Em’Ramiz

Em Ramiz was my paternal grandmother’s mother. Her first name was Alice.
Everything she made was homemade: jam, labneh, kishk, even the green kishk. She cooked everything from scratch. Whether sweet or savory, her food was unforgettable, and her maamoul was truly worth the detour. She was deeply devoted to her family in a way that made her love and patience tangible. She was not only kind, but incredibly warm. You could feel her love in everything she did, especially in her cooking. Her jam was famous among family and friends, and people would come from different regions just to ask for it.
Em Ramiz was the mother of six children and chose to dedicate her life to her family. She was the kind of person who gave endlessly and never expected anything in return. Her generosity came naturally, as did her gentleness. One of her simple pleasures was going to the movies when a film was projected in the village once a week. I like to imagine her there, enjoying those small moments of joy. She was from Machghara, and through the stories passed down from generation to generation, her warmth, generosity, and love continue to live on.


(for me) Dans les photos: For this one, I decided to honor my grandmother’s lineage because she looks so much like her mother. I wanted to pay tribute to this part of my family because I have had the chance to grow up close to all of her brothers and sisters. In a way, this is my way of honoring them all. Since we were children, we have always visited them, or they have visited us. Their mother’s name was Alice.
Amale is my teta. Ramiz would always come to play cards with us and bring us chocolate. Sophie is the one who is always there to help everyone in the family. You have a new baby? She is already on a plane to come and help you.
Bechara is one of the kindest people I know, and I wish I could see him more often. Nicolas was always making plans to bring the family together. Afaf, the youngest one, is always laughing, and oh God, I love her macaroni dish.
Since the creation of Skype, they have spoken to each other every single day. Every day, at the same hour, one calls the other. My teta always knows who is calling without even looking at her screen.
Their bond is one of the purest examples of family love I have ever witnessed, and through them, the memory of Alice continues to live on.