library

Halloween 1977. as i waited for the plane to land at lax, i was like a glitchy nft waiting to be born. people complain that there was more freedom before the revolution in iran but for me, it was not a world filled with mini-skirts and disco parties, as all of our women were covered in public. the shock of southern california party culture was jarring. teenagers having sex, in public view of children in huntington beach. i was getting schooled all right. then all of a sudden iran is in the news, everyday. hostages, revolution, 8 year war with iraq and the united states. years later, i met a retired navy seal who told me about his favorite places in iran during those war years. things no one will know.

dad made me translate the evening news, negotiate car purchases, and make dinner from scratch. once, i almost killed myself with the pressure cooker. school kids hated me for being iranian. mom working the family business and keeping it together. i felt extremely depressed and lonely. my sister's in laws were kurdish and everyday was another day of news of death, waiting for us to receive it. my only escape was books. i loved my teachers and the library.