It's All About Attitude

Below is an except from the book Earthly Stories, Heavenly Truths: A collection of Life Experiences Conveying Inspirational Messages by Rev. Kenneth H. Simpson (my amazing grandfather).

ears ago I heard a profound story about two brothers, John and Randy, who grew up in a small community. Their father was known as the town drunk. Sometimes in a drunken rage he would beat their mother. He seldom could hold a job, he gambled the family's income away, and frequently got into fights down by the railroad tracks.

As John and Randy grew, they took two extremely different paths. John, like his father, became the town drunk. Randy, on the other hand, became a well-respected doctor and community leader. One day a newspaper reporter from a nearby city came to town to write a story about these two quite dissimilar brothers and what made them what they were. The journalist came to John and asked, "What has made you who you are today?" The young man thought for a minute and then replied, "Do you not know that my father was the town drunk, he often beat my mother, gambled away our family income and frequently got into fights down by the railroad tracks? That was the lifestyle I grew up with so what would you expect me to become?"

Following that interview, the correspondent met with Randy. To him he said, "I know that you are one of the most respected leaders of this community. You are notably a fine physician who heals the sick, bu you have done so many good things for this community. Would you tell me what has influenced you to be who you are today?" The doctor thought for a moment and then he replied, "Do you not know my father was considered the town drunk, he sometimes beat my mother, gambled our family income away and frequently got into fights down by the railroad tracks? Since I grew up in that environment, what would you expect me to become?"

Grandma, May You Rest in Peace

In case you can't read it, the text says: "Will you love me in December as you do in May, will you love me in the good old fashioned way? When my hair has all turned gray, will you kiss me and say, That you love me in December as you do in May?"

hose are my grandparents. I took that picture back in 2008 at their 50th wedding anniversary celebration. After a five year battle with heart problems, my grandmother passed away this month. Although I added the text on the photo above in 2008, the answer ended up being yes. My grandfather loved my grandmother in the same way he did when they first met as teenagers through her last very difficult days.

My grandmother was a wonderful lady and was a very big part of my life. During my childhood summers we would make play-dough together, weave rugs out of old sheets, and  decorate sombrero hats melted down from Styrofoam cups. At Christmases she would make her famous pepperoni rolls and vanilla cake. Then during my summer visits, when I was too old for childhood arts and crafts, we could just sit back and watch silly TV shows while discussing which male actors were the the most attractive.

She was always very young in spirit. She had the greatest sense of humor, as in only she would think something silly was funny. Then she would proceed to laugh about it for so long that you would eventually get drawn in and laugh too. For as long as I knew her she never lost that youthful sense of humor. My grandmother was also very honest. She could be upfront and tell you like it is, while still being her charming self. She was a smart lady with a lot to say and wasn't afraid to share her thoughts with others. Although she was much more, I will probably always remember her best for her sense of humor and honesty.

I am still missing her, but I am thankful that she is no longer in pain. My grandma is in a better place now-- next to her son, her parents, and all the others who are no longer with us.

She was beautiful inside and out, from beginning to end.

My grandma as a young teenager back in West Virginia.

Five Years Without You

Dear Daddy,

Today officially makes it five years since you died. In some ways I cannot believe it's been that long and in other ways I feel like I've lived three lives since. But no matter how many years pass by, your place in my life is still empty.

After you left I literally cried every day for six months straight. Then when I realized I hadn't cried one day I freaked out, fearing that I was forgetting you, which of course led right back to those familiar tears. I couldn't even watch Grey's Anatomy at first because the hospital scenes reminded me too much of the three uncertain days of waiting by your ICU bedside before it took a turn for the worst. I definitely did my share of private grieving but have come a long way since, even though I still have my occasional moments.

Of course, I would still do anything to talk to you now. To hear your thoughts on the the current debt ceiling crisis, my life choices, or even just the weather. Anything.

Although you are always with me, I still miss you every day. Thank you for being such an amazing father and friend who loved me unconditionally and in so many ways gave me such a solid foundation of love and support to start my life from. I am so grateful for the years I got to spend with you, to know you, and to learn from you. But when the missing gets too tough I try and remind myself of what your brother said to me the night before your funeral, "Some people never get to have a dad as great as yours. In some ways you're lucky to have had him for even as long as 18 years." While he had a point, I think I might still prefer that conversation about the weather.

Loving you always,

Christina

Probably not the best picture of either of us, but pictures of us on my computer are pretty limited.

LYLAS! ;)

t first glance Stephanie is your typical pretty girl. Knows how to look cute, dress cute, even smell cute, but you assume it stops there. Except that under that lovely surface is confidence that keeps her going through all odds, ambition for only the best, and the drive that can actually get it all. Her giggly demeanor is just a guise she hides behind. She is not easily flustered, takes a pragmatic approach to problems, and is always by your side when you need her most.

Although she is younger by five years, in so many ways she has been the one helping me grow up. Over the past couple years I have watched Stephanie transform from the annoying baby sister to a real friend and even equal. Yes, we’ve definitely had our differences, verbal and physical, but in the end she is always there for me. At times, Stephanie is my most important voice of reason and blunt honesty even (or especially) when I don’t want to hear it.

I am just so proud of who she's become. Stephanie is one of the most well rounded people I know. She finished her freshman year of college with amazing grades, elected to offices in multiple student organizations, and is now working at an impressive summer internship. During her down time she hangs out with her many adoring friends with whom she pursues her love of fun, spontaneity, and life. I’m not surprised by how many guys have quickly fallen for her outer charm only to later see that her inner personally matches or even exceeds her outside.

I can’t believe my little sisters turns 19 today. It feels like only yesterday we would dress up and dance to the Aladdin soundtrack when she was four and I was nine.

Stephanie, I know you think that after the eventful birthdays of 18 and 21 life only goes downhill. I want you to remember that that’s not true. If you want it to, Life only gets better. Every birthday brings you “a whole new world.” Or as Aladdin and Jasmine would say:

A whole new world

Every turn a surprise

With new horizons to pursue

Every moment gets better

=)

Happy Birthday Stephanie!

Sorry sissy, I know you hate this old picture,
but I think it's just so darn cute!

Christmas Giving

ust as expected, my Christmas was amazing. My sister and I flew to Upstate New York to see our American side of the family. It was a typical Simpson Christmas, filled with pepperoni rolls, Catch Phrase, cousin photo shoots, and laughing until the aunts start crying. I wouldn't have changed a thing.

Some cousins, the sister, an aunt, and me.

Anyways, years back, when all of my dad’s sisters and brother started having children of their own, they decided that instead of exchanging gifts between everyone, they agreed to just buy gifts for each other’s kids. This was an effort to reduce the stress and clutter of unnecessary and unwanted gifts. But as the children started getting older the rules of who should receive gifts started to blur. There was no cut-off date; what happened when a kid graduated high school and then college? I am the oldest, so many years ago I started trying to make it clear that there was no reason to keep giving me gifts. Yet, every Christmas the gifts continued. I guess it’s hard to break tradition? Thankfully this year the family finally realized that, as a college graduate, I can finally graduate from gifts too.

Since I was in my early teens, I have always been against the idea of me receiving Christmas gifts. Unlike my little sister who used to write out a detailed wish list spreadsheet complete with links/sizes/colors, I acknowledge that I live a very privileged life and I have always gotten all that I wanted. I am always so spoiled that by the time Christmas rolls around I have nothing left to ask for. I have always honestly felt that the true beauty of the holiday season is showing love to your family and friends (in forms other than superficial gifts). I tried asking people not to buy me gifts and to instead make donations, in my honor, to their favorite charity. This year I took it a step even further and as my gift to others I made donations to non-profits that I thought would tie-in nicely with their interests or passions. Don’t worry, of course I made exceptions for little kids who still deserve the excitement of tangible toys and don’t understand what a donation means.

I love it when I hear about families who go to soup kitchens or send gifts to orphanages in lieu of the traditional Christmas gift exchange. In America we are so unbelievably blessed that we can afford to take the Christmas spirit to a broader level. Yes, giving to our family and friends is wonderful and should happen all year long, but when we are taking extra time off to celebrate maybe we should take some of that love and spread it around even more? Personally, I can't stand the idea of just buying gifts for my little circle of family and friends.

Yes, my face is an ornament...

As I was listening to NPR on my ride home from work in early December, I heard the story of a lady who didn’t have the money to pay her bills and never experienced a ‘typical’ family Christmas. She lived in foster-care her whole life, and now that she has an infant of her own she was so excited to finally be able to give her daughter what she never had herself, a family to love around the holidays and traditions of their own to start. It just killed me to be reminded of how lucky my family and I are even in a non-monetary sense, and how important it is to share any good fortune with others. Ok, yes I know others feel this way too and I’m probably the least giving person all year round, but the more I remind myself of these ideas, hopefully the more I can actually live them. Please don’t see this post as a lecture on how amazing I am or how people should be more giving like me. I mean it only as a gentle self-reminder to continue being grateful and remembering there is a world outside myself. That is all.

Anyways, I did receive some amazing and much appreciated gifts this year. Since I have been going on about how it’s my dream to be a bartender, the roomie surprised me with a bartending starter kit, complete with recipe book, all the garnishes, and a colorful (very important) mixer shaker thing. Also, my grandfather made a big donation to an organization that supplies desks to classrooms in Africa that are in desperate need of better facilities. He also gave me a large set of beautifully bound century old books that belonged to his father. My dream of filling a Beauty and the Beast style library one day is now well on its way. I feel so lucky to have people around me that actually listen to my hopes and dreams, no matter how silly they may be. Told you I live a very privileged life. :)

Swiss Chocolate

y mom just got back from her 10 day trip to visit family in Switzerland/Italy and I am, of course, totally jealous. Thankfully she didn't come back empty-handed. One of her suitcases was ONLY filled with delicious Swiss chocolates and that definitely helped ease my jealousy pains. Yum. Cuckoo Clocks and chocolate-- two things the Swiss definitely get right.

Ooh! A Cuckoo Clock made OUT OF chocolate!

After overdosing on chocolates we sat around talking about her adventures in Europe. I asked about what she thought the main difference between Swiss, Iranians, and Americans was. More specifically I wanted to know if she thought that the Swiss were generally unfriendly like Americans are (in comparison with Iranians). I don't think she ever got around to answering the question, but a good point was brought up by Arya about how Americans ARE very friendly, just more distant compared to so many other cultures. I never thought about it like that before but I feel that I should have as I am always trying to better understand my mixed heritage. People here are very nice but they do tend to back off and give everyone space, whether you want them to or not. 


So, to sum up: I ate a lot of chocolate, my wardrobe is filled with a lot more fashionable clothes from Switzerland and Italy, and now I have a slightly better understanding of the distant, yet very friendly environment I have been living in for the past 23 years. 


I'm going to leave you with pictures of when some of my cute half Swiss and half Iranian cousins came to visit the states in April. Of course I was sure to show them how colorful and young at heart us Americans really can be...