On July 11 Solomon would have turned 42
This time every year (the last 7) I feel Solomon draw closer, with the luminous memories, with a mist of grief —both together. Writing this tribute brings him near for a while, sparking memories of the 34 years we shared—mother and son.
Wendell Berry Sabbaths 1999
I dream of a quiet man
Who explains nothing and defends
Nothing, but only knows
Where the rarest wildflowers
Are blooming, and who goes,
And finds that he is smiling
Not by his own will.
A quiet man, his rarest wildflower music as a DJ, introduces Stevie Wonder at the Salesforce Celebration and plays in front of City Hall at The Black and White Ball in San Francisco, who goes——around the racetrack in his blue Lotus sportscar, down the mountain on his snowboard (having been dropped on a high ridge by helicopter)—smiling—to Burningman, Sufi Camp, Chile and Morocco, Germany, Peru, India…
Some emails from Solomon: note to his grandmother—Shabda’s mom Ilse (shown below): Monday July 1, 2000 Omi, Happy birthday from your grandson in South America. A am having wonderful adventures in Peru with Ammon. We got to go to Machu Pichu, one of the most incredible historic wonders I have ever seen… I wish you a happy and healthy birthday and a joyful and fulfilling year to come. Much love, Your Grandson Solomon ♥
Omi, Solomon and Shabda
Friday June 28, 2000 Hi Mom, I just had a super long day of seeing all of these ruins which I am now convinced were built by aliens. That’s what everyone says about this place and I thought it was a load of crap until I saw 120 ton rocks that have been carved perfectly to fit into this intricate stonewall work… I actually got to DJ last night at this spot. Now I can add Cuzco, Peru to the places I have played. Much love and I will write soon, Solomon ♣
Family boating… June 30, 2008 Hello family, I am extending an invite to our wonderful family for a day of boating/birthday celebration as I bring in the 31styear of my time on our little rock. We thought it would be fun to have everyone go out on a Sunday. The boat is located in Tracy, about an hour from SF. We will plan on a picnic lunch…Any questions? Hope you all can make it! Much love, Solomon ♥
Let’s say you were asking me ♦ What’s up? ♦ I’ll write you back here and now.
Dearest Solomon,
You’ll be glad to know I’m getting healthy after a long-time bacterial infection and a difficult period of very low energy. My lung doc is pleased with my slow bounce-back. I’m going to Mendocino Sufi Camp this week. Dad is in charge this summer, and Ammon, Laura and the girls as well as Nicole will be there. Nicole is a very popular yoga teacher. She will be there with Samantha (now 3½) and Varvara to help. Ammon will DJ Thursday night, as you used to do often in those years.
Mendocino — Naomi, Solomon, Nicole, Varvara, Jason, Shabda, and Jamilah
June 8th we had a pool party like in the old days. It was a birthday party with 3 cakes: Nicole and Ryan (May 30) Maeve (June 1) and me (June 14). Naomi was there pregnant. She is due with #3 child this summer. Lots of Nicole and Ryan’s friends were there. Chris Clouse was at the party. Ean has been out of town most of the time these days, Runni and Sasha and the kids are in Israel as Jeannie hasn’t been well. I talked with Christian Heath who tried but couldn’t come to a memorial day dedicated to you the end of January. Jason Rezaian and I have been in Email touch. He is back at the Washington Post. Leila Burrows is recently married and lives up by Lake Tahoe.
Minhoi, Nikolai, Tamam, Shabda, Naomi,and Solomon
The nearly eleven-hundred ft. tall Salesforce Tower in SF makes the city look different from when you were living there. The old Sears store a few blocks away at Northgate may become a Costco. Our RV is twenty-three years old. An antique! We still drive it to Mendocino once a year. It’s lucky you don’t have to deal with the politics our country is stuck with. We are about as far from Obama’s view as anyone could imagine. Ammon is co-founder and VP at Formation, which is becoming quite large and promising, an (AI) Artificial Intelligence design company. Oona and Laura took part in a race around Lake Merrit and Maeve is a fashionista and quite an artist.
Oona (almost 10) and Maeve (7) your adorable nieces
Nicole and Samantha at the beach in SF
The family and friends still feel you are with us, but we miss the adventures you took us on. I miss your smile and humor. Your enthusiasm. Your fantastic music.
Your Dad joins me in sending you love and more love…endless love, Mom
Solomon and Ammon at Lake Tahoe at Burningman — both were DJ’ing there
Django and Solomon – cousins Solomon and Rah (Runni) – cousins
Ammon, Laura, Nicole, Solomon, Tamam and Shabda
Subhana Ansari cultivates beautiful “Day Lillies.” SOLOMON SUNRISE is this flower she named for Solomon. It blooms at the end of June every year, before his birthday.
What a lovely and tender birthday card to your boy. A beautiful testimonial to your
own beauty and grace.
LikeLiked by 1 person
love to you and family, tamam ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a closeknit and loving family. May you be blessed with deep peace.
LikeLike
See you at camp💞
LikeLike
Oh Tamam, this is so beautiful. I cherish every word.
Mirabai
Mirabai Starr Author and Speaker http://www.mirabaistarr.com
>
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dearest Tamam ~ Your Birthday posts to Solomon are the most beautiful gift, they fill my heart with the life of your glowing family, with the photos you select, the updates to Solomon on how everyone is doing. The Love of everyone for everyone is so beautifully expressed by you. I’m so very grateful to be privy to your tributes, I send you, Shabda and your whole family much love, and I’m so happy to hear how your health is progressing. Reflecting on the eternal connection of Solomon’s spirit uniting with yours is a healing balm in this crazy world. I love you Tamam.
LikeLike
Beautiful Tamam, and I rejoiced with reading that the troubling long-term infection is losing its grip on you. Eager to see you at Mendocino!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ya Hayyoo Sweet and Beloved Sister of the Heart, Dearest Tamam, blessings on you and all the family. Thank you so much for sharing your Joy and the Pain, the Sweetness and the Memories. You feel so close and so does Solomon I am so grateful to know you and to share in your life, and so grateful, post by post to get to know this amazing young man a little more each time. I send you Love and Light, Strength and Courage as you walk your path on Earth, your words and prayers reach far and wide. Have a wonderfilled time at Mendo, look after yourself well and know that you are blessed and a blessing, 💛🙌💛 Thanks for everything, LOVE YOU, ZubinNur 💛🌟💛
LikeLike
Tamam
Such a beautiful journey into the heart
The Solomon Altar at Rancho Strozzi is in full bloom of Light Lilies
Blessed Be
Richard
LikeLike