I bring a message from Helen Thomas to DU

DFW

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Sat Sep-05-09 08:36 AM
Original message

I bring a message from Helen Thomas to DU

Yes, it's for real, and no, it's not political.

Anyone who doesn't know by now where Helen stands politically probably isn't on DU anyway.

Helen is of Christian Lebanese origin, and she has a favorite Lebanese restaurant near her home in Washington D.C.
My brother and I try to meet her there whenever I'm in Washington, and that's now. The food is out of this world,
and reasonable to boot (I picked up the tab this time, so I know-she usually won't let me get away with it). As
a favorite of much of Washington's Lebanese and Palestinian communities, it's often packed on a Friday night, but
as we got there early, and it's Ramadan, the Muslim diners didn't start to trickle in until after sundown, so we
got served pretty quickly. Helen is obviously well-known at the place and is always given a special welcome, along
with anyone with her (my few words of Arabic didn't hurt).

Anyway, Helen's message to DU:

She said that any time anyone from DU is in Washington, and goes to that restaurant, and sees her there (she's there
at least once a week), is most welcome to go up to her, and say hi, and chat for a bit if she's not with guests. Tell
her you're from DU. You can even tell her you got the message from the two brothers (one in Germany) who are the sons
of a close former colleague of hers (we lost our father 9 years ago).

You can talk about anything. Just please keep in mind that even though she is 89, she is still a full-time working
journalist, and that posting stuff publicly that is a little forceful has the potential to compromise her standing,
so please don't.

Two things I can relate:

One is that Helen and I still call the airport closest to Washington "National Airport," and we both stubbornly refuse
to add the name of a right-wing president who never liked Washington in the first place.

The other is what she said after I brought up Obama's bringing her that cupcake on their birthday. I told her I hoped
she wasn't going to be any easier on him because of the cupcake. Helen, who never misses a beat, said, "oh, he'll have
to offer me a lot more than that!"

The Lebanese restaurant is called Mama Ayesha's ("mama EYE-sha's") and it's on Calvert street just off of Connecticut
Avenue. The food and the décor (welcome to Beirut, ca. 1890) are worth the visit, although the chance to visit with
Helen for a couple of hours is not one I ever pass up. Our father was, for those who don't know, a colleague of Helen's
for some forty years or so, so we've known her most of our lives, although we grew a lot closer when our dad passed. My
brother and I picked her up downtown and we got a cab up to the restaurant. It was a gorgeous evening, so we walked her
home afterwards. She is still a little unsteady on her feet after her ordeal last year, so it was slow going--our little
bonus!

For the record, they have lots of healthy stuff there, and even vegetarians can have a field day. I had Musakan, which
is nothing like the Greek dish that sounds like it (Moussaka). It is a half chicken on sort of a pita pancake, baked
in herbs and covered with sautéed onions.

Until next time at Mama Ayesha's--aleikum salaam, y'all!