I met my first Arab

I met my first Arab. His father was the director of a Muslim religious center. My friend asked his father one time what his thoughts were about gay liberation. He said, “ We don’t pay any attention to them.” One time I placed a few paintings in the son’s hand. (Like Emily Dickinson) “She came to me with two day lilies and placed them into my hands and said, “ This is my introduction.” The first words that came out of his mouth were, “Can you make money from this?” He told me his 9th wife said to him, “life is like taking a bite out of a shit sandwich, everyday.” Some years later, he went on to write a religious book. I remember being with him and his wife when at one point, he had to turn to his wife and ask, “Am I not an “Artist”?” She said, “ Of course you are an “Artist,” darling”