Masters of the Fine Art of Hospitality

My grandparents (Orin and Rita Parker) raised their family in the middle east. Their children (including my own father, Jeff's) hometowns include Athens, Ankara, Baghdad and Beirut.

Because of Orin's work, my grandmother would host many dinner parties and gatherings for local officials and elitists. I am sure these events were a large reason she developed such a friendly and welcoming personality that I hope to someday emulate. While these could be God-given talents, I don't doubt that Rita would attribute these traits to the hospitality she received from her many friends and acquaintances in the aforementioned "hometown" mid-east cities. Still today, she has a special yet simple way of making anyone feel welcome in her home. While my grandfather's stories of his time back east always lead to political discussion, Rita can't help but pay tribute to the wonderful, true friends she made and the genuine relationships they shared.

Thank you, Bradford, for sending me this link from BBC. I'm positive my grandparents would agree.

I found the above picture on this web page, which documents a 4 month sabbatical pilgrimage made by a the dean of the Anglican Cathedral in Quebec City. The caption of the photo says, "Georges Khoury, pictured here with his son Octave, who welcomed me to the North of Lebanon, is one of many I have met who are masters of the fine art of hospitality. George, along with the members of the monastic brotherhoods of Antelias and Jerusalem, and so many other wonderful hosts along the way, have really made me feel at home in the Middle East." I love the tenderness seen in Georges' eyes.