Friday. Tired from a week of constant barrage of e-mail, calls, issues, and people. Finished the last call of the day. Completely finished, wasted, empty arrived at the dinner table. Across are sitting two beautiful children excited that I am theirs at last. But work got the best of me again leaving little for them…

I bought a house for $150,000 eight years ago and had a loan of $120,000. The value of my house increased to $350,000. I took advantage of the situation and refinanced, being a conservative person, only borrowing $280,000 at a favorable 5.5% rate fixed for 30 years paying $1,600 per month for the mortgage and another $400 per month for real estate taxes and insurance…

I wrote this in response to a poem with the same title by my friend. After receiving permission to use the title, I wanted to share it here. It is dedicated to my best friend to whom I am honored to be married for over ten years now. This will also have to speak for itself…

I’ll let this one speak for itself. I had to write this poem after a dinner conversation last week with a friend of mine.

Զանգի Ձայնը
Օտար եղա ես կարոտած,
Այս ցուրտ երկրի ամպերի տակ,
Կանչեց հայրենիքս աչքերով թաց,
Ծով ու երկնքով իր կապուտակ:
Երազ է սա վստահ եմ ես,
Չեմ տեսել ուրիշ դեպքում,
Որ մի երկիր խոսի այդպես,
Զավակի հետ իր աքսորում:
Կգա մի օր, որ կարթնանա,
Ժողովուրդն իմ մոլորված,
Կղողանջի իր զանգը նա,
Եվ կկանչի մեզ գրկաբաց:
Ու հստակ է, որ այն պահին
Եվ ոչ մի հայ չի դիմանա
Զանգի ձայնին ու իր սրտին,
Տուն կգնա և կիմանա,
Որ երազ չէ սա,
Այլ երազանք,
Մի պարզ հոգու
Սրտի խորքում:

As I perused my journals from the past, another theme emerged. It was obvious that I was going through an intense emotional struggle in my first couple years adjusting to my new environment. Sometimes when the times seem difficult, people seem cruel, and the environment seems unbearable, you must remind yourself a few thoughts:

These times do not last forever.
They are not as bad as it may seem.
Many people around you care about you and are ready to help.
Someone next to you has it harder.
You can handle far more difficult challenges.
You …