Heather Mousa

A few days ago, in my English Corner class, discussion shifted to talk about when is a good age to send or allow your kids to leave home for school. Some said 14 as in for boarding school, others said 17 as in for high school, and others said 18 for college. However, the only female in my class of 6 students explained that, regardless of the age, she would probably keep her daughter home longer than her son (which, as you could tell, ticked me off).

She explained that a daughter needs more love and care… for example, one hug a day. Another guy agreed with her, and said that girls need more attention than boys. Then another said: You should give girls a lot of money, so that they won’t fall for the first guy who buys them stuff, whereas you shouldn’t do the same for boys. Then another comment: Girls should be raised to have good judgment on people, boys should be raised to know how to make money and struggle through life.

Then, my boss gave this analogy… He said, girls are like pigs, and boys are like tigers. If you have a pig, you should teach it how to protect itself. If you have a tiger, you should teach it how to not hurt others. (We did manage to make him replace the “pig” part with a “rabbit”, but what is done is done).

Later on, I heard a comment about Shanghai men and women. It seems that to marry a Shanghai woman, you need to buy her a house or an apartment. Women are not high on working or having careers there either… The husband should provide for them and buy them expensive bags, shoes, clothes, jewelry…etc. And even take care of all the house chores… All what the women seem to do is to look pretty and have one kid.

I think neither pigs nor tigers would like that! But then again, it is “tradition”.

Love,
~ Heather ~

It is ironic how we look for a house with a view… then we leave everyday at 7.30am and return at 6.00pm too exhausted to see anything, rest and watch TV until we drop in bed. On weekends, we sleep in late, wake up and try to pick up after ourselves… leftovers of the whole week… Then someone comes over to remind us: “Oh wow, you have an amazing view.”

In our favorite part of the house, the part with the view, there is the desk. There are two laptops, one desktop, two mugs, and two chairs. There is a lot of books, papers, pens, and my pencils and eraser. There are also the rays of the sun coming right through the window. But there is no one.

Trying to regain my balance. But I miss you.

Is it okay to miss you? Is it okay to walk between the yellowish walls and wish you were here everyday? Then what?… …

kisses,
~ Heather ~

We think we have forever. Then she dies, at the age of 22… We regret each moment we missed with her. But regret is useless, even a more waste of life. Aren’t we idiots to think we have forever to live???

Then we wonder… what kind of world are we living in. Certainly, it is unfair. It is harsh, cruel and sad… It steals our dear ones, just as they start living, just as they blossom. It aims straight for the heart. And there is absolutely nothing to do about it. All we can do is try to make the best of it… before we die… or before our dear ones die.

We say “stuff” like: “She is in a better place”… “Her soul is at peace now”… “At least she is not suffering anymore”… But seriously, there is nothing to say in situations like this. She is not here anymore. She ceased to exist. And that’s, basically, it. Nothing can be said to calm a grieving mother, father, brother, aunt, uncle or friend. Nothing can make anything better at this very moment. Only time.

May you rest in peace Yara… Your smile and lively spirit will always shine on us, and hopefully inspire us to, actually, live as lively and happily as you did.

Love,
~ Heather ~