Fatema Gets Married

My blog would be incomplete without mentioning that my niece and friend, Fatema, is getting married tomorrow.

Fatema was raised in a Khoja Shia-Ithnasheri Muslim family and is marrying a Khoja Sunni Muslim. Crime of crimes!! And in attendance will be a Khoja Shia-Ithnasheri man married to a WASPy-Canadian woman. And, myself (born a Tanzanian, a Canadian by naturalization, raised a Shia-Ithnasheri, and culturally a Gujarathi Indian)married to a Christian Black woman. And, as if all this doesn't make my point, there will also be a man (Indian, Khoja Shia-Itnasheri) who is married to a Jewish woman. And only God knows how many other subtler permutations of the different strands of humanity will be present.

Suffice to say, all marriages are mixed. What matters is the bond between two people and the commitment to overlook our differences and revel in our commonality: The need for love, acceptance, growth and encouragement.

So shine on you shiny diamnonds! Grow on and live! Change your mind later if it suits you at that time! It's good! It's all good! Fill your lungs with air and jump!