An Uplifting Lebanese Gathering at Woodbourne, NY on Sunday September 2, 2007
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Article and Photography by:  Nabil at www.lcnj.com

A nostalgic journey down memory lane started with a 3 hours car ride to the quaint small village of  Woodbourne, NY located in the breathtaking Catskill Region of Upstate New York.... also known as "country bumpkins" town...

Atef and his good family brought together at his cabin, 50-60 Lebanese and lovers of Lebanon to enjoy a "spring-like" day of peace, fun, social bonding, good food and... celebrating the true "Lebanese Way of Life" as we know it in Lebanon's small villages everywhere...

From the newly poured concrete patio to the peaceful حرش  in front of us...  all reminiscent of  small villages like Dhour El Choueir or Bickfaya... A true sense of tranquility descended upon us with the simplicity of life, heightened spirituality, the good hearts and the good nature of good people... away from the hustle and bustle, the NYC crappy attitude, and the senseless "hurry up and wait" rat race...

The Lebanese Mezza,  mashewi, drinks, fruits and desserts were abundant... and for the occasion, a lamb was slaughtered the day before for optimum freshness and taste....

The hunting guns were all over the place just like back home... Some of our fellow Lebanese enjoyed "100% Legal" hunting and shooting sports...

The crowd had the beautiful, the young and even the living personification of a true Lebanese "Teta" and "Jiddo"... 

One awesome aspect of this inspiring Lebanese Gathering is that, unlike the "Hizzi ya wizz" Lebanese parties and the "tribal" Lebanese get together of just gossiping sisters and their immediate families that personify the shameless  drowning in  some rotten  عشائريّة  where everyone comes and leaves with exactly the same information he or she had before they came, this glorious Lebanese gathering brought multiple families, friends and new Lebanese newcomers... and nurtured the free and open exchange of "enriching" ideas information about our Lebanese heritage, culture and history....   I had the pleasure of enriching my mind with a tale of Lebanese history from Tony that left me pondering for a while on the enormity of the shameful conspiracy against the stability of Lebanon for over half a century...

Then came the wonderful news that the Lebanese Army has crushed the terrorists at Nahr el Bared... just to add much joy to a joyful occasion... by a good Lebanese Community... united in the name of Lebanon...

One cannot but be inspired by such gathering that reminds us of our Lebanese roots, our good nature, our love for one another as well as the peace and serenity of the true "Lebanese way of life"... something we ALL must work very diligently to maintain... otherwise, we all need to fully support LCNJ to expand its mission in the best interest of preserving Lebanon the way we all once knew it... and that is fading away with every passing month... as a result of the jealousy of others...