This is a view of the Narrows Bridge, from a home overlooking the Narrows Waterway, where we had a family gathering. It is the home of my former husband, Darrell, his wife Alice, her daughter and a grandson. They are an extended family, all living together.Our family arrived - Laurel and her husband, Mehran; Rue and his wife, Annie, and their daughter Daisy, and Annie's mom, Kathy.
We brought Rahmat, shown here with Daisy.
And Megan and Taraz also came.
It's just easier, to all meet together this way, rather than go from house to house, to hear of all the news.
We wanted to celebrate the news about Taraz and Megan's wedding in September.
And, Darrell wanted to show some of his photographs from his pilgrimage to Haifa last fall.
Mehran recently visited Iran, to visit his family there, and he had stories to share about that visit. The following story was one that Mehran told about his Mother:
In Iran, Baha'is are under constant surveilance and questioning, and once a month Mehran's mother has to go to an office for questioning. It is just the usual questions, about where they have gone, what are they doing, and who do they talk to.
The officer in charge had interviewed Mehran's mom for over 6 years now, not missing a month. At Naw Ruz, the Baha'i new year, she called him, to tell him that she would have to cancel the monthly meeting, as she was busy cooking for the holy day celebration.
This was the first time she had been so bold as to tell an officer that she cannot lighten her tasks to oblige political protocol. Quite a daring move, but, she had main dishes to prepare, like kabab koobideh, gormeh sabei, and koofteh berenji. She couldn't leave her work. He told her to skip the visit this time, and prepare for Naw Ruz.
After the new year festivities were over, and the month had drawn to a close, she discovered that even if Baha'is were being persecuted in Iran, that she had come to look forward to these interrogations! It was a way to talk to someone about all the details about her family. The officer was always an alert and curious listener, asking so many questions.
Because she skipped a meeting, she told the officer that he must come to their home for the next visit, so she could make tea. That is a custom that you do for honored guests, and that is how she wanted to view this man and his questions.
He came to the home......but, did not take time for tea.
