…..in the style of one princess, whom i had the great pleasure of visiting today.

What is it about childhood that…..captures our hearts?

Unselfishness. Innocence. Understanding. Love. Bravery. Truth. Compassion.

All those qualities “with a capital” to which Plato so longingly aspired …. to which we all so desparately aspire.

Yesterday, I spoke on the phone to a beautiful little girl. Seven years of age, lighthearted yet insightful, carefree yet poignant. She was to undergo a painful reconstructive surgery today and I wanted to wish her luck. She picked up the phone with “Taiyyaba Khala! Salamaliakum! I miss you!” I was so overcome by her joy that I couldn’t contain my laughter - the laughter, the simple joyous laughter that you can only hear echoing in your heart by the pure and innocent simplicity of a child’s happiness and compassion. I told her I’d come visit her tomorrow, after her surgery. “Because you go to the university near my hospital and you’re going to be a doctor.” Actually baby, I’m going to be a lawyer. “But there’s a hospital.” (it seems as if it doesn’t connect…why would i go to a university connected to a hospital if i was not intending to be a doctor?) Do you want me to bring you anything tomorrow? “Um, that’s up to you!” Alright, sweetheart. I’ll see you tomorrow.
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Any of my friends can attest to the fact that I’ve been nervous, to say the least, about turning 20. For at least a few months I’ve been going on and on about how I feel so old. On that note, Sumreen actually got me a card with one of those jokes about how many candles are on my cake.

It’s not the number that bothers me. 20.

It’s the implication…..

What does 20 mean? What does it say about where I am in my life right now…where I want to be…where I will be (InshAllah)? What is 20? It’s not that I’m two decades old….it’s that I have to start stepping into a very serious portion of my life. Life is starting to take shape in various spheres.
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