"You" -- The Unique "You"
Al-Ahram Weekly Founder and Editor-in-Chief Hosny Guindy passed away nine years ago this week, leaving a fine legacy behind him
Years pass, and events occur, unfolding goodness and ugliness, yet your memory remains my prime strength after God's, who continues to act graciously at all times.
Elegising you..? No! Remembering you? Never! How can I remember the one who deeply exists within me?! Missing you? Constantly..! Needing you?..Desperately.. and with each and every breath I take..!!
The fact that you had never parted me, had started to sink in lately. In the course of the past 9-year emptiness, caused by profound sorrow, had gradually led to transforming my agony, and the void nesting deep down, into a pursuit of resuming our mutual communication..our oneness in discussing issues of common interest..our disagreement at times on matters, and the beauty that results when one convinces the other. A pursuit of my noble husband, sincere friend and long missed, loving, devoted companion who had ALWAYS appreciated my most peculiar nature of accounting detail; a trait you had considered affable, while others causes them boredom! This transformation of concept was a psychological defence mechanism that had unintentionally happened within me, and however had led to somehow a partially emotional relief, that had helped me over the years regain my equilibrium; after a long devastating, intolerably painful phase. With Divine support, my endurance had become quite tangible.
On with the 36 years that have strongly bonded us together, you never ceased to amaze me, with your persisting forbearance at times of stress, pressure and multiple challenges. Witnessing your self denial, integrity and utter devotion, I seldom wonder. In a world where ugliness unfolds, almost on daily basis..where integrity exists no more..and only self-interest, greed and deception prevail; a world of turmoil nowadays, filled with all such political and social vagaries; particularly in the media; how would you have reacted? How would you have handled matters? Would you have still kept your unwavering smile? Would your sweet, gentle nature tolerate it all? Would your endurance meet the volcanic eruptions that constantly blast at our faces, every now and then these days? I know for a fact that underlying your Divinely gifted gentle nature, you paradoxically possess an iron determination, when necessity calls, which suddenly outbursts, like a giant out of a magical lamp. It is then imposed upon the scene, with your unrivalled journalistic skills, seeking perfection. Thus, making things happen, yet undemonstratively, quietly, meekly; in a manner that one can hardly know it was happening.
All this has rendered you a role-model for generations to come. Among your colleagues at the "Weekly" you still exist..you are still there, walking around with your rolled-up shirt sleeves and your jeans; your low voice, sweet smile, tender, instructive approach, your humanistic attitude at all levels: Remember when I first came to your office after presiding the "Weekly", and you asked me to have a cup of coffee with you? You stepped out of the office to fetch "Adel", the office-boy, refusing to use his pageing button; (one button out of a dozen almost)!! Adel stepped in a few minutes after you came back; with an ordinary shirt and a pair of trousers. You asked him to step in.. I was seated; you stood up and told him: "Let me introduce my wife." I stood up. Shook hands with the man; greetingly, you introduced: "Let me introduce 'Adel', my colleague. 'Adel', with a broad smile, wavered to have a seat. I invited him to have one. He asked me, awkwardly, how I took my coffee. Only then, I realized..I was very, very proud of you. But that was no surprise to me, because over the years, I could recall hundreds of similar incidents. Do I call this modesty?! No..this is genuine modesty..unforged modesty.. pure modesty.. and 'pure' is the keyword to your 'unique' character.
The "unique" YOU comes from possessing these rare and most uncommon values; crowned by your major asset; your ability to love. You had such a profound capacity of love, enough to fill the entire globe; an incessantly overflowing stream, flowing quietly. As Mr Heikal had put it, eulogising you; the "Ustaz" said: "Hosny was a quiet man. Quiet in the way the Nile flows quietly across Egypt, bringing life, good and prosperity to the land." But the Nile may become lost to us, (God forbid). As for you, my beloved soul-mate, you will never be lost to us.
No wonder, among all al-Ahram celebrities of the entire organisation, you are the only one, honoured by a bronze-silver bust statue, at the "Weekly" entrance. And there it stands awesomely, witnessing your lasting credit. (Hope it remains there..considering the current circumstances).
As for us, your smaller family, you will always be sorely missed, yet ever remaining in the heart and soul, visualised at all times, seeking your Divine support from up above..from the better place..where we shall meet again. Until then, rest assured, my dear, that Yasmeen, whom you had adored, after God, will remain an ever proud daughter, of an extraordinary father, whose values are legendary, and whose image will forever be engraved within her. Passing your cherished legacy onto her precious little 5-year old Hannah; the good seed God has blessed her with; is one of our daughter's vital goals. Little Hannah knows a lot about you..speaks often of you, and knows why her mom, at times, quite often, sheds a tear or two when she misses you. She points at your photos, especially that on her mother's side night table, and says your name. To her, as well, and in time as she grows up, this valuable legacy will make her realise how privileged she is, blessed by being part of you, belonging to an everlasting legend, who will remain, the one and only..the second to none..mostly the unique, beloved "You".
By Moushira Abdel-Malek
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