Nawrooz Mubarak!

To my dear Blogistani peeps....Nawrooz Mubarak! It's the New Year celebration this weekend. The first day of spring is culturally the "new year" for those of us from Afghanistan and for Iranians. I wrote a bit about before so I won't go into encyclopedic detail again.

I've got some new readers (yes, I'm talking to YOU, whoever you are in Ghana and Botswana, logging on every few nights...I wish you'd comment, I'd love to know you. I'm so curious!) For those new readers, and for the veterans, you can go here to read about the Islamic calendar, and here to learn a bit about the new year history. Keep in mind, these are Wiki links, so it's not like you're getting the holy grail definition, just easier to scroll.

Iranians celebrate the new year very much the same as Afghans do. Tomorrow night, we are going to attend a New Year's party with tables laden with food, traditional music blaring, sweets and tea, but no alcohol. It is a Muslim gathering, so Ed will have to dance without the aid of liquid courage.

There is much happening in the Middle East these day. I applaud the masses who have risen against oppressive dictators. Good riddance. Change is good for the soul, just as it is for your bedsheets. My prayers and thoughts go out to the innocent, yet valiant. Keep up the good fight. I am optimistic that in my lifetime there will be a measure of coexistence, acceptance, and respect for our differences, in addition to the freedom of choice all humans covet, and rightly so. (Photo borrowed from Abrahamic Coexistence.)

Plant something beautiful for the New Year, whether you're Muslim, or not. We always did when we lived with our grandmother in Kabul. She had the most beautiful, bountiful pomegranate tree in her courtyard. She's been back in Kabul since last May, and I miss her terribly. I wonder if she'll plant something this New Year? I hope so. For her, I will nurture my baby pom tree this weekend. I've been neglectful of it.

Speaking of pomegranates, one of my favorite non-profits, working hard to bring the Afghanistan of my memories back to life. I admire Plant for Peace so much.

The women & men of our United States of America military are also working hard, at the very same task. Keep them in your prayers. (Wow. 412,000 trees!? Thank you, U.S. Military! Suz, are you 'green' with envy right now? Tee hee.)

I hope you choose to celebrate the New Year in some little way, even if it means a celebration of the first day of spring for you. Share it with me, I'd love to read about it. Happy New Year!