Ramadan with Friends

Our amazing hostesses; the feast we enjoyed was made entirely by their hands. They are such proud cooks, and their meals are delicious!

The men enjoy their dinner. Khilola's husband works in car repair to support his family. He likes living in Utah, 'because the people around us are good'

'Grandma' and I. She cannot speak English. I don't speak Turkish or Russian. And yet, we are good friends

All the kids were happy dancing and playing in the small duplex after dinner

my dear friend, who lives thousands of miles from her mother, has let me be a sister

My dear friend Khilola invited our family to celebrate the close of Ramadan with her household. She and I have been friends for about 18 months, we live on the same street. I believe she is one of the most incredible women I have ever known. She cares for her twin toddlers, her aging (and in ill health) parents in law, she cooks all her meals from scratch (the most incredible meat dumplings! Delicious almond cake!) and she keeps a small house full of many people (three bedroom duplex with her family of 4, her in-law parents, and her brother-in-law's family of 3 as well). She feeds and clothes her family on a shoe string, and she speaks Russian, Turkish and English. This past week she passed her citizenship exam so she soon will officially be an American Citizen.

But her citizenship does not diminish the fact that she and her family are refugees who have fled their homes to be free of religious persecution and ethnic prejudice. We are so cruel to one another in this big human family.

Our dinner began as the sun set, and as we entered we were seated; women at one table and men at another. Khilola and her sister in law and niece then spread a feast before us, home made bread sticks stuffed with spinach and cheese. "Pretzel bread" and hand made noodle soup with beef and vegetables. Delicious salads with avocado, cauliflower and green beans. Tasty little cakes for dessert as well as mountains of fresh fruit.

After dinner we were introduced to YouTube videos of traditional Turkish/Russian dance, the music moved us all to swing and sway-Mason tried to lower himself to the ground and kick out his legs but he landed on his back side, while the dancers in the video kicked easily and returned to their feet. We took pictures. Kissed cheeks. Smiled WIDE and were content.

Thanks to Khilola and her good husband for sharing their traditions with us. Thanks to my kids who were willing to experience something new and different and didn't complain but tried and smiled and said thank you instead. Thanks to John for being someone who I could be in other cultures and countries with for the rest of our life together. Thanks to the heavens for making my street the one where Khilola lives, so I get to be her neighbor.