due to a lack of coordination, we published Amme's Story: Part 1 before getting around to writing the synopsis. so here it is, late but very helpful for those who are rusty with their Lebanese (Arabic).

When Amme decided to go to the US, she hadn't discussed it with anyone previously. Her family weren't happy to hear she was going, but they knew she wouldn't change her mind. She felt that she needed the change, if not America, then India; she needed to see something besides Baghdad and Brummana (she worked in Iraq for a while before going to the US -- more on that coming up).

The issue was that she was 12 years younger than her brother Bchara, who passed away when he was 32 years old. He became ill with Edison's disease, a dryness in the glands around the kidneys, which makes the skin turn bronze colored. John F. Kennedy, the previous U.S. president, had the same disease, but it was never discussed in public. Yet wherever the president went, there was a pharmacy accompanying him. But in the 1930's, Bchara's time, medicine was not as advanced. His doctor, Tanios from Brummana told Elias, Bchara and Amme's eldest brother, that Bchara would live three more years with special attention and care. Elias didn't pass this information on to anyone. Bchara lived five years. He used to be able to come and go, but his health deteriorated. His white skin turned bronze. It was like he became sick with the flu; he didn't have anymore energy and strength. And he died.

His death killed her. "It was the end of Amme". She had no more happiness and fun in her. It was like she was lost.

Bchara's death pushed Amme to take a new path in her life, and marked the beginning of her travels away from Brummana.

More to come... -birdog

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