When I was a young child anything that was of an exotic, or to be more exact, of a Middle Eastern origin terrified me. Even, or should I say especially music of an Arab genre in a cartoon, which surprisingly there is quite a bit of, imparted a sense of entrapment and dread beyond reason. A glimpse of Middle Eastern script on a coffee label or signage left me running for safety with sweaty palms and dilated pupils. Now this is from a child that grew up in Los Angeles who at the age of seven rode public transportation buses throughout the vast city, just for fun without anyone knowing. So fearful and retiring, I wasn't.
This singular fear based behavior became a huge joke in my European born, well traveled family. One because I was the only member on both sides of my parents to be born in the US and the only sibling in the family that was born here. So you can imagine the xenophobic jokes, the past life jokes, the "you've got to hand it to her, she really reached to find a unique angle to get attention" jokes. And yes, for Halloween they all thought it was so funny to get me a belly dancing costume or some annoying get up that smacked of the dreaded region.
My mother being French and my father being Italian thought there must be some deranged gene in the opposing family lineage that brought on this absurd perception. But no luck, no breakthrough until I opened my eyes to some of the greatest art in the world. In my mother's wisdom, she brought me to a Spring celebration at her colleague's home. Of course it was a Persian Spring Celebration - Noruz - how was I to know to flee before the door opened?
I didn't have time, and in my family, no drama in public, under any circumstance, period, full stop. So I entered the house on top of the Hollywood Hills, with a view of the city. It was a gorgeous home with vast walls filled with exquisite contemporary art and huge wondrous Oriental rugs on honey colored stone floors. For the Noruz celebration which literally translates to "New Day", there was a large green colored marble table filled with beautiful objects that were symbolic for the occasion. Pots of hyacinth, a mother of pearl mirror, a stunning pair of candlesticks, pomegranates, honey almonds, gold fish in a hand blown bowl, ancient gold coins, etc graced the table on a hand embroidered cloth of gold and cerise.
I was starting to feel queasy as there was music playing, but the compelling visuals and the flowing good will from everyone somewhat quelled it. But I was distracted and stunned by the fresh splendor of it all and for the first time, my rather unusual family seemed quite staid in comparison. So, my eyes were opened with spring freshness on the day the sun is directly over the equator and the north and south poles of the earth lie along the solar terminator. This is when sunlight is evenly divided between the north and south hemispheres and I too became aligned with the spirit of spring.
Michelle Viggiano Phoenix & Scottsdale Four Winds Healthy Home Carpet & Air Duct Cleaning www.healthyhomeaz.com
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