Dear Siham,
When we look back at our Saturday mornings together, it's not just the books we remember—it's the rituals. Gathering together in our circle, reading through the pages, conversing deeply about the chapters, and then settling in over hot tea and our lively adda. The comfortable silence before someone opened a section, the spirited debates, and the laughter that always followed.
You used to come to our reading group every single Saturday, bringing your sharp mind, quiet wisdom, and unforgettable good humor to the conversation. Whenever a passage seemed dense or impenetrable, you had that special knack for pausing, smiling, and finding the human truth hidden right beneath the words.
Finishing Robert Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance together was a journey we will never forget. As we tracked the open highways of Minnesota and the Dakotas, debated classical versus romantic perspectives, and unpacked what "Quality" really means, your presence made the Chautauqua come alive.
Even though time and schedules shift, please know this: on any given Saturday morning, when the books open, the chapters are discussed, and the tea is poured for our adda, you are right there with us in our stories and memories. We all wanted to come together today to wish you the happiest, richest, most fulfilling birthday yet.