On Sagar’s 26th birthday, we looked back at some of our journeys together. I saw the guitar drawn on the sand at Sabratha (May 31,2009) a diary of his school day at St Edward’s college, Cottonera, Malta (Sep 27,2011) and a book discussion with application exercises – Thinking for a change – by John Maxwell in Mississauga (October 6,2017).

A diary is a record of day to day activities, a journal is more reflective and can see a process, the nuances and be a foundation for self improvement, growth of identity.

 Diaries and Journals

Remembering Sabratha- Libya and some notes from school and reading journals

Originally inhabited by the indigenous Berber Zwagha tribe in the 8th century BCE, Sabratha became a Carthagian colony around 5th century BCE, then was taken by the Numidians in 2 nd century BC.The city was among those taken by Rome and was included as part of the province of Africa Nova during the reign of Julius Caesar (48-44 BCE).

Understanding from history tool has been a way to relate to different works of art, 

literature ever since we did a course on Understanding Shakespeare. The history plays showed us how Prince Hal treated Falstaff after he became the king.

See blog

https://gracereadings.wordpress.com/2016/04/22/the-immortal-falstaff-remembering-shakespeare-part-1/

The history of this region has changed in the past decades after the Arab spring. The diary by the sea is a reminder of the times when things were more stable. Earlier thousands of Indian diaspora used to work in Libya. We ran a Reading group here, where we dissected layers the layers of day to day life.

One book which we read and discussed was The Cairo Trilogy, by Naguib Mahfouz. In his introduction, Sabry Hafez writes how family politics in the Trilogy are revealed in the daily rituals of eating and drinking coffee as well as in the symbolism of the distribution of space for each activity. He tells how the breakfast takes place on the top floor, which is the sole domain of the father. Everyone comes to His Ground and behaves according to His rules.

Over the decades, I have tried to pass on the gifts which my parents, grandparents and other seniors in the family gave me- through the love of the written word, reading and discussing works of literature and art. In three pictures which I took and sent to Sagar on his birthday, two were of his entries into a diary and reading journal.

Reflection Points

1- How does a day to day activity like having coffee turn into an exercise in examining and exploring space

Eg- Having a meal together – setting the table.

2- Which book will you take for the coffee-hour of the week this time

Eg- I revisited the Cairo Trilogy, memories of Tripoli and Arab world came up.

3- How does internal memory of a Home Library come up as we look back in the books we have gathered

Eg- Cairo Trilogy was gifted to me by my friend Ebrahim Gomari, originally from Benghazi

Earlier Perspectives

2021- Niagara Walks

2009

2022-June- Graduation from Toronto Metropolitan University. We went and prayed at Gordon Memorial Rock-Mississauga (Sahil’s school- Grades 9-12-2014-2018). Currently (March 2025) Sagar has been staying in New York City since July and Sahil has completed his Masters and pursuing Phd in Industrial and Mechanical engineering.

Spaces like Graydon rock, Sabratha, have been part of our family journeys, just as reading and discussing books, creating a home library and personalized notes from them have been part of our identity