I carry...

For better or worse we are a collection of our experiences...we are an accumulation of those who have come & gone before...
I carry with me my ancestors who spent decades living in the Southern United States before migrating North for the promise of industry. My roots in the US are found in Alabama & Tennessee and I'm so blessed to have shared time with both of my Grandmothers who were born and raised in this corner of the world.
They grew up knowing hardship, the humid summer heat of the south, biscuits, cornbread, beans & greens, the satisfaction & labor of working the earth, and a deep connection with family & faith.

I carry with me my parents who raised me in the southwest corner Michigan, a stunningly beautiful place. I credit the very best parts of me to my parents...value given to work ethic, firmly rooted with a strong moral compass, and a sense of compassion and wonder for the world and the people in it...

I carry with me a son who is the start of a new story, a new chapter in the history of this family. Born in Thailand, with my Southern/Northern American roots and his father's Bengali American heritage...my hope, may he be an expression of the very best parts of Fuad & I.

Baby boy...
May you find beauty in your surroundings and long to explore the world with an open heart & mind.
May you have your father's sense of humor to help you through difficult situations.
May the gift of music grow strong within you and become a form of personal expression & pride.
May you have the tenacity to achieve whatever you set your mind to.
May you know that you are highly favored and the love of your parents, grandparents, family & friends surround you wherever you may roam...
My son, we await your arrival.

Fuad & I with our parents on our wedding day July 2010