A New Day!

What a day it was! The day before yesterday... The day of the inauguration of Barack H. Obama ... It was a new day. It was a new beginning. It was a gift filled with faith, hope and affirmation.

No matter how hard I tried to ignore the day, it confronted and overwhelmed me. What a day of faith it was for the African slave up in heaven to see the son of an African become the leader of the free world! What a day of hope it was for poor forgotten children around the world to see a dark-skinned man from humble beginnings rise to the top! What a day of affirmation it was for Americans -past, present and future- who believed in the greatness of their country!

If only I could put the spirit of the day in a perfume bottle to spray a little each new day...

The Audacity of Hope

Before president-elect Barack Obama takes the oath of office and the novelty of having him in the White House wears off, I would like to pay homage to him and, most importantly, to his supporters for making a seemingly impossible dream possible. Thank you everyone! I hope he can live up to the expectations.

One Ruble

Here is a joke that describes somewhat the reason for some of my trepidation for going back to school:

A Russian walks into a bar and orders a beer. "That will be one ruble," says the bartender.
"One ruble!" the customer protests, "last week it was only fifty kopeks!"
"Well," replies the bartender, "it's fifty kopeks for the beer and fifty kopeks for the perestroika."
Reluctantly, the customer gives the bartender a ruble, and is surprised when the bartender gives him back fifty kopeks and says, "We are out of beer."

Ruble = Time (fifty kopeks) and money (fifty kopeks)
Perestroika = Healthcare system reforms
Beer = Satisfaction

Out of the mouths of babes

This past Sunday, I had an interesting conversation with two four-year old twin sisters who came to visit my mother with their grandmother. They were cute and talkative. During most of the visit, they were busy playing with each other except when I interrupted them.

Me: What are your names?

Twin #1: M...

Twin #2: I... What is your name?

Me: Mi.

Twin #2: Why are you wearing a scarf? (I was having a bad hair day so I was covering my head)

Me: Why? You don't like it?

Twin #2: Did you wash your hair? (Curious look)

Twin #1: Is it still wet?

Me: No and No.

Twin #1: Then you have to remove it (Pause). Where is your baby?

Me: What? Am I supposed to have a baby? (Blank stare) Here is my baby (I pointed at an old Teddy bear that I had)

Twin #1 and #2: Nooo (They started laughing) That is a Teddy bear!

It was good having our home filled with the laughter of young kids. After they left, I was motivated to wash and style my hair. Thanks I and M!

When is Time to let go of a dream?

I am thirty-something. I am a single female. I have an advanced degree. The next obvious step would be to settle. That means find a husband and a well-paying job. No! Not if Fate has anything to do with it. There is a very stubborn inner voice that will not convince me to let go of a life-long dream of going to Medical School. That inner voice is remarkably loud and, at times, keeps me awake. Not long ago, I found a helpful website. Click here.

Why blog?

I am usually a quiet person. “Menew Zem Alesh? Techawechi!” (Why are you quiet? Say something) is a phrase I dread at social gatherings. My silence is, of course, only a façade because, in my head, I have very heated conversations. It is, well, safer that way. I do not offend anyone and no one offends me.
Then, why blog?
1. I want to start the new year with a new hobby.
2. I plan to do it for pleasure.
3. I want to do it for the sake of learning.