12. Hard At Work

I drove a cab for five years. Here I am at the helm of faithful no. 9, the only air-conditioned car in the fleet. My work took me into some nasty neighborhoods, but who's gonna stick-up an Arab with braids?

I relied on the Holiday Inn for airport fares. Mr Jackson, the day doorman, was very sweet and accomodating, but the night shift was controlled by Chester, better known as "The man with the hand".

I am a guitarist by birth.

But I enjoy playing keyboards and wish I were better at it.

I also dabble in percussion. Here is my home studio in Beirut. I have always played and recorded instruments myself, with the exception of the "Tannin Al Tarab" CD, for which I enlisted the cream of the crop among local musicians.