In the Summer of 2021, I visited my family in Lebanon. It was another day in the heat, and we wanted to pay homage to the harbor of Beruit that exploded the previous year. We were five cousins in a third-world country, and we certainly did not want to drive on the windy roads of hell.
As we entered the taxi, we overestimated the amount of room there would be in the back of the car. All laughing, four of us squeezed in the back while the fifth, lucky one, enjoyed the leg room in the front. In the back, it was me, my brother, and two of my cousins. It was hot. Very, very hot. I could feel my clothes sticking to my skin. Why did I wear jeans? I have no idea. Anyways, we were shoulder to shoulder in the back, wishing someone would roll down the windows.
During the car ride from the mountains to the harbor, we began conversing with the taxi driver, whose name we quickly learned was Tony. I’m unsure how this happened, but one thing led to another, and we were blessed with sweet serenades.
Tony began to sing in Arabic. It was just jarring. I think it may have been the highlight of my trip. There we were, smushed between the doors of a tiny car, dripping in sweat, listening to the childhood songs of an Arabic taxi driver. How much better could it have gotten? The best part was that we were all cracking up laughing, trying to be as silent as possible. The four of us in the back ended up being the lucky ones because our laughs were more concealed than my cousin in the front. It was truly incredible. Also, thank god for masks and sunglasses. The only way Tony could have known we were laughing was if he heard our silenced squeaks from the back. Judging by the volume he was singing at, I think we were off the hook.
This is a story my family and I will always remember and bring up. It made me realize that even during the most mournful times- in this case, it was the state of the country- there is always a way to find laughter and joy. It makes me laugh again, thinking that Tony taught me that. I wonder where he is now. I wish him the absolute best.