Sultan's Page

 

Here is the very first picture I took of Sultan. He first came to my house for Thanksgiving, 2015. He walked in the door with a smile on his face....and I knew from the first time I saw him that I was going to like him...even though he spoke virtually no English at all. Fayez was studying for an exam, so we were immediately on our own. Armed with nothing more than two cell phones...each with a translation program...we set out to form our lasting friendship...one word at a time. Our first conversations were conducted mainly by writing words in a little notebook that I gave to him...or by writing words on a napkin at Terry's Bar and Grill. Somehow we managed to communicate...and do it quite well. All of that has changed today. Now he speaks English fluently...and he is studying to become a medical doctor...all in English, of course. He has a bright, sunny, outgoing personality, and...sorry, Sultan...there are some days I wish he had not learned English so well! Sultan studied English in Oklahoma City. But, my home was his home when he had breaks or vacations....and he quickly became a familiar face around the Ranch....part of the landscape, as we say.

 

It didn't take Sultan long to fit in and make himself at home. I think the feeling of being a "guest" wore off quickly. When a person stops asking " permission " and stops asking, "Where is this...or that?" You can be fairly sure he is feeling pretty comfortable in his surroundings. It didn't take Sultan very long to reach this point...and now this is pretty much his "home away from home." In order to make this easier for him...and to get his priorities in order...you can see that he updated his wardrobe quite quickly, making some very intelligent choices in the clothing he wears...with a little help and advice from me, of course. I always look forward to Sultan's arrival...because I know my life is going to be happier and brighter while he is here.

 

Sultan has so many strong points that it would be almost impossible to choose his greatest talent. But...without a doubt, cooking ranks somewhere at the very top. Let's face it....Sultan is a good cook. I have never tasted anything he has prepared that can be called anything but delicious. Whether he prepares it on the stove top...or in the oven....or outside over a charcoal fire...you can be assured that it is going to be "finger lickin' good". We make a good team. He likes to cook....and I like to eat what he cooks! What could be better than that? Miraculously, he prepares meals without getting a lot of dishes dirty. I am usually the official dishwasher. I stand behind him...and when he finishes using a pan or dish, he hands it to me...and I do the lowly, unskilled labor. I wash and dry the dishes and put them away. We eat off paper plates, another time saver, and when the meal is over....it is over! Like I often tell Sultan.... If the doctor thing doesn't work out (and without a shadow of a doubt, it will!), he can always become a famous TV chef.

 

Did I mention that Sultan used to be a pretty good athlete? And, probably still is. At any rate, one of his favorite things to do is work out. Luckily, I belong to a small fitness center not so far from our house where we....and I use the word "we" loosely...can go to accomplish this purpose. I never ceased to be impressed by Sultan's dedication and organization when it involves his physical fitness routine. He always has a plan... He is well organized... He sticks to his plan. I have also noticed that this organization and dedication carries over into his academic habits. And, this, of course, is admirable. Now I am working to get him to apply this organization to all phases of his life...especially the more practical phases! Things around the house, for example. I don't know.... Maybe he thinks this is what wives are for! But...no matter. When Sultan is here, I never have to look for somebody to work out with. In fact, it is usually he who is saying, "Come on. Let's go to the fitness center." And, it is usually I who is saying, "Hurry up, Sultan. We are going to be late." A fair trade off, I suppose.

 

Going hand in hand with Sultan's workout routine at the fitness center is his more or less equal affinity for running. Actually, this started on the second day that Sultan stayed at my house. I took him and his brother running on the Ferguson Road. Although they ran together for most of the four miles, it was readily apparent that Sultan could have easily won, if this had been a race. Unlike his brother and most of my other foreign students, Sultan never had the opportunity to run in a race...an objective that we have definitely set for his next visit. Back in his high school days in Saudi Arabia, he was a first class handball player. No... Their handball is not the same as "real" handball...American handball...but it does require a large amount of skill and athletic ability...not to mention strength, endurance and stamina. These are all qualities that Sultan possesses in abundance.

 

Sultan at work! And...NO, I did not make him do it! In fact, he begged for days before I relented and let him mow the lawn...using the riding lawn mower. And...I suppose he did an adequate job, considering it was his first time. I am usually rather hesitant about asking anybody to do any work...unless I pay them. It just doesn't seem right. Sultan, however, has really comes through for me when I needed him. He may not know how to do the job...but he listens well...he is smart and intuitive...and he catches on quickly. And, he is always eager and willing to help. Most, if not all, of the jobs he has helped do are new to him. I hope they are learning experiences...and I hope they are fun...and I hope they may help him at some time in the future. We have tackled...and successfully completed...a wide variety of jobs around the house and yard. We have built a false floor and covered it with linoleum squares; we have built a cover for the crawl space under the house; we have cut and trimmed an entire forest of trees and wild shrubs; we have re-arranged the furniture in almost every room in the house. And, I am sure I have left things off this list. And... When I say "we", of course, I am referring mostly to Sultan. I like to tell him, "I will supply the brain power; you supply the muscle." Although Sultan occasionally furnishes both! We make a good team...brains and brawn! Work and play.

 

"On the road again... We're the best of friends, insisting that the world keep turning our way..." Those song lyrics by Willie Nelson can be used to describe Sultan and me. In fact, we have had many of our most memorable moments while traveling around the USA. In separate trips, we have covered well over 10,000 miles...and twenty different states. And, we have our pictures in front of the state signs to prove it! Traveling with Sultan is easy; it is enjoyable; it is fun...and there is rarely a dull moment. Just like me, Sultan likes the camping life...living simply...enjoying nature and blending into our surroundings no matter where we may be. And, just like at home, he can prepare a delicious gourmet meal in a matter of minutes...just using a knife and a couple sheets of aluminum foil. And, with a minimum of dishes to clean, we are free to spend the remainder of the evening sitting in front of our campfire...just talking and laughing and dreaming. Nowadays, Sultan does about 100% of the driving...at his insistence. Yeah... He has come a long ways since those days when he first arrived...and I almost ended up in the cardiac unit of the hospital after each trip to Topeka. Now he at least knows the difference between left and right...forward and backward...stop and go! We have been a lot of places together, seen a lot of magnificent sights, shared a lot of experiences...and we have had a lot of fun. And, you can bet on it... It will not be long before we are "on the road again..."

 

This is a picture of Sultan and me in Leadville, Colorado, the city with the highest elevation in the USA. Whether we are in Leadville...or sitting in our living room at home...or relaxing at Terry's Bar and Grill...or working out at the fitness center...Sultan is a genuine joy to have in my life. Did I mention that he is terribly bright? Or that he has a sunny personality? Or that he is funny and can make a person laugh with his sense of humor? Or that he has a smile on his face almost all the time...a genuine smile? Or that he is a caring, loyal friend? Or that he is always willing and eager to help...sometimes when I do not even want or need help? And... He is extremely smart and intelligent. Well, make no mistake about it... He is all of these things and more. As I said earlier, when I first met him, he barely spoke a word of English. And now... Well, sometimes it is difficult to make him be quiet! He has become a valued and important part of my life. And, speaking of life... Sultan is studying to become a medical doctor. And... If all goes well...MY doctor. Humm... Maybe a good reason to say all these good things about him.

 

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