In memory of my dear aunt, Nahid Mohrdar Ghaemmaghami (a.k.a. - Sajjadi), who passed away ten days ago in Tehran.
I was deeply saddened to learn of Nahid Joon’s passing. I loved Khaleh Nahid dearly and I am so sorry that I never got a chance to see her beautiful face one more time. This has certainly been a very trying period in the lives of all of us. In the last seven weeks, I have lost three family members: my darling Shahdi, Mehrdad’s Ame Ferdows and Nahid joon. I hope this is not a trend to be continued for the rest of the year.
I was so touched by Nahid joon’s several calls since Shahdi’s passing. She told me many times when she called that she wished she had died instead of Shahdi because she had lived a full life and Shahdi had not. Even though I had not seen her since 1979 but the love that we had for each other never faded and in the moments when I needed the support of my family the most, she reached out to me even though she was not feeling well. I will forever remember her love and support as I was grieving for Shahdi. Even though I was dealing with the loss of my beautiful daughter but it broke my heart to see Nahid joon weeping so hard for Shahdi and for me, when she herself was suffering from a terminal illness. She cried alongside me and did her best to comfort me with her kind words. She said it should have been her who died and not my young and beautiful daughter. I was very sorry to see her so affected by my loss and wished she was not told about Shahdi because I didn’t want her to spend the last few weeks and months of her life crying over my daughter. But, I suppose Shahdi’s death was not something that could be kept as a secret for long considering how big our family is and how news is shared on the internet in this day and age. I simply did not wish to add to her emotional burden when she was already suffering physically from a dreadful disease. But, she already knew and nobody could hide the tragic truth.
The last time I spoke with Nahid joon was about ten days ago when I called to talk to her. She sounded very weak on the phone, as if she was gasping for air to speak. But, even then she was more worried about me and how I was dealing with my sorrow than herself. I think she knew her end was near even though she did not articulate it. I wished so much to ask her to give Shahdi a big hug and to take care of her when she sees her in the other world (in case there is one). Of course I never made that request because it would have been very inappropriate. Now, I hope they are together in a beautiful sunny garden, listening to soothing music and enjoying a cup of tea while discussing the latest fashion styles in whatever place they are!
I always thought that Shahdi and Nahid joon had some common characteristics. They both had a great taste and loved fashion and beautiful objects. They both knew how to beautify a plain object or alter the look of an old piece of clothing by embellishing it with lace, sequins, or other ornaments. They both had an aura about them which made them stand out in a crowd. Maybe it was the way they stood, held their head high, walked or spoke. There was something that made both of them very unique. Two women from the same family, one perished at the dawn of her full bloom, the other after the bloom had long subsided, but both loved and cherished to the end. I loved them both immensely.
I have such fond memories of Nahid joon. The first one that comes to my mind is her fear of aging and disclosing her real age to others! I remember when I lived in Iran, she would occasionally ask me how old I thought she was. Of course, being her niece and quite familiar with the age difference between my mom and her sisters, I could have easily told her the correct number but I never did. I would always lie and cut down at least 7-8 years off of her age in order to make her happy. My simple lie always put a big smile on her face and she would walk back with confidence that she did in fact look good for her age. Even when I was older, I never had the heart to tell her the truth that I knew her true age. Besides, at my age, anyone above 25 looked old to me! So, how could I tell the difference between a 40-year-old and a 32-year-old anyway?!!
I remember when I was in high-school, sometimes on Saturday afternoons I would pay Nahid joon a visit at her home after my piano lessons. She would usually offer me lunch. If I didn’t like what she had made (since I was a picky eater back then), she would make me eggs. Then, we would sit in the kitchen and talk. I really enjoyed talking to her. I felt like I also had a lot in common with her. I think she was the closest in character to Mamani, and of course I adored Mamani.
Another thing I remember is this colorful bejeweled brooch she had that was shaped like a paisley which I just loved. She knew about that so she offered to give it to me only if I married Shahriar!! I think it is because she loved me so much that she wished me to become her official daughter-in-law. If only I didn’t love Shahriar like a brother!
I remember Nahid joon had a distinct way of moving her hips as she walked in high heels. She walked with confidence as if she owned the world! I always admired her self-confidence and style. I remember how smart and elegant she used to look in her two-piece suits and nice hats. She always paid a lot of attention to detail in choosing her outfits and overall look, just like my Shahdi. They were two of a kind!
I also have very happy memories from our Friday picnics to Karaj, our two trips to Kermanshah, and all the family parties and gatherings. My aunts and uncles had a prominent presence in my childhood as I was growing up in Iran. They all knew me well as I knew them.
I remember one year we were at Nahid joon and Daee Sajjadi’s house in Ostandari in Kermanshah during the Nowruz holidays. It was a late morning and Nahid joon was attending to her visitors in the formal living-room. As you all know, Nahid joon was never famous for her generosity with sweets and other special goodies, so when there were no guests at the house, she would lock both doors to the formal living-room so the goodies would remain untouched! Of course, we, the kids, found that policy very unfair, particularly since it was the New Year! At this time, Shahram was already studying in the US, so the next person in charge in Nahid joon’s absence was Sheila. Normally when the guests would get up to leave, Nahid joon would accompany them to the edge of the garden where they could see the Ostandari’s gates. This was a short trip of a few minutes. However, before leaving, she would entrust the key to the living-room to Sheila so she could secure the doors before the rest of the kids had a chance to raid the room, and Sheila always fulfilled her mom’s orders. But, on that glorious morning, Sheila decided to disobey the orders! I don’t know if she was mad at her mom for some reason and wanted to take revenge or that she simply was in a benevolent mood that morning! All we cared about was that she called us as soon as Nahid joon stepped outside and told us that we had two minutes to grab some sweets! Something that was unheard of before! Something that I still remember to this day!! To make the long story short, we had a good run for it, and felt indebted to Sheila for the rest of our lives!
I am very saddened that I never got a chance to see Nahid joon one more time. Due to different reasons, I had not been able to visit Iran in the last 35 years and one of my biggest fears through all these years was the passing of my family members in Iran while I was away. I regret not having seen Amu Shahab and Khaleh Nahid before their final departure.
Khaleh Nahid was like a mother to me and I only have very fond memories of her. I wish I could be there in person to accompany Nahid joon as she was carried to her final resting place. Even though I was not there in person, I was there in spirit. May she rest in peace and I sincerely hope she is already with my darling Shahdi.
Setareh
1/16/2014
Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
I was deeply saddened to learn of Nahid Joon’s passing. I loved Khaleh Nahid dearly and I am so sorry that I never got a chance to see her beautiful face one more time. This has certainly been a very trying period in the lives of all of us. In the last seven weeks, I have lost three family members: my darling Shahdi, Mehrdad’s Ame Ferdows and Nahid joon. I hope this is not a trend to be continued for the rest of the year.
I was so touched by Nahid joon’s several calls since Shahdi’s passing. She told me many times when she called that she wished she had died instead of Shahdi because she had lived a full life and Shahdi had not. Even though I had not seen her since 1979 but the love that we had for each other never faded and in the moments when I needed the support of my family the most, she reached out to me even though she was not feeling well. I will forever remember her love and support as I was grieving for Shahdi. Even though I was dealing with the loss of my beautiful daughter but it broke my heart to see Nahid joon weeping so hard for Shahdi and for me, when she herself was suffering from a terminal illness. She cried alongside me and did her best to comfort me with her kind words. She said it should have been her who died and not my young and beautiful daughter. I was very sorry to see her so affected by my loss and wished she was not told about Shahdi because I didn’t want her to spend the last few weeks and months of her life crying over my daughter. But, I suppose Shahdi’s death was not something that could be kept as a secret for long considering how big our family is and how news is shared on the internet in this day and age. I simply did not wish to add to her emotional burden when she was already suffering physically from a dreadful disease. But, she already knew and nobody could hide the tragic truth.
The last time I spoke with Nahid joon was about ten days ago when I called to talk to her. She sounded very weak on the phone, as if she was gasping for air to speak. But, even then she was more worried about me and how I was dealing with my sorrow than herself. I think she knew her end was near even though she did not articulate it. I wished so much to ask her to give Shahdi a big hug and to take care of her when she sees her in the other world (in case there is one). Of course I never made that request because it would have been very inappropriate. Now, I hope they are together in a beautiful sunny garden, listening to soothing music and enjoying a cup of tea while discussing the latest fashion styles in whatever place they are!
I always thought that Shahdi and Nahid joon had some common characteristics. They both had a great taste and loved fashion and beautiful objects. They both knew how to beautify a plain object or alter the look of an old piece of clothing by embellishing it with lace, sequins, or other ornaments. They both had an aura about them which made them stand out in a crowd. Maybe it was the way they stood, held their head high, walked or spoke. There was something that made both of them very unique. Two women from the same family, one perished at the dawn of her full bloom, the other after the bloom had long subsided, but both loved and cherished to the end. I loved them both immensely.
I have such fond memories of Nahid joon. The first one that comes to my mind is her fear of aging and disclosing her real age to others! I remember when I lived in Iran, she would occasionally ask me how old I thought she was. Of course, being her niece and quite familiar with the age difference between my mom and her sisters, I could have easily told her the correct number but I never did. I would always lie and cut down at least 7-8 years off of her age in order to make her happy. My simple lie always put a big smile on her face and she would walk back with confidence that she did in fact look good for her age. Even when I was older, I never had the heart to tell her the truth that I knew her true age. Besides, at my age, anyone above 25 looked old to me! So, how could I tell the difference between a 40-year-old and a 32-year-old anyway?!!
I remember when I was in high-school, sometimes on Saturday afternoons I would pay Nahid joon a visit at her home after my piano lessons. She would usually offer me lunch. If I didn’t like what she had made (since I was a picky eater back then), she would make me eggs. Then, we would sit in the kitchen and talk. I really enjoyed talking to her. I felt like I also had a lot in common with her. I think she was the closest in character to Mamani, and of course I adored Mamani.
Another thing I remember is this colorful bejeweled brooch she had that was shaped like a paisley which I just loved. She knew about that so she offered to give it to me only if I married Shahriar!! I think it is because she loved me so much that she wished me to become her official daughter-in-law. If only I didn’t love Shahriar like a brother!
I remember Nahid joon had a distinct way of moving her hips as she walked in high heels. She walked with confidence as if she owned the world! I always admired her self-confidence and style. I remember how smart and elegant she used to look in her two-piece suits and nice hats. She always paid a lot of attention to detail in choosing her outfits and overall look, just like my Shahdi. They were two of a kind!
I also have very happy memories from our Friday picnics to Karaj, our two trips to Kermanshah, and all the family parties and gatherings. My aunts and uncles had a prominent presence in my childhood as I was growing up in Iran. They all knew me well as I knew them.
I remember one year we were at Nahid joon and Daee Sajjadi’s house in Ostandari in Kermanshah during the Nowruz holidays. It was a late morning and Nahid joon was attending to her visitors in the formal living-room. As you all know, Nahid joon was never famous for her generosity with sweets and other special goodies, so when there were no guests at the house, she would lock both doors to the formal living-room so the goodies would remain untouched! Of course, we, the kids, found that policy very unfair, particularly since it was the New Year! At this time, Shahram was already studying in the US, so the next person in charge in Nahid joon’s absence was Sheila. Normally when the guests would get up to leave, Nahid joon would accompany them to the edge of the garden where they could see the Ostandari’s gates. This was a short trip of a few minutes. However, before leaving, she would entrust the key to the living-room to Sheila so she could secure the doors before the rest of the kids had a chance to raid the room, and Sheila always fulfilled her mom’s orders. But, on that glorious morning, Sheila decided to disobey the orders! I don’t know if she was mad at her mom for some reason and wanted to take revenge or that she simply was in a benevolent mood that morning! All we cared about was that she called us as soon as Nahid joon stepped outside and told us that we had two minutes to grab some sweets! Something that was unheard of before! Something that I still remember to this day!! To make the long story short, we had a good run for it, and felt indebted to Sheila for the rest of our lives!
I am very saddened that I never got a chance to see Nahid joon one more time. Due to different reasons, I had not been able to visit Iran in the last 35 years and one of my biggest fears through all these years was the passing of my family members in Iran while I was away. I regret not having seen Amu Shahab and Khaleh Nahid before their final departure.
Khaleh Nahid was like a mother to me and I only have very fond memories of her. I wish I could be there in person to accompany Nahid joon as she was carried to her final resting place. Even though I was not there in person, I was there in spirit. May she rest in peace and I sincerely hope she is already with my darling Shahdi.
Setareh
1/16/2014
Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
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