Ras Beirut at sun set, Sunday afternoon, 16:29 PM |
Another year has gone by.
2017 has been a good year for me. At first it was an
‘okay’ year, but while spending time back home, in Holland, my father read aloud
the Christmas cards he had received from friends and family (back home they
still send real cards, written by hand), and 2017 was not a good year for many,
it seems. People got fired, divorced, lost a car, were at home with a burn-out,
had to deal with a bedbug plague, got sick, died or lost children.
Both east (left) and west (right) Beirut |
And in the light of other people’s misfortune, my year turned out to be pretty good. But even without the misfortune of others, I
count my blessings.
And my new year’s resolution? I will try to be a more productive blogger (She
said, seven days into the new year), and will work on enjoying Beirut more. I
should start by thanking everyone still reading me. May your new year be as
good as my old year was.
The cargo cranes at the port |
After spending Christmas and New Year’s in Holland, it is
good to be back again. I do understand that Europe, or the west in general, is
appealing to many people in Lebanon, and I get the economic attraction, but life
outside of Lebanon really isn’t everything. I am aware that this is an easy statement
to make from my position, as I, the owner of a ‘lucky’ passport which allows me
to venture just about everywhere and work in many countries, don’t share the
bleak outlook many Lebanese young people have. I actually have a job that
allows me to live in Lebanon.
But when I look at the pictures I made in Holland, the
first thing that I notice are the colors. The constant overcast skies and
darkness (there were days when it seemed like the sun rose at 11 AM and the sun
set at 1 PM) cast a gloomy atmosphere over everything. And you can photoshop all you like, gloomy is
as gloomy does. And then I get back to Beirut, and even in the rain, there’s bright
and vibrant colors. That’s free vitamin D for you (Vitamin D fight’s diseases,
reduces depression and (they say) boost weight loss) .
Boats waiting for their place in the port |
Yes, I realize Lebanon is difficult for young people who
need to build their own a future, but I went on a little boat ride this afternoon, and I
am thinking, this is a good place, and it is going to be a good year,
I'm so glad that we can look forward to more of your blogs in 2018. I'm always really happy when I see that solitary fullstop in the subject line of an email coz I know it's a new blog post by you. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year! Always look forward to your posts :)
ReplyDeleteDK
Helemaal mee eens!!
ReplyDeleteWeken zonder zon in de winter is niet goed voor je lichaam en geest. Het is jammer dat wij te weinig en Libanon teveel zon heeft.. Hier gaat iedereen bij een bleek zonnetje naar buiten!
Keep going. Thx and happy New year.
ReplyDelete