Cinnamon Zone

It’s a new day! Rise, shine and behold: it’s the last day of the week. Having a Wednesday as the last workday is an unspeakable joy for any employee. That day being the last day in the whole month, double so.

It’s around 8:20 AM, I’m approaching the company and as I take a load of the gigantic glass windows I think of the work waiting for me behind those walls, and to tell you the truth, it didn’t make me exactly cheerful. But still, something in the back of my mind reminded me that it’s the 30^th of April, and in order for today’s work to be counted as a bonus, it had to be done before May strikes.

I arrive at the office, and honestly I’m having a hard time remembering whether I’d chatted with anybody before I unloaded my stuff and switched my computer on. However, I can clearly remember that the clock on the screen read 8:23, at which time I started working keen not be disturbed. I tried not to open any conversation with anyone and shunned those as politely and quickly as I could.

Naturally, I wasn’t the only one swamped. The whole office seemed to be on a rush. After all it was the 30^th of April, and we were finishing up the month. Even when I went to pray, I could still hear the sound of phone ringing and people walking in the hallway. Not to mention the endless talk about salaries, bonus, overtime, deductions, etc.

By around 4:20, I’m done. My head feels like one of those African Zulu drums. But, still, it’s the 30^th of April, and I could feel that I earned the day off. I was having raptures of joy, the month is over and it was officially announced that whoever finished his work could go home anytime. Have a nice weekend!

At home, a nice healthy meal, a walk and a sniff of fresh air could turn your world around. To top all, a blog post just before bedtime for all the workers in the world, whether you were the CEO of a multi-national company or just selling newspapers at the traffic lights, for each and everyone of you making this world unstoppingly viable: It’s labour day, and you’ve earned it.

I started to think about what I want to write. My thoughts kept beating around the same subject. Leaving. I thought it might be the time to confess that there were times when I wanted nothing more than to leave Jordan. Or maybe I should write about that overwhelming feeling that tore through me as I once found myself staring at the horizon above Amman buildings, sometime before dusk, as the milky clouds melted in the sky, and I found myself smiling, entertaining a spontaneous thought that suggested, “Who wants to leave this?”

 

I might be too emotional and dramatic for someone leaving Jordan for only one week. Yes, one week and I’ll be back, inshallah, and this post might be too egoistic for a post about Jordan, but I couldn’t help sharing this, and sharing a rational fear that one day I will leave Jordan on a vacation, be fascinated by the life outside and stay there. Haven’t tested myself for that yet, and I hope this trip will eliminate those fears.

Ok, here’s a news flash for you: I’m not an angel! And my quota for people who bug the white trash out of me has been met for the next million years! So, since I’ve just about HAD IT, I felt today like I really want to be mean to some people who make my blood boil just at the thought of their less-than-honorable, childish, snitchy actions.

For those people, I would like to say in the name of humanity and peace-loving nations: GET A FREAKING LIFE. No, no. GET A FREAKING PATHETIC LIFE. I don’t mind it if you try to hurt me because I have my own techniques to deal with that, besides I don’t really mind some drama in my life, makes me feel like the center of the universe. BUT!! When it comes to the people I care about, that’s a major red line! Because not everyone has the will or stamina to take your crap…

And since we’re at it, let me vent some of the feelings toward some people I like yet they manage to make me flip out at times…

STOP sending me those mass-circulated pure-nonsense emails! I know they seem like totally authentic and well meaning, but it would be very nice if you’d check how true they are before sending them out and scaring the hell out of people! Have some mercy on your poor contact list!! The other day I received this email with a picture that was supposedly of maggots nesting in someone’s skin that literally grossed me out and almost got me a psychological complex. And what do you know? It was the result of merging to completely unrelated pictures. FAAAAAAKE!!

And oh, for my friend “?”, I really think you’re a good girl, but stop trying to look helpless and pitiable!! Stop saying that your boyfriend would “flip out” if he heard how this guy teases you or how that salesman calls you with a pet name! It’s nice to have your own Superman but please! It’s not like you can’t stand up for yourself!! You’re an adult so stop trying to look like a 5 year-old…

My dear friend “??”, you are too good. Probably the most tenderhearted person I’ve ever met. But that’s too much!! You can’t be that good! Some people could take advantage of you… And Oh I’m so not talking about you “???” because I know how self-centered you are that you think everything is about you! (Or so I dare toi assume) It would be GREAT if you stopped mentioning how people turn their heads when you pass by… And again, I’m not talking about you “????”, get a grip, paranoia!!

*Phew*

Generally, I’m not a perfume person. I don’t use them that often and even if I do, I make sue to wear as little as I could so no one can smell it, so it’s like a personal touch of freshness. That’s why I don’t buy them, because I’m simply not willing to pay 50 JD’s for a luxury I don’t enjoy that much. You might assume by now that perfumes are not among my favorite gifts. Ironically, I like to receive perfumes as gifts, because I like to use some from time to time without thinking that I paid all that cash for something I use occasionally.

Anyway, a while ago someone brought me a nice perfume that I use from time to time. But, it turns out someone found another good use for it; for I was awed by the sight of my little brother spraying some of it on one of his Play Station CD’s and wiping it off. I wondered how many times he did that or if it was the first time. Anyway, I told him not to do that and that he can use the other perfume I don’t like or the Fantasy body splash. In fact I don’t mind it because that thing stays like forever and when you smell the same scent for so long it starts to stink in your nostrils. Anyway that was few months ago and I supposed he stopped doing it.

So, this morning I felt like wearing some perfume. I looked for it but I couldn’t find it. I didn’t give it much thought and went to work.

I got back from work and I was having lunch when I heard my little brother yelling from the room, “Mom, where is the perfume I use to clean my CD’s?”

It didn’t take me more than a few seconds to make the connection. My mom told him she didn’t know what he was talking about. So, with an air of desperation, I said as calmly as I could:

“I know what perfume he is talking about. Keep it away from him”

It’s amazing how kids undermine the sophistication of everything. Mobiles are game boys, diet cheese is a snack, they don’t even hear about calories until they’re well into their adolescence… Everything is THAT simple!

Well, you can stop reading now and stop waiting for me to make a point because I tried and I couldn’t. It’s pointless…