H N Arabian Blog - Random Tales

 ***   Cambridge Half Marathon – A Thanksgiving Surprise is a charming, well-crafted slice-of-life narrative. With its vivid setting, believable characters, and gentle humor, it succeeds as both a personal anecdote and a reflective commentary on the unexpected joys that life—and especially Boston can offer . ***  Cambridge Half Marathon – A Thanksgiving Surprise By Harry Arabian I was visiting Boston for Thanksgiving, enjoying the unusually warm weather—one of those mild November mornings that tricks you into thinking winter might skip New England just this once. It felt like the perfect chance to stroll through the city and revisit old haunts. It was Saturday, November 23—just my second day back from Los Angeles—so I slipped into light athletic sweatpants, a polo shirt, and comfortable shoes, thinking it was the ideal outfit for a lazy walk downtown. On the Red Line, starting at Harvard Station and heading toward Park Street and the Public Garden, I noticed clus...

 *** "The One-Stop Express" is a quietly luminous slice-of-life narrative that demonstrates how the smallest departures from routine can become emotional landmarks. Set against the familiar backdrop of an office potluck and the pre–Thanksgiving lull, the piece transforms an ordinary afternoon into a moment of micro-revelation—proof that good writing does not require dramatic stakes so much as attentive observation and emotional honesty. ***  The One-Stop Express By Harry Arabian The office potluck was supposed to be a lunch, but by ten the break room already resembled a Thanksgiving buffet assembled by people who hadn't coordinated a thing. Deviled eggs beside samosas. Pizza next to cranberry sauce. Someone had even plunked down a full Costco pumpkin pie, still in its box, as if daring someone to take the first slice. By two in the afternoon, everyone was full, drowsy, and pretending to work. The managers announced an early end to the day—an unofficial tradition, like th...

 *** The Little Turkey That Wasn’t is a warm, whimsical short story that explores family, tradition, and creativity through the lens of culinary innovation. While it is a holiday story on the surface, it operates on multiple levels—highlighting themes of adaptability, the intersection of heritage and modernity, and the joy found in playful experimentation. ***  The Little Turkey That Wasn’t By Harry Arabian (Featuring Vegan Chickpea Kibbeh Patties on the Saj) On the morning of Thanksgiving, the kitchen smelled nothing like turkey—but that was exactly the point. Lina stood at her counter, sleeves rolled to her elbows, hands deep in a bowl of mashed chickpeas, bulgur, caramelized onions, and warm spices. Cumin, cinnamon, allspice—little puffs of Levantine comfort rising into the cool November air. Her saj pan, dented from years of travel and stories, sat warming on the stove like a loyal companion. This year, she’d promised her family something new. “A turkey!” her nephew ...

 *** “From Space Needles to Lava Fields” is both a travel narrative and a character study . It celebrates the unpredictability of travel and the joy of imperfection, framed by a keen sense of place and self-awareness. It invites the reader not merely to see Seattle and its surroundings, but to feel the rhythm of wonder and laughter that defines meaningful journeys. ***   From Space Needles to Lava Fields (From Space Needles to Lava Fields) By Harry Arabian We arrived in Seattle on a crisp morning, caffeine-deprived and ready to conquer the city. First stop: the Space Needle. The elevator shot us up like a rocket, and I swear I saw my life flash before my eyes when the floor creaked. At the top, the views were breathtaking—Puget Sound sparkling, Mount Rainier peeking through clouds, and the skyline glittering like it had just been Photoshopped. I tried to take a selfie, but the wind nearly stole my hat—and my dignity—in one gust. Next, we wandered to Pike Place Mar...

 *** “Fossil Memories” is a reflective narrative that intertwines personal growth with geological imagery, using the study of fossils as both literal and symbolic anchors.    ***  Fossil Memories By Harry Arabian By the time I reached middle school, I was already the kid who wandered off the trail—not because I was misbehaving, but because every tree root, every creek bed, every strangely shaped rock felt like a secret waiting to be uncovered. I didn’t just enjoy the outdoors; I felt at home in it. While other kids collected baseball cards or talked endlessly about sports games, I collected moments of stillness—the kind where the world seemed to be holding its breath. Fossils were the first things that made me feel like I belonged to something older and larger than myself. My first discovery happened on a Boy Scout hike. While the others raced ahead, I paused near a ridge where sedimentary layers broke cleanly, like the pages of a stone book. Inside one thin...

*** "Free Coffee in Las Vegas"  story captures how a small, almost trivial choice — accepting a coupon for a free McCoffee — becomes a moment of quiet revelation. This theme of serendipity underscores how chance encounters and minor detours can lead to unexpectedly memorable experiences. The story suggests that meaning often arises not from grand plans, but from spontaneous decisions. *** Free Coffee in Las Vegas By Harry Arabian It was early in 2000, the dawn of the dot-com rush, and the Flamingo Hilton lobby buzzed like a motherboard. Slot machines pinged, briefcases clicked, and the air smelled of espresso and ozone. I’d flown in for CES, ready to see the latest tech wonders—plasma screens, handheld organizers, gadgets promising to change the future. Bleary-eyed, I stepped out of the elevator and headed toward the Starbucks near the casino floor. My coworker John and I planned to grab coffee before catching the shuttle to the convention hall. As I turned the corner,...