02 Feb, 2022

love in the time of omicron…

02 Feb, 2022

L: Roasted corn, camel, and sunset (photo by Minal S); R: With siblings, cousins, and Ammi at Usman’s mehndi celebration My two weeks in Karachi were punctuated with wedding...

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09 Dec, 2017

a tribute to nora…

09 Dec, 2017

Minal’s painting dedicated to Nora Nora, our family’s beloved cat, passed away two days ago. Minal, René and I created a collaborative post in memory of her: We miss...

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my tortoise is trans…

November 2015: Oskar and René’s wedding “My tortoise is trans,” comments Tina. “She’s female actually,” explains Tina’s brother John. “But even though we’ve had the tortoise for more than...

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24 Oct, 2017

me too…

Sehba Sarwar
24 Oct, 2017

Minal creating a nature installation to cover an exposed nail; Karachi 2011 The accepted statistic that “one in three women will suffer sexual abuse” feels antiquated. It has taken...

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25 Jun, 2017

chand raat in little bangladesh…

25 Jun, 2017

My friend’s daughter getting her hand decorated with mehndi/henna on Chand Raat On Chand Raat, I team up with my friend Shaista, and we drive our daughters to Virgil...

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04 Feb, 2017

the big day…

04 Feb, 2017

author Kate DiCamillo with Minal Ever since Minal learns that she won first place in the Scholastic Reader’s Raymie Nightingale contest, she has been waiting for young adult author...

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25 Jan, 2017

two days later…

Sehbar Sarwar
25 Jan, 2017

Woman waiting to catch Metro waves a banner designed by Stephen Fairey for The Amplifier Foundation’s We The People project I wake up to hear the radio spitting stories...

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15 Jan, 2017

a saturday night virtual playdate…

Sehbar Sarwar
15 Jan, 2017

“I’m at 10:21 seconds,” calls out Minal. “I need to catch up—I’m at 10:24 seconds!” Minal’s friend’s voice ricochets from Minal’s video phone that’s propped up in front of...

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07 Dec, 2016

an award for minal…

07 Dec, 2016

At ten thirty this morning, I receive an email from Minal’s English teacher with a subject line: We WON THE GRAND PRIZE!!!!!!!!!!! Over the course of the day, details...

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21 Nov, 2016

reminders and a respite…

Sehbar Sarwar
21 Nov, 2016

After spending five days in Houston, Minal flies with me to Washington DC where I’m invited to attend a National Endowment for the Arts convening. With a free day...

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