Finding Light in the Dark Abyss

We are such resilient beings!

We can find the scantest ray of light in the darkest moments, if we put our minds to it.

I just had such experiences during the devastatingly sad days of the last week by spending time with my friend Manijeh who flew in just for the occasion, or by breaking bread with Goli, whom to me, is the personification of the idea of an angel, or by hanging out with Marjan's daughter, Kiana, while the family went to say their last goodbyes, or by having a heart to heart with Saeid who has lost his wife, partner, and the love of his life, and even by listening to the sound of broken hearts, coming out as just moans.

All, indications that life is but a process we all go through and it quickly passes us by, whether we milk it for what it's worth or not.

How I Became A Millionaire In Two Hours

The idea of putting away an item per day in order to create care packages for the local homeless people started back in September of last year after seeing a post on Mary’s wall. I made an announcement on Facebook and 16 of my dear friends and family answered the call and sent me $387 in cash plus three large bags of toiletries.

Valentine’s Day is a day of love, perhaps is the best day to update you on that project. My dear friend Hooshang and I went shopping and filled the carts with items like apple, orange, banana, toothpaste, chocolate bar, protein bar, juice, beanie cap, and warm socks. Another dear relative, Farah, had donated a roll of bags which we used in creating 36 care packages.

I asked Hooshang if he would help me deliver the care packages to the homeless people. With a surprised expression and in a questioning tone he asked, “where are you gonna take these to.” Unfortunately, the answer I gave him was proven within the hour; ‘Just driving from here to the beach, all the packages will be gone.’ And gone, they were...

In all of my prior attempts, I had only encountered three people who did not accept the packages and this time, I came across 4 more such people who without even knowing what was in the package, respectfully declined to accept, though they did say “THANK YOU” (an added note for those who are not quite used to EXPRESSING verbal thanks when they should).

They were all so very thankful and showed their appreciation in different ways. One young woman immediately put on the socks and said, “I really needed this” and a man who had a twinkle in his eyes when he pulled out the orange and said, “I love fresh fruits and haven’t had an orange in a long time.”

Other than one young man who asked if I can give him some cash, no one else asked me for anything until THE LAST ONE. It was a seemingly middle-aged man who was laying down on a sheet and had a small blanket on him. He asked, “can you please get me a blanket from the local Goodwill store down the street?” How could I say no to that face, to that plea, to that desperation? I got him a brand new blanket and a thick warm sweater and when I returned to him, the expression of disbelief and the appreciation in his words and the tears in his eyes paid for all the time, energy, effort, and money that had gone into this little project.

So, putting two and two together, I approached 40 people in a stretch of about two miles and delivered the bags. I left the house with 36 packages that cost $300.28 and came home one million dollars richer and have $87 left for the next project. Happy Valentine’s Day.

PS. Original post on 9/29/18 http://nahzinikki.blogspot.com/2018/09/simple-challenge-put-away-one-item-per.html

Well, Hello... Dolly!

I spent hours on end watching TV in the first few years of living in America. One of my favorite shows was "Eight is Enough" and I loved the mom in that show who was portrayed by Betty Buckley. This week, I had the privilege of watching her live on stage for the third time.

After seeing how Betty Buckley crawled under the skin of Grizabella in "CATS" and later, Norma Desmond in "Sunset Boulevard", it was time to see how she brings to life the legendary character, DOLLY. I was wondering whether she will be able to shine through the powerful shadows of legends who had played as "Dolly" before; likes of Mary Martin, Ethel Merman, Carol Channing, and Barbra Streisand. And shine through, she did. Wish you were there.

Hopefully, this short video would help 🙂🎶💃

https://youtu.be/pMIOGJO_Vh0

"Tears of a mother cannot save her child, but your blood can.” So my bit was to donate blood"

When I turned to my friend Nilu after we finished watching "Mother of the Earth" at Docunight LA a couple of weeks ago, her short comment said it all: "I feel embarrassed compared to the lady" in the documentary. However, I am of the belief that every little bit of civic participation counts. We shouldn't stop doing OUR BIT just because it is small in comparison to another. "Tears of a mother cannot save her child, but your blood can.” So my bit was to donate blood. You do YOUR part.

SIMPLE CHALLENGE: Put Away One Item Per Day To Donate At X-Mas Time

My "American Sister, Mary" had a post on her Facebook page, suggesting a very simple, daily, gathering of food items, in anticipation of donating it at Christmas time.

I was so moved by this simple, yet practical, idea that I immediately adopted it and now I am participating in Mary's CHALLENGE: Putting aside ONE ITEM PER DAY to make X-Mas gift packages for my numerous local homeless people.

You can join us in this drive for any cause you wish; A local food bank, women's shelters, homeless shelters, a low-income family/person you may know, etc. It is just so easy to do and will be a daily subtle reminder to think of others and spread the love.

Much love, Nahzi Nikki 😊🌷❤

دوران دانش آموزی ما....

با وجودیکه مدرسه مختلط میرفتیم و نمایندگان شیطان بزرگ مثل خواننده ها و هنرپیشگان طاغوتی نمونه های بد و زشت و منحرفی برایمان بودند و حجاب نداشتیم و ماه محرمهایی که یکماه بطول می انجامید نداشتیم و دختر و پسرهامون دلشون به یک شماره تلفن دادن و گرفتن خوش بود یا گاهی خوردن یک شیرینی یا ساندویچ با طرف و و و و و ولی با این وجود چقدر از نسل امروز دل پاکتر، چشم پاک تر، درست تر، بی شیله پیله تر، سر براه تر، قابل اعتمادتر، و رویهمرفته محترم تر بودیم.
😢💙
کلیک ==>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtUGttie1GI&feature=share

Going Down The Memory Lane With Ziba Shirazi

How aptly she had chosen the name of her program; "Songs of My Life"! ​ ​Listening to Ziba Shirazi reviewing her childhood and teenagehood memories was like going through my own diary. She was masterfully and effortlessly using songs of our youth in transporting us back in time. She told us of performing at family gatherings, or ​i​n a children's program ​on radio, or on stage at school​ functions​, experiences all too familiar to me.

She shared with us the crush she had on a boy at ​elementary ​school and instantaneously took me to my first day of going to first grade, when the teacher asked Ali to scoot over so I can take the seat next to his; a seemingly inconsequential request that started a ripple effect that has stayed with me to this day.

Sometimes she tied each memory to another,​ ​and other times ​tied a ​decade or a historically significant event​ to another​, by ​singing​ a famous song of the same ​era​.
All and all, it was an evening that most members of the audience could reminisce about where he/she was when Vigen, Googoosh, Dariush or Faramarz Aslani sang the song Ziba was performing.​

​Last night​, I got the chance to experience time travel. That is what Ziba Shirazi accomplished. What else would you call the experience of traveling to another continent, century, and era, for the price of one ticket to visit Morgan Wixon Playhouse, if not "time travel"?

Click here for a short video from last night