, Yes, that's my cigar smoking husband here, along with beauteous French friend Latitia.)

Hope your 2011 is everything you want it to be.  (And that it include adventure!  Because that's the point really, isn't it?)