Mary Poppins

Today I helped deliver dinner to two houses with hungry people, but I did not plan it, it just happened. I stepped out of my favorite round building that place where I spent most of my 5 years while in Montreal. A witness to many stormy rages of emotions, out of which I had walked out at times smiling and triumphant, at times frustrated and enraged and at times indifferent and ready to give up. But this time it was pouring down, a million racing raindrops and it seemed that although first place was already taken, more raindrops were actually hurrying down did they not know the race was over? Just hang in the clouds and wait for another race just stop for now. My friend was meeting me for a late dinner at Amir’s and was almost there. I did not have an umbrella, the weatherman did not forecast rain and I did not want to carry my annoying “backboneless”umbrella that just bends with every breeze embarrassing me and drenching me just as I entrust her to keep me dry. My mind starts to work quickly should I take the bus, take a cab I’m too broke for a cab the bus goes all the way to the other side, solution? Delivery man was carrying a bag of food, he stepped inside the building handing some nerdy workaholic distorted scientist ( I’m sorry for the insult little guy I’m just projecting my issues on you) anyway should i ask him should i ask him. Hey sir can you take me with you. Sure where are you going. It doesn’t matter as long as I get anywhere closer to my destination. He spoke to me in arabic. He was delivering from Boustan another lebanese restaurant. As he drove I realized he had told me he was heading towards the east side but I had managed to block out that information I just figured getting in the car was my salvation and everything else I would deal with later. After all, Boustan was right next door to Amir. But he had to deliver some orders. I thought about getting out but then a genius idea occurred to me I was too lazy to walk, I needed to rest, I needed to be dropped off, I did not want to walk, I needed rest, I was exhausted and once you sense the comfort of a car in my world where riding in cars was a luxury so rarely experienced, long story short, I had a genius idea. Can I accompany you as you deliver and then you can drop me off at Boustan? He agreed he too was happy about the company. He said I reminded him of his daughter but he said she was a little older, she is 28 but I am 29 but I did not tell him it just felt good to be younger for a second, everyone seems to think I was younger, younger guys hit on me and older guys think I’m too young, oh well i guess it’s not so great to look younger after all but I think it’s my hair cut that’s what my friend said, now it’s short and curly yeah Shirley Temple-like ok well anyway. Delivery man stopped twice he called the guy to come down for his food, the street was undergoing major construction and he could not park but I stayed in the car so he double parked at the corner and went out for a few minutes, we made another stop at St Dominique in a small alley 1701 and then we were off to my destination. He asked me whether my friend was meeting me at Boustan, I replied timidly no at Amir’s. I tried to say oh but we do go to Boustan too it’s real good my friends and I we really like both places and he stopped me saying every restaurant has its clients while thinking maybe you can stop the lies now. We made it back in 15 min just as he promised. Moral of the story: Don’t carry your umbrella next time it rains you might get an easy ride to your destination when you don’t try too hard.

Man does not live by bread only

Yesterday I fasted. I did not eat or drink all day. It is ramadan. But I’m not a moslim. I fasted to share the experience of the fasting moslims who are sharing the fate of the less privileged people. A message of love, of unity, of amalgamation of not only religious significance but of a humane compassionate nature. I ended my fasting with a date and water. Oh, the sweetness of that date, of that day, of the smile i brought to my friend’s face, of the conversations over the iftar dinner , of the oneness, of purity, of sharing this with you.