Baba
One of my least favorite things about living in Jordan is that we cannot spend as much time with him as we would like. Although he was quite the workaholic, my childhood is full of the fondest memories of us playing a collection of games he invented for us, of him helping us learn the lines and act out the scenes of historical Arabic movies (”Man minkom moshtaqon ila sayfeee!”), and of him taking us on road trips as often as he could.
Most of my earliest memories involve my father, rather than anyone else. My father, you see, was the first man I ever loved.
I remember him standing on a cliff and throwing us into this little place where the Dead Sea meets sweet water, when we weren’t old enough to swim. I would always climb back up and ask for more. I remember him teasing me when my mother and I would “fight”, something we still laugh about often today, “Roba, aslan Mama ma bet7ebek” is a very popular family joke. I remember him playing this game where we would run through the doors while he tried to get us with little stress balls. That was one of my favorite games ever, if not my favorite.
Dad taught me a lot of things in life, both directly and indirectly. At a very early age, he taught me the importance of defending myself, even if it meant confronting someone much bigger. All it takes, he shows me, was some courage, and if courage doesn’t do it, well, there’s always four of us, and he taught us to stick together. When I became a little older, he taught me how to enjoy the finer things in life; how to enjoy a good meal, how to act like a “gentleperson”, how to always choose quality, and how to be generous, for no one could possibly be as generous as he.
Dad taught me the value of reading; I really started reading the alphabet when we were in the car and he would ask me to read the storefronts and signs as we drove around Riyadh. He taught me the value of information; I was always amused at how my father knew the answer to almost everything, and every time I would read, I would try to remember what I was reading so that I would one day know a lot too.
Dad taught me to love unconditionally, even though some people might not deserve it. He taught me how to value good friends, through different countries and different lives. He taught me to give without expecting anything in return, he taught
me to be easy-going, he taught me that life is a matter of priorities.
He taught me to work hard, to expect the best, and to appreciate the
different types of dates. Dad taught me the importance of being friendly, of treating everyone with respect, of not judging people from where they come. He taught me to be welcoming, and he taught me the importance of saying hi :)
Today is his birthday, and like every year, I find myself helpless as to how to give him an ounce back of all the love he gave, and still gives, to me. Unfortunately, due to distance, I cannot even give him a hug or a card. Perhaps next year.
For this year though, I will have to settle for this; Happy birthday Baba, from myself, Hisham, Omar, and il-Qazam il-Shereer. We love you more than we love the world, and we thank you for everything.
Ziad d
May 21, 2007 @ 5:54 am
Allah yikhaleelkom 2iyah :)
Name
May 21, 2007 @ 7:04 am
“He taught me to give without expecting anything in return”
That is a very important thing to learn, only few in life can teach such a thing.
Name
May 21, 2007 @ 7:07 am
And, Happy Birthday Baba!
Allah yekhaleeek eyah ya rab.
Noor
May 21, 2007 @ 7:13 am
Hayati Roba
and Happy Birthday Amoo
Tim
May 21, 2007 @ 7:26 am
This piece is… an emerald. The way it’s written somehow allowed me to hitchhike on a very quick ride with you and live these fond memories; it was very pleasant.
The key to being a successful parent is not jsut to be ‘present’, but rather to participate as much as possible whenever possible. Which is what your father appears to have done so eloquently.
salam
May 21, 2007 @ 8:44 am
Happy Birthday Abu Hisham ( is it?)..many happy returns of the day..and Allah yekhaleelkom iyah!
Qwaider قويدر
May 21, 2007 @ 8:51 am
Allah ykhalleekom … oo ykhalleelek El baba .. and el baba of everyone … ya rab
Biddi baba :’(
mohannad
May 21, 2007 @ 9:08 am
Happy birthday Abu Hisham.
Thank you so much for the guidance and motivation that makes us successful.
Honestly, you are a great boss and a sincere friend.
The Observer
May 21, 2007 @ 9:42 am
I am sure he is a great man. You are showing that with being the person you are Roba. You have a wonderful family, you mother is so sweet, your father seems to be a very smart man as well. God bless you all.
Happy birthday for your daddy :)
ozz
May 21, 2007 @ 9:44 am
happy birthday to him,,, this is my birthday too
Dima
May 21, 2007 @ 10:32 am
Happy birthday Roba’s dad! :)
OmAr
May 21, 2007 @ 6:57 pm
Happy birthday 5alo sami!
did I ever say that uncle sami is my favorite uncle?
Ola
May 21, 2007 @ 11:07 pm
Awwwww mish ma32ool! that was very sweet
Muhammad Arrabi
May 21, 2007 @ 11:35 pm
Salam Roba,
very nice & touching piece.
What did you mean by this?
> He taught me to work hard, to expect the best, and to appreciate the
> different types of dates.
what are the “different types of dates”?
Roba
May 22, 2007 @ 12:00 am
As in palm dates, like, tamer.
manal y
May 22, 2007 @ 9:06 am
lol yeah i was wondering about that too ” diffrent types of dates” , But who’s Tamer ?? ;)
Happy Birthday Dad, i wish he will always be there for u and yr family, and i wish you can see him more often to share the most important thing which is a hug and love
oo 302bal el-100 saneh
Tololy
May 23, 2007 @ 9:21 am
That was so touching! Belated happy birthday Roba’s dad :)
amjad027
May 25, 2007 @ 6:10 am
greart words and text and feelings