From Samer's Mother

Habibi Samer,

Maybe by now you are wondering why your Mom has not spoken about her feelings on this blog yet…maybe because by doing so, it means that I have accepted you are gone, and I am not ready, nor will I ever be ready to believe you are gone. But with your memorial day coming on the 27th and because I cannot be there in your beautiful home…I wanted to write these words to be a part of this memorial.

I don’t know from where to start and where to end…Samer you lived life fully the way you wanted to live. I do respect the way you wanted to live, and I love you no matter what way you lived. I still love you. There are so many times through your short life that you were physically away from me, but never far from my heart, and now again you are physically far away, but you continue to live inside my heart. I never let go of you before and I cannot let go of you today, or tomorrow. I loved everything about you. I love the artistic part of you, your charm, your goodness as a son, your love for family, the way you lived proud as an Arab, your belief in Allah and the way you loved your Sarah.

Since I brought Sarah’s name up, I believe she was the angel in your life. She gave you the happiness and the love you deserve. I watched how you lived together as we prepared for your wedding…you were like little love-birds and nothing could make a mother’s heart more pleased. I’m happy that you had that experience.

Sarah…I cannot thank you enough for being a wonderful wife and friend (the closest person) to Samer in the good and bad times for him. You shared with him the last few years of his life, and I’m happy he shared those ups and downs with you. If Samer ever had the choice how he would leave this earth, I think he would have chosen to die between your hands as he did. He was blessed to leave his life with his wife that he loved so much. Sarah, to me, you were Samer’s angel.

Samer, I know you always cared about your good looks, your hair and skin. I just wanted to tell you how beautiful you looked to me in the last moments I saw you before they buried you. I know I’m your Mom, and I love the way you look, but I wanted you to know that I will remember your beauty when I last saw you, just as the way I remembered how beautifl you were on the day you were born. You left this earth as beautiful as the day as you came us. You looked at peace.

Well, habibi Samer, I’m not saying goodbye, but I’m just saying rest in peace. You will be with me until I see you again.

Love,
Mama

From Samer's Sister, Sama

I loved planning Samer's wedding with him. We'd talk for two hours each night for months, laboring over details, dreaming about things we could never accomplish...basically being so excited about love and family. Samer was my little brother, born four years after me and I was terribly jealous when he was born (stealing my baby spot). But I remember the very first moment I saw him (my mother made me wash my hands) and I creeped over the side of the crib to look at him. I taught him how to read, tie his shoes, count to ten, about Duran Duran. He taught me about much more important things as we grew up...he loved being an Arab as much as I did. He claimed Palestine as much as I did. He loved Allah and Fairuz, photography, family, memories...we shared a room when we were children, in Iraq and in Iowa. He was wonderful with my son Mahmood. I'm sad they won't know their uncle Samer. I will miss him forever...

Memorial for Samer May 27th, Saturday @ 2pm

On May 27th, a Saturday, I will be holding a memorial for Samer at our apartment (insha-allah). My door will be open all day so that anyone that would like to attend and pay their respects can do so whenever schedules permit. It will begin around 2pm and go on all day. For those who haven't been to our house, its on the corner of Chicago and Ashland and I'll leave a sign on the door. Please call to let me know if you're going to attend at 312-208-7853. Also, there is no doorbell so if the door is locked you can use that same phone number to let me know you're downstairs. There will be food but feel free to bring something if you'd like or bringing a bottle of wine or something would be great. I have some recordings of Samer's music I'd like to play and his brother Usama is making a video for the event. If you know of anyone else that would like to be there, please give them the information or forward this message to them. I look forward to seeing everyone and hope you're all happy and well.
Sarah Alshaibi

If you need an exact address you can also call Usama at 312-927-5692 or Sarah at 312-208-7853.

Usama's video on Samer will play at 5pm and 7pm.

Thank you.

From Samer's brother, Usama and more pictures

It has been over a week and Samer's death is still resounding heavy in me. But the sensation is pleasant. I feel my brother's passion in the air. Samer was filled with an intensity and fire that will never stop burning. He is in all of us. He reminds me of my past, of our religion, of God. Samer is light and dark swirling all over his shadow and words. How can I say anything?
I felt his peace as he departed. In some half-waking dream I embraced him and we kissed Iraqi style and we said goodbye.
I remember how his coffin was in front of all the men kneeling in prayer. He would have liked that.
His body lies in peace and with God.
I thank you all for your kind words and for thinking of Samer.
Please remember his spirit and smile with love and enjoy this brief beautiful life.
-Usama Alshaibi (May 9, 2006)

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Remember Samer Alshaibi

This site was created for the friends and family of Samer Hameed Alshaibi (born October 2, 1977, died May 1, 2006) to celebrate his life and his memory. Your comments and stories are very welcome here.

Below are some photos of Samer in chronological order:



Thursday, September 2nd, 2004
from Samer's journal (http://fascistprincess.livejournal.com/)

I say both of these surahs(verses) before I go to sleep every night, along with one other not listed, three times. There are other things done before sleep not listed, though. And although it is a harsh sound, I am blessed to hear the loudness of their whispers. Well then let the cowards crawl and the snakes feast.


(Bismil-lahir-rahmaanir-raheem)
In the name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful
Say: "I take refuge with the Lord of the dawn,
From the evil of what He has created,
And from the evil of the dark night when it comes,
And from the evil of those who blow on knots,
And from the evil of the envious when he envies."

Surat-al-Falaq 113
"The Daybreak"

(Bismil-lahir-rahmanir-raheem)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful)
Say:"I take refuge with the Lord of Mankind,
The King of Mankind,
The God of Mankind,
From the evil of the slinking whisperer,
Who whispers evil into the hearts of mankind,
From among Jinn and Mankind."

Surat-al-Naas 114
"Mankind"






May 1, 2006, from Usama Alshaibi, Samer's older brother:

He died today. He was with his wife and as she tried to help him he looked up and left us. He was pronounced dead when they brought him to the hospital.

He suffered with many health issues. He just completed his parole. He died a free man.

I loved my brother and I tried in my way to help him. We had some really great talks last week. He was working on his clothing shop and he said he was looking forward to seeing my movie. We made plans to meet in the future for dinner.

My brother had a razor tongue, fire in his heart and eyes for angels.

You will be missed dear Samer. Goodbye sweet man, God be with you.