neurotic Iraqi wife
October 14, 2007
My Eid Dream...
Its Eid, yaaaaaaaay. I woke up on Friday and decided to hell with work. Its Eid, and Im gonna celebrate it my way. The Iraqi way. I took a shower, slipped on a new pair of jeans, a crisp blue shirt and my new acquired high heels. I took HUBBY’s hand in mine, borrowed a car from one of my coworkers that live in the GZ and drove right past the checkpoints. What a liberating feeling. My heart was pounding with excitement. I havent seen Baghdad, the real Baghdad in such a long time. Families were walking with their children and everyone seemed so cheerful. It was a major shock to my eyes. I had the urge of rubbing it so hard so as to make sure I aint dreaming and what Im seeing is infact real.
Last year, the last day before we thought we were leaving Baghdad for good, W took us to Saysaban, a beautiful restaurant in Jadriyah, a place that you will never believe is infact in a war torn country. Hence we decided it was the perfect place to celebrate Eid in. We parked the car and walked towards the gate. Waiters in white crisp shirts and black vests welcomed us, each with a smile that lit up the whole place. "Eid Mubarak" they said happily."Welcome, please come in, come in" and they ushered us towards a corner table thats set just for two.
It was the perfect table with "real" plates and cutlery. Something I havent seen in over a few months now. The view from where we were sitting was perfect, I couldnt ask for a better view. The place was overwhelmingly full. Full of people. Happy people. Kids running around with their new Eid clothes and shining shoes, laughing and playing in the immaculately maintained garden. Red, white, green and black balloons hanging from every tree branch, making up a beautiful mosaic of our flag, the Iraqi flag. You can hear birds chirping alongside the children's laughter. And if you concentrate hard enough, you would realise that the birds are laughing too. Laughing with those beautiful innocent kids.
A young waiter whose name was Khalid, came by to take our order. I asked for a menu, which he happily provided. It was a one pager covered in a plastic laminate cover. I didnt know what to have. Hummus? Imtabbal? Kubba? Cheese and basil? Lahm ib 3ajeen? Mixed grill (wth no chicken) or rice and white beans sauce. Hmmm. I was seriously confused. So I said "Khalid, Im hungry, very hungry, can I have bits and pieces of everything?". Khalid laughed and so did HUBBY. HUBBY then interrupted and said "No Khalid, no, please dont listen to her, she keeps doing this to me everytime we go out to eat, she orders alot, but only eats like a bird then Im forced to finish the whole thing and look what happened to me" HUBBY pointed at his belly. I giggled, for thats true. My eyes are always more hungry than my tummy. So I said, Ok Khalid, just get us one plate of hummus (mashed chikpeas w/garlic), another of imtabbal (mashed aubergines w/ garlic), definitely fattoush (mixed salad with croutons) and a plate of mixed grill with no chicken. Oh and dont forget the samoon (Iraqi bread). I want piping hot samoon. Khalid walked off with our order probably thinking what a nutso this lady is.
The sweet apple aroma of the hubbly bubbly was lingering all around us, so HUBBY decided to have one too. As for me, I was content with my cigarettes and my sweet Iraqi tea. HUBBY reached out, trying to hold my hand, as he always does when we are out. I pulled it back, hey, we cant do that here. Its not right. Youre my wife he said angrily, I can do whatever I like. No HUBBY, dont embarrass me please. Big mistake. For HUBBY always tries to tease me and so he turned towards me and kissed me right there and then. OMG. I could feel my face turning as red as the balloon over my head. HUBBYYYYYYYYY, I shouted in his ears . God, they probably think Im one of those bad girls. HUBBY laughed, and kissed me again, this time on my forehead.
Khalid and another guy came around carrying a huge tray with our order. I whispered to HUBBY "I hope they didnt see that" HUBBY shrugged his shoulders and said and so what if they did, YOU ARE MY WIFE ". I laughed for I cant beat that, can I now. Everything looked so yummy, especially the samoon and the fattoush. Surprisingly enough, I ate everything on that tray. Everything. HUBBY couldnt believe his eyes. Nor could I. I guess I needed real food. Real Iraqi food.
After having the last piece of samoon I just sat there with a smile that made me look so stupid, happy stupid. For it was just surreal. Surreal to be sitting in a restaurant in the middle of Baghdad in 2007. A young girl in pink polka dots dress and matching shoes was running around and then all of a sudden she stood right next to my chair. She kept staring at me and laughing. I laughed back, made faces at her which made her giggle even more. "Whats your name?" I asked. "Ahlam" she said. "My name is Ahlam (dreams in English)". "Happy Eid Ahlam" I said. "Happy Eid to you too" She laughed in what was the most angelic voice Ive ever heard then she disappeared. Ahlam disappeared and so did my dreams.
They say its good to dream once in awhile. Yes unfortuantely it was all a dream. A Eid Dream...My Eid Dream...
Last year, the last day before we thought we were leaving Baghdad for good, W took us to Saysaban, a beautiful restaurant in Jadriyah, a place that you will never believe is infact in a war torn country. Hence we decided it was the perfect place to celebrate Eid in. We parked the car and walked towards the gate. Waiters in white crisp shirts and black vests welcomed us, each with a smile that lit up the whole place. "Eid Mubarak" they said happily."Welcome, please come in, come in" and they ushered us towards a corner table thats set just for two.
It was the perfect table with "real" plates and cutlery. Something I havent seen in over a few months now. The view from where we were sitting was perfect, I couldnt ask for a better view. The place was overwhelmingly full. Full of people. Happy people. Kids running around with their new Eid clothes and shining shoes, laughing and playing in the immaculately maintained garden. Red, white, green and black balloons hanging from every tree branch, making up a beautiful mosaic of our flag, the Iraqi flag. You can hear birds chirping alongside the children's laughter. And if you concentrate hard enough, you would realise that the birds are laughing too. Laughing with those beautiful innocent kids.
A young waiter whose name was Khalid, came by to take our order. I asked for a menu, which he happily provided. It was a one pager covered in a plastic laminate cover. I didnt know what to have. Hummus? Imtabbal? Kubba? Cheese and basil? Lahm ib 3ajeen? Mixed grill (wth no chicken) or rice and white beans sauce. Hmmm. I was seriously confused. So I said "Khalid, Im hungry, very hungry, can I have bits and pieces of everything?". Khalid laughed and so did HUBBY. HUBBY then interrupted and said "No Khalid, no, please dont listen to her, she keeps doing this to me everytime we go out to eat, she orders alot, but only eats like a bird then Im forced to finish the whole thing and look what happened to me" HUBBY pointed at his belly. I giggled, for thats true. My eyes are always more hungry than my tummy. So I said, Ok Khalid, just get us one plate of hummus (mashed chikpeas w/garlic), another of imtabbal (mashed aubergines w/ garlic), definitely fattoush (mixed salad with croutons) and a plate of mixed grill with no chicken. Oh and dont forget the samoon (Iraqi bread). I want piping hot samoon. Khalid walked off with our order probably thinking what a nutso this lady is.
The sweet apple aroma of the hubbly bubbly was lingering all around us, so HUBBY decided to have one too. As for me, I was content with my cigarettes and my sweet Iraqi tea. HUBBY reached out, trying to hold my hand, as he always does when we are out. I pulled it back, hey, we cant do that here. Its not right. Youre my wife he said angrily, I can do whatever I like. No HUBBY, dont embarrass me please. Big mistake. For HUBBY always tries to tease me and so he turned towards me and kissed me right there and then. OMG. I could feel my face turning as red as the balloon over my head. HUBBYYYYYYYYY, I shouted in his ears . God, they probably think Im one of those bad girls. HUBBY laughed, and kissed me again, this time on my forehead.
Khalid and another guy came around carrying a huge tray with our order. I whispered to HUBBY "I hope they didnt see that" HUBBY shrugged his shoulders and said and so what if they did, YOU ARE MY WIFE ". I laughed for I cant beat that, can I now. Everything looked so yummy, especially the samoon and the fattoush. Surprisingly enough, I ate everything on that tray. Everything. HUBBY couldnt believe his eyes. Nor could I. I guess I needed real food. Real Iraqi food.
After having the last piece of samoon I just sat there with a smile that made me look so stupid, happy stupid. For it was just surreal. Surreal to be sitting in a restaurant in the middle of Baghdad in 2007. A young girl in pink polka dots dress and matching shoes was running around and then all of a sudden she stood right next to my chair. She kept staring at me and laughing. I laughed back, made faces at her which made her giggle even more. "Whats your name?" I asked. "Ahlam" she said. "My name is Ahlam (dreams in English)". "Happy Eid Ahlam" I said. "Happy Eid to you too" She laughed in what was the most angelic voice Ive ever heard then she disappeared. Ahlam disappeared and so did my dreams.
They say its good to dream once in awhile. Yes unfortuantely it was all a dream. A Eid Dream...My Eid Dream...
26 Comments:
Sounds like a lovely day indeed. So does this mean things are getting better there?
oh, you tricked me lol. i didnt real last paragraph before my last comment.
Earth spins, you age? I read about this somewhere. You're supposed to compel your audience with your acquired wisdom, remember. Breath and tears. Affects relinquished in suit with strengthened glory. Holidays spent alone even in congress as purity is the last fading essence of our pasts simplicity. 28 seconds of not giving a treasury maths worth a fuck. Some harmonic interlude penned up with notation and spell colluded around time spent hugging the family dog or cat. or Chicken what have you. Basically you change the Cat's name to Ramadan, kick the fucking Cat outside for 3 months. If the New Moon shows up and the starved Feline still lets you Hug Him or Her... Angry Cats at rest see you in the New Year detached Iraqi felines. Hope you maintain your balance over the Winter Months and Purrr in heartbreak as futility is warranted by the next act of Masochism we look forward to. Ramadan beer binge new moon time to sober up and clear our turban sized migraines with our dead chickens and signature arithmetic vegetables. I help my neighbors not give a fuck about their cat if the orange tabby the faggot is even still alive with the nearby road so damn religious and treacherous. So close to death you faggot cat. SO close.
Hello NIW,
I am happy for you that you made it into the real Iraq and saw and smelled and tasted and talked. I'm sure you are happy now as your memory of Ahlam will not be soon forgotten. I am in America and I will eat in that same restaurant someday. Insha'allah. I hope for more days for you and yours like that one.
P.S.- What is Anon doing???!!!
Shall we all go on a collective boycott? Yes, ignoring it is probably best....
Kul 3aam wa anti bikhair NIW, bit late lol. I really enjoyed ur post… it put a smile on my face.
I think your holiday plan sounds awesome. I haven't really been to the Gold coast but I always hear of the beaches and wild surf down there, so im sure that will be alot of fun.
You cant go to Sydney without visiting the Harbor. Im sure you knew that. The scenery is beautiful.
There are mosques and really fobby Arab places to visit. Not sure if u wanna go there after leavin Iraq, but Ill still tell u what suburbs to go to if u want to know. Shoppin is really good. There is a market called 'Paddy's market' which is a sort of souk. Its affordable and really great for souvenirs. Luna Park is an amusement park in the city. Lol, I dno if ur interested. Its not as big as Disney world, but just as fun. If your up really early in the morning, u can take a quick pic with our prime minister, John Howard, while he takes his everyday morning walk, and ask him why he agreed to go to war in Iraq with America. If you really do wanna do that, ill give u more info about it. There are cafes ad restaurants everywhere, so u wont need to get hungry. The blue Mountains in Sydney are beautiful.
Allah wiyach :)
Alacoacoa
What? That was just a dream?
I can't believe it... It all sounds sweet and real... Just like a dream, then...
3id mubaarak sa3eed.
Ayamech Sa'3eda,
I don't beleive its a dream. or is it?
Nostalgia........
I miss home
You are a bad girl NIW ! You have made me very hungry! ; )
Awwwww then ouch!
How did you feel after fully waking up? Of course, I assume you wish it wasn't a dream but, did it still do you good and gave you hope?
Happy Eid Ahlam
Yup it was all a dream, but not one that I dreamt while I was asleep, but one I dreamt while I was fully awake...Kinda like daydreaming...Happy Belated Eid to everyone
Anon, Lol..I guess u shoulda read it till the end...
Hmmm Christopher,I guess u didnt get it...It was a daydream, it never happened. But I did have lunch at Saysaban, it was back in May of 06. A beautiful place...As for anon, Id rather just ignore him, cuz I have no clue what he talks abt...I let him be...
hey Alacoacoa,email me and tell me more. Cuz I need to plan the trip from now...I wanna see how many days in sydney is enough. And btw, the first thing HUBBY will do is look for Iraqi places,lol...So I dont mind going to arabic neighbourhoods...
Lalla mira happy eid to you too...
Zappy, have u been to saysaban?
Solo, I know, I havent had decent food for a long long time now...
Rog, it was a daydream...Nothing gives me hope anymore..Maybe one day Ill get it back, but definitely not soon enough...
DEREST LOVELY NEUROTICA YOUR DAYDREAM IS INFACT THE ASPIRATION OF MANY A GOOD LIBERAL MINDED FREEL LOVING LIVING IRAQI PERSON ALONGSIDE SIMPLY TEAM UP & KICK THOSE AXIS OF EVILiranien THUGS & THE LIKE OUT OF THE COUNTRY & THE REGION & ENJOY A NORMAL DECENT CAREFREE LIFESTYLE & THEN AS "STATUS QUO" SAY " ROCKING ALL AROUN THE WORLD" LOVE THEM M`E O`L MATEYS ALL THE VERY BEST OF GREETINGS & KINDEST REGARDS DARLING NEURITICA www.bfbs.com YOURS OLAFF
Anon, Lol..I guess u shoulda read it till the end...
The Anxious Anon has low self esteem and you just preyed upon him. You tricked him like an American insurance agent? Your post is a cycled metaphor on the celebration of Ramadan. When Allah kicked us out of Heaven to learn how to focus and use our senses like a sponge we all got a weee bit trained in natures Merriment and survival queue. Especially with policy regarding covering of skin in society. The bedroom must be a complete embarrassment and foreign relations completely chaotic. Just like Christmas shopping. Ugly stays in the family I would guess. I'm ugly as much as possible. I don't want outside my brain a family. Islam woman outside Like walking talking dollar bills except the accounting is inaccurate. Why do they prey on the frightened? No help growing peoples of weaker caste. They don't grow the entire community equally? They're gonna fight until they get naked unless they read a Mobile phone directions manual to solve all their problems. Actually the lady at work has pink head wraps and she's like the Easter bunny that's not in the ghetto super market. She's the Easter Bunny I have to check my exposed arm skin to see if I'm brown now that the Islam lady put head wrap hoodoo on me at work. Tomorrow I'll check my arm to see if I turn into a faggot cat cause that's what I get for looking the easter bunny in the eyes. You don't get flat bread and you murder a hapless child on cyberspace? Did they commercialize Eid because you don't have a vineyard and Ponce De Leon with Oranges stuck out the Lips. You know how crazy that stuff makes her just let her sit upstairs and stair at the ocean...Are you a stuffed lady? Do you have Sergio Leone maybe help out and have your family over for dinner after you fall in love with your husband for building an Iraq that doesn't hate like the Commercial birth of Christ? Your marriage isn't a dream boat sunny banana boat swim yard for the miracle of great white apostasy? Vagrant Nanny boy kisser the porn of greater Islam...Nice picture you dolt why don't you post more pictures and web them into your writing for the sake of Iraq's future. and get some hot Iranian girls please. You hate Ramadan yet you still like murdering little boys, hmmm. First we'll get the frightened children to hug the Easter Bunny then we' can move your victims up to hugging the real actual religious components manifesting your religion. I'm just kidding don't celebrate Ramadan unless you get early hot jail meals and uhhh, bright red black guys, nothing to worry about, there is nothing to worry about
Of course I've been to Saysaban, long time ago back in 2002-2003 pre-war it was a wonderful place we once went late at night and no customers were there but that didn't stop us, it was sub zero and they arranged a large tent for us with a huge Kerosene heater. and the qualities and quantities where enormous.
شيئ لا يصدق و لكن يبقى درب من الاحلام
I d'ont think so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dear NW, Eid Mubarak..... i was really happy to read this blog... i remembered the life i had in Iraq, the food, the restaurants, the poeple.... Ohhh god i wish i can live your dream once too... Anyway, i really believe in God, and i know that someday he will answer my prayers and save our country, and then maybe i will invite you and your hubby for Eid lunch.
Hey Neurotica! is that you in the picture on your wallpaper?
Saba
ps Happy Eid!
reading ur bull, 1 thinks all is honky dory. seems u don't tire from spreading lies abt ur precious liberation from which u and ur fucked hubby have pocketed thousands-millions of green notes.
scum like u don't belong in iraq, u belong in the sewer.
Why do you keep calling that traitor, so-called Iraqi of a husband you have as HUBBY, and in caps too? That's so pathetic.
The last two Anons, You are far too low for my standard to answer you back..Sorry, your words dont intimidate me at all cuz I know who I am and what my HUBBY is..Like it or not, go find some otehr pathetic place to spread your hatred in. CIAO...
HEY ZAP COREOLEONE GODFATHER THE COREOLEONE FAMILIA FROM CICELIA DO YOU BY CHANCE KNOE ALCOACOA COA COA MY FRIEND SAYS " YABA HAAY SHINOOO AYAMACH INTA HAM SA3EEDA WA AYAM H7ABEEBATUNA NEUROTICA BILS3AADA INSHALLA KUL A3AAM WA ANTUM BIK7EER
he last two Anons, You are far too low for my standard to answer you back..Sorry, your words dont intimidate me at all cuz I know who I am and what my HUBBY is..Like it or not, go find some otehr pathetic place to spread your hatred in. CIAO...
that wasn't hatred you don't understand what I'm saying. I don't message board fight. You'll be able to understand. you can't animal people with path ins the world is just liars anymore.
in other words lighten up
Aww, NIW...how awful, how sorrowful
There's not a day that goes by I don't think of you.
I have a question and I hope you'll answer
If you were me, you were in America, what would you do? What should we be doing to make all this stop?
SIMPLE KICK THE AXIS OF EVIL THUG IRANIEN SINNISTER AGENTS OUT OF THERE & THAT SHALL A LONG WAY TO STOPPING IT AS IT IS BECAUSE OF AXIS OF EVILIRANIEN MEDLLING TURKEY IS COMING INTO THE FREY & THERE IS GOING TO BE A STRONGER NATO PRESENSE TO TEACH THE MEDDLING IRANIENS A LESSON
This was a fun blog to read. I hope you are wrong about the Mahdi Army 6 month moratorium. I never wanted in this War, but can't see a way out of it without some type of improvement. Perhaps all sides will finally fall down from exhaustion and decide to find another way...
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