This is how it began.
In January of 2006, I read a book~
The World Is Flat by, Thomas Friedman. I loved the book so much, I was inspired to join the global village. I joined by starting this blog in March 2006. My goal was to create a small pocket of positive vibration in a seemingly negative world. I researched how to drive more traffic to blogs. The number one recommendation at the time was to join
Stumbleupon. com. I did. It worked. I successfully drove more traffic to my blog through interaction with other "Stumblers" and met a few outstanding people along the way.
In January of 2007, I clicked on the icon of someone who had visited my Stumbleupon pages. That person turned out to be from Iraq. Being me, the innocent who wants to befriend the world, I sent a short note through Stumbleupon thanking the person for visiting my pages and offering blessings to "you in a most difficult part of the world". I received an email in return. I sent another. He sent another. And the volley began.
In time, he revealed himself to be an officer in the Iraqi military. He is 3 years older than me and the single father of one. No religious affiliation (just like me), intelligent, and highly interesting. Eventually, the emails evolved to phone calls and Skype. ( He speaks fluent English with almost no accent, fluent Arabic, and some French.) For more than 2 and a half years we have been learning about each other, asking questions, and creating an unlooked-for bond through the power of words. It has been the most enthralling and difficult experience of my life.
This man, this Gypsy King, is annoyingly perceptive. He has forced me to grow and stretch way beyond my known limits. At times, I thought the reaching-beyond-my-fears he asked me to do was going to be the end of me. It has been. And thank God. Thank God I have followed my deepest gut instinct to stick with this man through my excruciating inner personal growth, through car bombs and bombs set in schools, through 54 days of
missing in action, through poetry and decades old love songs. By allowing myself to be burned to the ground, by invoking loyalty and trust in a non-trusting world, by sheer instinctual will, I landed in Istanbul on September 30
th, 2009 and met the Gypsy King of Babylon face to face.
He now owns my heart. He is a gentleman of the highest order. He is old-fashioned warrior energy. He is fond of flowers and dogs and melts in the presence of children. He is nowhere near perfect. Neither am I. But somehow we fit. Somehow we love. And together we have made the world a little more flat.
What now? What am I supposed to do now? I exist in 2 worlds. I can't get enough sleep. I dreamed of him for hours last night; being together, being separated in a crowd, finding a black boot full of aquamarine rings~ the rings he wanted to give to me, carrying the boot and searching, searching the crowd to be with him again. What is my truth? What will it take to reach for it, live for it, declare it everywhere I turn? 
The delightful owner of Selvi restaurant, dedicated to serving traditional "Turkish Kitchen" cuisine. Served cafeteria style. These home-style, cafeteria restaurants were by far the best value and the most delicious.
This is how it began.
To all the lovely ladies who sent their blessings through comments on my blog, through emails or directly in person, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
On the island of Adalar, off the coast of Istanbul, there are 2 vehicles. The garbage truck and the emergency vehicle. Period. Your 3 options to get around the small oasis in the Marmara sea are walking, bicycling and riding in horse carts.
Against all odds, listen to your instincts. In the face of the fear of others, listen to your instincts. Listen close, listen long. Be clear on what you are hearing and feeling.
I am back in Mayberry, USA. But not really. Almost every part of me is still in Istanbul. I keep seeing the view from the hotel window in my mind, the one with the Bosphorus Bridge~ lit like candy~ in the background. It was a spectacular view, both from the 4th floor and the rooftop restaurant. I spent considerable time watching that bridge change from blue to red to green to yellow after dark, and then again at dawn. Dawn was especially sweet with the horizon blushing red and Venus, as the morning star, standing guard. Yes, I am still there.
I have so much to tell you; of Turkish streets and shops and food and the non-stop, flawless weather. Of the sea, my newly beloved sea. But it will all have to wait. Because today, this bitter and sweet today, I leave for home. Yet, I also leave home behind.
The Hagia Sophia museum, Istanbul. Constructed as a basilica in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian.
My new friend, Yasmine, thinks I can do it. She thinks I can join her belly dance troupe and make scads of money like she does. Just a few lessons, she says, and I'll be jiggling and swaying my way to new found fortune and fame. She recommended the sapphire blue bead-dangled bra and veiled bikini bottom. To highlight my hair and distract from facial hot flashes. (No one will be looking at my face anyway, she says.) But I have to stop eating so much in Turkiye~love handles evidently get in the way of prosperity~ and I have to be totally comfortable with dressing half naked in public. Oh, and I'd have to switch to working at night. Wear more make-up. Tease my hair.
