Zamalek sha'a (apartment)

Christmas Eve in Cairo

"Merry Christmas!"

We've heard this all day today, and expect to tomorrow as well. It's so refreshing to hear the words of the season I grew up with in Catholic Chicago; words I myself barely say in P.C. America these days - instead going for the bland "happy holidays". I hope America catches up with Muslim Egypt - a land, a country, a culture, a people proud of their Muslim-"ness", their Islamic-"ness", and still happy to please those of us who celebrate Christmas with a very hearty, smiling "Merry Christmas."

There is hope for us in America - many of my friends, and I, and many others* are taking back Merry Christmas as well as happily stating Happy Hanukkah to those for whom it is meaningful. So, let's get back to it ... and if you've had a Happy Hanukkah already, great! Happy to hear that. And if you're celebrating Christmas, have a Merry one!

Tomorrow, I'll hope to continue to hear the Merry Christmas from my Muslim brother, friends, and strangers alike.

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* I distance myself from the right-wing nuts who want to "take back Christmas" with their own "right" to separate themselves from everyone who doesn't celebrate or observe it. They're too far gone for my taste.

Eagles, Bob Marley, and Cairo Taxi

Nevenka and I experienced the best taxi ride ever in Cairo. We got into the cleanest taxi ever; one with a meter (so there would be no question about the fare at the end); with the quietest driver; and with great music. Well, "great" is relative. The previous taxi we were in was blasting bad "pop". This one started out with the guitar prelude and smoothly into "Hotel California." I apparently started singing along and the driver took note - and raised the volume, obviously to please me (or drown me out? :-)

Before the Eagles had even finished their tune, the driver (who had to be "my age", which is to say a lot older than most other drivers we've had lately) skipped through whatever CD was in his system until he decided Bob Marley was suitable for Cairo traffic at night. He was right. Although we were stuck in normal (slow, beeping) traffic, Marley was crooning out that we had no reason to "worry" 'cuz "every little thing's gonna be alright". And he was right. We ended our ride much too soon! (Bob was still singing) The meter read only 4.50 LE (Egyptian Pounds), which is less than a dollar! I was so happy, and "generous", I gave him a whopping pound-fifty tip, i.e., 6 LE (around $1.10)!