While browsing the old folders on my home server, I found the below memories I wrote back in 2002. I thought to copy/paste them here without any editing for eternal safe keeping.
Contemplations about my Trip to Lebanon 2002-07-23
Tuesday 16 July 2002
We headed to the airport around 6:15. The driver was an African Arab… either from Sudan or Somalia. He had a low exhausted voice… I suspect from smoking. He was remorseful about the delay and blaming on the wrong directions given by the company.
The check in was smooth. We had to talk our way to get a seat on the exit. The earlier booking was not accurate. We walked to the gates. Luay and Sana took the caddy cart. I walked the distance. The moving belt was not moving… but I walked through it.
We went to the restaurant. As usual, Sana was arguing about the location of the restaurant… although she knows she does not know about directions. As usual, again, she was wrong. A hostess showed us the way. We had a couple of drink then we went to the Duty Free. I did not find any item of interest. Our main expenditure was bubble gums. We saw Wadi Jureidini there and we chatted for a while. Gate 14 faced the duty free. We had a little walk to do.
The flight was smooth. We had turbulence during the first 15 minutes. After that, it was like butter flowing on oil. My seat was next the emergency exit. Sana and Luay sat in seats behind me. To my left, there was a Lebanese gentleman who I suspect was a Durzi. He works in Saudi Arabia and now is moving to Dubai. I gathered he is married with one son. He was hesitant about giving information about himself although he was friendly. We chatted about UAE, Saudi and getting comfortable in the cultural move from Riyadh to Dubai. He has a sister who works with HCT and a brother in law who works at AUS. They live in Sharjah.
On my right, there was another quiet Lebanese gentleman. We chatted briefly about HCT and it budget. Beyond that, he did not say anything.
Since Sana ordered sea food… we had our meal quiet early. The food was good but not tasty. I finished the food quiet early and had to carry the plates on my lap for a long time.
During the flight, I tried to read a book called “Political Stories”… but it was the usual Arabic grinning about the political situation. I read the first few pages without interest. Then browsed through the remaining pages quickly and put it away. I doubt I will read it again.
Then I moved to reading the “Messages from the Masters”. It did not attract me. I presume it is another money making attempt trying to tell people there is more to life than what they know. I know I will finish this book… one day.
I asked for Al Diyar newspaper. I skimmed it very quickly then put it away. I felt I have no interest with Politics. At my age… it is enough to read the headlines to know the content. Politics, in general, became predictable.
We reached Beirut and walked to the Security check with Wadi. It was smooth. Wadi sounded so pessimistic. He had the tendency of believing negative ideas about Lebanon far easier than seeing a living a positive situation. I was wondering why! Is it a political stand due to his beliefs or that he knows things I do not know! I wondered without asking hoping to discover it one day.
We reached Beirut around 12. Hadi, Mirna, Rula and their kids were waiting for us. Hadi looks smart as ever. Mirna still in her charm although se already had a baby. Rula was elegant and beautiful as always. I felt love energizing me when I saw my family. We went to my in-laws house. After kisses and hugs, we stayed chatting till 3 am. We went to sleep around that time.
Wednesday 17 July 2002
We woke up late.
We went to Hospital to help Hayat. We visited their house for the first time.
We drove to my daddy’s house in Rolla’s car.
We slept there.
The view was gorgeous.
Thursday 18 July 2002
We Slept at Daddy’s house.
We had a chat all day log about politics…
Friday 19 July 2002
Rula picked us up and took us to her house. Had delicious Manakish which I regretted later because I felt stuffed and had headaches. Rolla tool us to my in-laws to pay farewell to Hajji who was going to Canada the next day. We met uncle Walid and Hanan. Nizar and his daughter came and had a good talk. Apparently, Hanan and Nizar are not talking.
We went to Hadi’s to sleep there.
Saturday 20 July 2002
We went to Mirna’s father ranch. We swam. I was called Casper.
Sunday 21 July 2002
We went to Saida and had delicious Fool plate. Then we walked through the old Market. We ate Cheese Pie from the old Al Baba sweat’s shop. We went around Dhbabneh palace.
We met a doctor that I forgot his name. He is married to a Romanian lady. He has grown up children although he looked young. Talked about business in Lebanon and he sounded encouraging.
We drove the car to Jizin for Sana to see the waterfalls. We had fruits at the “Waterfall View” restaurant while Sana energized her self from the fall of waters. We drove the back way to Sawfar passing through Shouf Mountains. We reached Sawfar around 6 pm to attend Ahmad’s son birthday.
For the first time in 25 years, I met most of the Fawzi family. There were tones of children and grandchildren. Some of whom I remember now are:
Uncle Fawzi and Elena. Caritas and Tariq and their 5 daughters. One of them already married to nice, but arrogant person. As cute as ever Maria, her husband Riyad and their 2 daughters and son Karim. Ida, her lovely son Ahmad and her 2 daughters. Toufic and his wife Lucia and their daughter. And Ahmad’s children.
We went to Hadi’s to sleep. We slept early.
Monday 22 July 2002
I went to Douma through Jubeil. I took a service to Hilo station then a bus to Jubeil. I hired a taxi to drive to Douma which was 44 Km. Checked in Room 205 after I chatted with the hotel manager.
Tuesday 23 July 2002
Contemplations about my Trip to Lebanon 2002-07-23
Tuesday 16 July 2002
We headed to the airport around 6:15. The driver was an African Arab… either from Sudan or Somalia. He had a low exhausted voice… I suspect from smoking. He was remorseful about the delay and blaming on the wrong directions given by the company.
The check in was smooth. We had to talk our way to get a seat on the exit. The earlier booking was not accurate. We walked to the gates. Luay and Sana took the caddy cart. I walked the distance. The moving belt was not moving… but I walked through it.
We went to the restaurant. As usual, Sana was arguing about the location of the restaurant… although she knows she does not know about directions. As usual, again, she was wrong. A hostess showed us the way. We had a couple of drink then we went to the Duty Free. I did not find any item of interest. Our main expenditure was bubble gums. We saw Wadi Jureidini there and we chatted for a while. Gate 14 faced the duty free. We had a little walk to do.
The flight was smooth. We had turbulence during the first 15 minutes. After that, it was like butter flowing on oil. My seat was next the emergency exit. Sana and Luay sat in seats behind me. To my left, there was a Lebanese gentleman who I suspect was a Durzi. He works in Saudi Arabia and now is moving to Dubai. I gathered he is married with one son. He was hesitant about giving information about himself although he was friendly. We chatted about UAE, Saudi and getting comfortable in the cultural move from Riyadh to Dubai. He has a sister who works with HCT and a brother in law who works at AUS. They live in Sharjah.
On my right, there was another quiet Lebanese gentleman. We chatted briefly about HCT and it budget. Beyond that, he did not say anything.
Since Sana ordered sea food… we had our meal quiet early. The food was good but not tasty. I finished the food quiet early and had to carry the plates on my lap for a long time.
During the flight, I tried to read a book called “Political Stories”… but it was the usual Arabic grinning about the political situation. I read the first few pages without interest. Then browsed through the remaining pages quickly and put it away. I doubt I will read it again.
Then I moved to reading the “Messages from the Masters”. It did not attract me. I presume it is another money making attempt trying to tell people there is more to life than what they know. I know I will finish this book… one day.
I asked for Al Diyar newspaper. I skimmed it very quickly then put it away. I felt I have no interest with Politics. At my age… it is enough to read the headlines to know the content. Politics, in general, became predictable.
We reached Beirut and walked to the Security check with Wadi. It was smooth. Wadi sounded so pessimistic. He had the tendency of believing negative ideas about Lebanon far easier than seeing a living a positive situation. I was wondering why! Is it a political stand due to his beliefs or that he knows things I do not know! I wondered without asking hoping to discover it one day.
We reached Beirut around 12. Hadi, Mirna, Rula and their kids were waiting for us. Hadi looks smart as ever. Mirna still in her charm although se already had a baby. Rula was elegant and beautiful as always. I felt love energizing me when I saw my family. We went to my in-laws house. After kisses and hugs, we stayed chatting till 3 am. We went to sleep around that time.
Wednesday 17 July 2002
We woke up late.
We went to Hospital to help Hayat. We visited their house for the first time.
We drove to my daddy’s house in Rolla’s car.
We slept there.
The view was gorgeous.
Thursday 18 July 2002
We Slept at Daddy’s house.
We had a chat all day log about politics…
Friday 19 July 2002
Rula picked us up and took us to her house. Had delicious Manakish which I regretted later because I felt stuffed and had headaches. Rolla tool us to my in-laws to pay farewell to Hajji who was going to Canada the next day. We met uncle Walid and Hanan. Nizar and his daughter came and had a good talk. Apparently, Hanan and Nizar are not talking.
We went to Hadi’s to sleep there.
Saturday 20 July 2002
We went to Mirna’s father ranch. We swam. I was called Casper.
Sunday 21 July 2002
We went to Saida and had delicious Fool plate. Then we walked through the old Market. We ate Cheese Pie from the old Al Baba sweat’s shop. We went around Dhbabneh palace.
We met a doctor that I forgot his name. He is married to a Romanian lady. He has grown up children although he looked young. Talked about business in Lebanon and he sounded encouraging.
We drove the car to Jizin for Sana to see the waterfalls. We had fruits at the “Waterfall View” restaurant while Sana energized her self from the fall of waters. We drove the back way to Sawfar passing through Shouf Mountains. We reached Sawfar around 6 pm to attend Ahmad’s son birthday.
For the first time in 25 years, I met most of the Fawzi family. There were tones of children and grandchildren. Some of whom I remember now are:
Uncle Fawzi and Elena. Caritas and Tariq and their 5 daughters. One of them already married to nice, but arrogant person. As cute as ever Maria, her husband Riyad and their 2 daughters and son Karim. Ida, her lovely son Ahmad and her 2 daughters. Toufic and his wife Lucia and their daughter. And Ahmad’s children.
We went to Hadi’s to sleep. We slept early.
Monday 22 July 2002
I went to Douma through Jubeil. I took a service to Hilo station then a bus to Jubeil. I hired a taxi to drive to Douma which was 44 Km. Checked in Room 205 after I chatted with the hotel manager.
Tuesday 23 July 2002
