 |
| Artwork by Tarek Chemaly |
On Christmas Day, at noon, a car was parked in my garage. A car not belonging to me or any potential guests. It was our neighbor J.. He parked without even consulting me. I can see your reaction – what temerity! Actually, during Christmas mass at midnight, I saw his brother along with wife and four children, we exchanged warm wishes. Now by 5 PM on Christmas Day, his other brother F. put a photo of their gathering on his WhatsApp status – everyone was there along with their families. I sent F. proper effusive greetings, he sent his back along with promise he’d be by my house on Monday before opening his salon to do my mother’s hair before New Year’s Eve.
On boxing day, the door knocks, it was J.’s sister along
with a huge plate of homemade Meghle.
The morale of the story?
Well, I come from a place.
To go back to St.Exupery’s little prince when the rose says
“La d’ou je viens”.
Where I come from.
Believe it or not, I often think about it. Knowing you come
from a nuclear, extended family but also a village, a tribe perhaps, a
community for sure. Sometimes you go to give condolences. Long time ago I used
to attend weddings as well. I admit that my “parish activities” are basically
very minimal. But I do show up to the major annual feasts.
When I moved full time to the village in 2010 I used to tell
my mother “why bother no one knows me!” and she’d say “don’t worry everyone
will ask who this is”. And with time, well, people recognized my face. Normally
if I am doing my shops run, I say hello to an average of six people – 2 I know,
2 I know by face and 2 I have no clue who they are but they seem to know me for
sure.
That same person who parked his car on Christmas Day? Well,
a week before I was outside and he crossed the street to say hello. He is
opening a new shop – and then he asked “what should I call it though?”… “Ah
naming is one of my specialties but am expensive” I joked. A quick brainstorm
lead to three very good names, and so a parting sentence I said “well, will
send you the bill later” and we both howled in laughter.
Because that’s what people who come from some place do.
They are there for one another.
In case you are wondering, the lamp went off in the dining
room, F. came to do my mother’s hair and thankfully I had a spare. He replaced
the lamp as we chatted about this and that. Mundane chats that will not
influence your world.
But they can park in my garage any day. Unannounced.