Friday, October 17, 2008

remembering mama

A post to celebrate my mama's life, because she brought so much beauty to this world. Today is her birthday, & it has been 3 years since her sudden passing. Her name was Goli: an artist, a designer, the most creative & loving mama around, & certainly the best cook. She led an unusual & full life traveling most of the world,working alongside my papa on projects that touched the hearts of millions.I recently found these magazine covers, done by her in her early 20's for a Baha'i children's magazine called "Varqa". The magazine had stories from authors around the world & was translated to more than 10 languages & distributed internationally. She fled Iran while working on these magazines, as Baha'is are heavily persecuted in Iran, especially since the revolution was about to hit (my husband's grandfather was not so lucky: he was tortured & executed by the government for not recanting his Faith in the 80s). However, the life for her that followed was full of exciting adventure; she moved from London to India to Canada to Israel, & she drew her last breath as the sun set, surrounded by her three adoring children, three adoring daughters- & son-in-law, & one tiny grandson. Now she looks after us from a better place...Happy birthday mama!

24 comments:

  1. too touching. too special. too sweet tout suite... a real-life angel.

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  2. this was a lovely tribute. so sorry for your loss...although it sounds like you gained a lovely angel, yes?

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  3. karey: yes, definitely a lovely one. thanks for your kind words...

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  4. so touching and sweet. your mom sounds like she was a super special lady. now i see where your talent comes from :)

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  5. shirin, this is a lovely tribute to your dear mother... i also remember her incredible cooking and warm and welcoming smile and hospitality. i'm sure she is so proud of everything you have accomplished!

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  6. Very beautiful tribute, Shirin. Your mom had incredible warmth and she remains in my prayers.

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  7. Shirin dear heart, how beautifully you have captured the essence of your mother in this tribute! She is so close, so real, so delicately there in every word you have used to evoke her. She literally breathes through your work. Thank you for your generosity in sharing her with us. Thank you for the integrity with which you honour her. How proud she is of you; it simply shines out of the photo. Boundless love, Bahiyyih

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  8. my darling sister,
    I am so moved by this. I am so grateful for our family, and the blessing of being a part of it.
    i love you. and i love your mama.
    we miss her so much, every day.

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  9. this was so beautiful and moving...thank you for sharing this with the world! so sweet. i love you shirin!

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  10. a million thank to you dear ones...how touching to hear your warm & loving responses to this post. & to hear your memories of her is such an overwhelming gift!

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  11. Oh this post filled my heart with sadness. She was just SO beautiful and SO talented; you must miss her loads.
    It also meant a lot to me because I was living in Iran in 1979 and had to flee too - I was a baby back then. This has left me with a deep connection to Iran and a love for the wonderful Persian culture.

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  12. I am so, so sorry. What a touching tribute though. And how incredibly talented and beautiful your mother was.

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  13. she was beautiful and what a touching way to remember her life. thanks for sharing.

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  14. Beautiful post -- your mother was a creative and talented woman. How amazing it must have been to find those covers!

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  15. Lovely post - such a wonderful way to remember her - and she is a beauty.

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  16. this is so beautiful dear you...i am so sorry for your loss...i can see where you got your incredible talent and sweetness...happy birthday to her--i know she must be so proud of you...
    xo

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  17. Thank you for sharing this here... both the beautiful photos and work... and of course your words.

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  18. Such a beautiful post. what a beautiful woman she was. her works are magical.

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  19. Such a beautiful and talented person. So sorry for your loss and the pain. It was a lovely tribute.

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  20. Your mother was beautiful, is beautiful...and what talent! I see you have inherited much from her :)

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  21. You mother was the warmest and lovliest of ladies. I remember her often in my prayers.
    Thank you for sharing those wonderful photos (and Varqa covers--I remember reading those...)

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  22. lovely, wonderful post...thanks for sharing your mom with all of us.....
    thanks for visiting my blog, it brightened my day....
    michelle

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  23. What your mama created - her projects, of course, which will stand the test of time, but also the three children I love so much - are an inspiration for me and for so many others. Thank you for this.

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  24. I am a bit behind on keeping up with your blog but is so touching - thank you for sharing the memory of your mom with us :)

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