Message from Avak Dirouhie

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As I am writing this message, we are living in one of the most uncertain times that I can remember; and I have been around a LONG time.  The coronavirus has changed our world.   We do not know how our lives will change from one moment to another. We are trying to hold it together and live as normally as possible, whatever that may be.  We can’t wait to watch the news to find out what is happening and then we cannot wait to turn it off because it is so stressful to hear it.  The “not knowing” is so difficult.  The fact that the people we ordinarily depend on for the answers do not have the answers makes it even more stressful.

So….how do we live now?  It seems like mostly day to day.  We are certainly learning how to do things on our own again.  Many are fortunate to have family units to be with.  But to be together day in and day out takes understanding, much patience and lots of love for each other.

It is almost like going back to a time, if you are old enough to remember, when your world was your family and those closest around you.  Saying hello to your neighbors as you go for a walk; only now you cross the street first.

Can’t get to the hair dresser or the barber shop?  Maybe time to let your hair grow out.  Can’t get to the gym or the yoga studio?  Maybe time to exercise more at home.  Wondered what it was like to think about home schooling?  Maybe this is when you find out.  Can’t go to church to pray?  Time to practice your religion at home and back to reading the Bible, maybe with immediate family.   So many changes and yet so basic.

But so difficult in today’s world.  Everything is there; social media, computers, texting, telephones.  All can be connected with the touch of a button.  Zoom, skype, facetime.  We can talk and see each other so that we do feel so isolated.  And so life goes on.  And so do we. 

As Knights and Daughters of Vartan, we continue with the commitment to our organization.  We are having to cancel meetings and many events that had been planned.  However, by using technology, we can still keep in touch with each other and make necessary decisions and keep the communication going.  We are proceeding with the idea that this world will go back to “normal” within a few months and we can look forward to celebrating with each other at our Grand Convocation in Glendale, California from July 14-19.  Do we know for sure?  No.  But we are praying and hoping and planning.  

We come from a people who suffered untold atrocities and prevailed.  We are strong.  We are intelligent.  We are capable.  We have our faith and trust in God.

So we listen. We do what we need to do to stay well and safe, and we will come out of this together, stronger and ready to go forward and continue our commitment to Knights & Daughters of Vartan.

With sisterly love,

Alice Kalustian, Avak Dirouhie

March 2020

Avak Khorhourt made visitations to see our beautiful sisters in San Diego to Talar Otyag and in the Orange County to visit with Anoush Otyag in early March. Our SWGDR Sonia Serpekian welcomed us to her home and then followed us back up to Costa Mesa. It was a great time of fellowship, sharing info, answering questions, getting to know our Sisters, wonderful hospitality and most importantly, sharing all that Sisterly love. Thank you to Dirouhie Naira and NAD Lisa of Talar Otyag and Co Dirouhies Ruth and Debbie of Anoush Otyag.