Sounds of A Day

Iranian dancer at British Museum's Magical Persia Family Weekend, April 19-20, 2008. Photo by Parima Shahin Moghaddam, from Iranian.com.

5:30 a.m. Alarm sound. A car goes by.

6:00 a.m. Second alarm sound. Birds chriping outside.

6:15 a.m. The sound of running water in the shower. Hair dryer. High heels on hardwood.

7:00 a.m. The sound of electric tea pot going off. A car passes by.

7:15 a.m. "Hey, bro, wake up!"

7:45 a.m. "Hello Beautiful! Khoobi?" Running water in the boys' shower.

7:55 a.m. "Hey Mom..." "Do you think you can buy me some black and white film in Berkeley today? I need it for my photography class." "Have a nice day...."

8:05 a.m. "I can't believe you're finally coming to visit us in June..."

8:10 a.m. "It's going to be a chilly day...expect rain later in the day...traffic on I-24....."

8:15 a.m. "What's love got to do with it.......When the lights go down in the City..."

9:10 a.m. "Hi Nazy, are you going to that meeting? I'll go with you."

11:00 a.m. "Oh My God! Where have you been? I called your office all last week and you wouldn't pick up!....."

12:00 p.m. "Thank you all for coming to this meeting on your lunch break..."

1:00 p.m. "I am closing the 'total loss' file on your car and ending your rental tomorrow..."

1:50 p.m. "Chetori? I miss you. Wanna go do something together on Sunday?"

2:30 p.m. "It's settled. Dinner at my house on Friday. Sorry, didn't realize you were in a meeting! Bye!"

4:00 p.m. "Can you sign off on this line, please?"

5:00 p.m. "Where are you Mom?"

6:00 p.m. "Black and white?"

7:00 p.m. "Salaaaaam. Cheeetooori? My Farsi is improving, don't you think?"

7:15 p.m. "Nazy Jaan...."

8:00 p.m. "Salam Maman! I'm starving..."

8:15 p.m. "Delicious, thank you, I just love Persian food..." "Want something to drink, Paul?"

8:45 p.m. "Salam Khanoom Kaviani...." "Salam Khanoom Kaviani..." "Salam Khanoom Kaviani"

9:00 p.m. "Can you boys keep it down, please? I'm trying to write...."

9:20 p.m. Sound of front door closing. Quiet house, humming computer, sprinklers going off outside.

9:45 p.m. Six young men laughing, practising Spanish...my heart sings...