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I committed a cardinal sin this morning. I forgot my reusable shopping bag when I went to the farmers' market. I left the house in a rush to get the the market before all the good stuff was gone, and in my haste, I left my bag at home. They always have plastic bags to put the produce in, but it wasn't until today that I realized nobody ever really uses them. As I strolled around the market picking out root veggies and the last of the summer tomatoes (and a few green ones for frying), I began to notice that everyone else had their Whole Foods and Trader Joe's bags slung over their shoulders. There was even a token bag from The Strand . What can I say, I live in a hipster neighborhood. And there I was, conspicuously without one. What had started out as a jolly shopping trip turned into a covert operation as I skulked around the stalls trying not to be noticed. But the real trouble began when I got in line to pay. I stood there behind...
April 15 is tax day for most of us here in the U.S., but for my WH, it means a lot more. Twelve years ago today, he arrived here from Iran. He told me this story: When I found out I was getting a green card, I didn't know what would happen. I had to wait to find out when my appointment at the U.S. Embassy would be. They tell you they’ll send you a letter to tell you your package has arrived, and when your interview would be, but I didn't trust it. I used to call the U.S. Embassy in Ankara every day to find out if my package had arrived. And I’m so glad I did, because I never received a letter. The last time I called, they told me that my package had arrived and that my appointment was set. Then I went to Turkey. I had lived there 10 years earlier for a year, hoping for a Humanitarian Parole visa and I didn't get it, but my memories in Turkey were still good memories. Ten years later I went back to get my green card and stayed in the sa...
Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened. --Dr. Seuss Sometimes it's hard to believe how fast time passes. I don't really feel any older. High school feels like yesterday . . . when in reality, I graduated almost 18 years ago. I was reminded of the passage of time today when I saw a friend's Facebook post remembering one of our teachers. Mr. Campbell died 17 years ago today, and yet it feels like it just happened. Mr. Campbell was one of a kind. He taught sociology in a way that was so far ahead of its time. He always treated us like adu...