The Phone Call

Simin Meykadeh's "Soulful."

My oldest sister called me from Tehran today. We chatted for about an hour, like we used to do a lot before. My sister has always had a maternal presence in my life, and has served as my confidant from the very first time I fell in love to the time before last! The last time was too hard to talk about! It cheered me up so much to talk with her today. I should talk to my family more often.

My sister is the one that came to bring me home when I sleep-walked at 8 years of age! I had gone to our neighbor's house, would you believe it?! They called her and she came to get me! She is also the one in whose custody I almost drowned in the pool when I was barely one year old! Some babysitter she was! They found me floating in the pool, and I was revived by my brother who arrived just in time. Well, she saved me so many other times later, I have to forgive her for that one time! I almost died two more times in my life. I'll tell you about those stories some other time. For now trust me when I tell you I know why I love and cherish life as much as I do. Life is fragile and precious. It must be lived to its fullest and with as much gusto as possible. That's how I live.