Today, May 14th, is my birthday. Being as old as I am, this isn't the first year I celebrate my birthday. Yet this year was different. This year people were "celebrating me" rather than celebrating my birthday. I know this is not an acknowledgement page, so I will make sure not to make it sound as such. Names anonymous. :) My best friend, who's so loving and caring in a way I've never known before. We had great time out, you and I and the rest. Thanks for the joy and smile on my special day. My office mates, the surprise party you made for me was wonderful!

I came to learn today from my mother that my uncle who boycotted my grandmother, i.e. his mother, is finally in good terms with her. “What happened?” I asked. “Well, you know, after the recent demise of your other uncle’s wife, all of your uncles gathered and decided to solve the misunderstanding that took place between them and led to boycotting your grandmother by your uncle,” my mom replied. Ah, great!

My work for an organization of the blind has given me the chance to have direct contact with the blind community, a community I’ve never thought about before. I gradually started to have acquaintances, and even make friends with some blind persons. I realize now that some blind persons are very smart. Some of them use computers just as efficient as we, sighted people, do. Thanks to technology, there are now special programs called “screen readers”, which can read everything on the computer screen for a blind person, including documents, internet pages, and even chat windows!

I’ve just got back home. I was participating in an event held at the Meridian Hotel, Amman, under the title “Injaz for the creation of economic opportunities for the Jordanian youth.” I didn’t have a vivid idea about the event because the invitation letter I received did not clarify how the event will be organized or what the program of the event will be. This morning I made a phone call to the Meridian and I was told that the event starts at 9:00AM and ends at 6:00PM. Fine.

Many days have passed after the recent terrorist attacks on Jordan. People are still condemning and deploring these actions, and demonstrations are being organized in the peaceful Jordanian streets. I, like the rest of the Jordanian citizens, follow up the news with anticipation and sorrow. By God’s grace, one of the sinful executants of this disgraceful action was arrested, a Muslim woman, which clearly shows from her headscarf. Seeing this woman on T.V. dressed in an Islamic fashion is really outraging. Thanks to the nasty hands of terrorism, the image of Islam has been badly distorted.

It’s the Eid these days. People are visiting to wish each other a Happy Eid and many good years to come. Our home was crowded with visitors – relatives, neighbors and friends. It’s as if this is the only time of the year to visit your dear ones. I don’t mind it. One visit a year is still good. “smiles”