Terror

Thursday morning I left the apartment as usual and started the long, 100 yard walk to work when all of a sudden....


BOOM!

Like, BOOM...for real.  I felt the ground vibrate - I felt a small shock wave go through me.  I stood there frozen for a moment trying to process, and then looked at the shelter in front of me and sprinted inside.  Two nice gentlemen joined me.  They walked briskly which I'm sure looked better than my sprint, but c'mon people---BOOM!  That's no time to look cool.

We stood inside for a few minutes in silence waiting to see if anything else would go off, or if the alarm would sound - and then one man left.  I stayed put and the other guy looked at me and said, "I think it makes sense to wait a little longer." Uh, yeah.

Apparently it was one of the many car bombs that went off in Baghdad that day killing at least 70 and wounding 374.  It was one of the bloodiest days in Baghdad since the military withdrew.

Car bombs go off in Baghdad all the time, but that's the first one I heard AND felt.  It was close and yet it wasn't close enough that I feel like it should have been so loud and strong.  I can't imagine what it sounds/feels like when you're right next to the blast.

I walked to work, with weak knees.  I wasn't really in danger, but it was a wake up call that forced me to remember where I am, that's for sure.  And it reminded me that one good blast is all it takes.

It was a tragic day in Iraq.  These bombs primarily targeted security, government and police forces, but they killed many innocent people.  Including children - like a 6th grade boy who was walking to school.  Imagine:  your child leaves the house and kisses you goodbye to go to school... and that's the last you see him because someone ignited a car bomb and blew him up.  I think of my nieces and nephews and I'm torn between rage and grief imagining them in this scenario.  They also hit a primary school.

Usually I forget where I live in this sheltered little community, but when I'm reminded it's both shocking and devastating by turns.  I was shaken up this morning for an hour or so as I started my day, but I'm still alive.  I hate that the fear I felt--for one short hour--is a fear that innocent men, women and children in Baghdad feel every moment of every day. 

A Safe Home

Last week James and I decided to start moving the adoption process forward by calling people in different agencies and asking questions.  We thought it made sense to start building our understanding and getting prepared. That way if we felt like adoption was the right path for us in August, we'd be ready to move forward.  All systems go.

Before I continue, it must be mentioned that since we got back from our Christmas R&R we have had VERY few duck and covers.  Maybe 3.  And it had been at least 3-4 weeks since the last one.  In fact James and I were cooking dinner on Tuesday night when James commented, "I can't even remember the last time we had a duck and cover." 

Back to the adoption story.  It's later Tuesday night, and after talking to a lawyer friend here in Baghdad who had adopted two children, we decided we needed to talk to LDS social services.  Not about adopting through them, but to use them (potentially) as our social worker in case we adopt through foster care.

We got on skype and called a nice man named Rob.  The connection was decent (shockingly) and we were just getting past the niceties and to the part where we say, "We'd love to provide a safe home for some children" when all of a sudden....

RRRREEEERRRRRRRRRRR.......(siren sound, right?)  RRRRRRRREEEERRRRRR...Duck and Cover, this is not a test... Get away from the doors and the windows.

...goes off.

James and I look at each other in shock and then I try to explain to the guy, um,  don't worry if you hear a high pitched shrieking sound telling us to duck and cover.  They're just shooting rockets at us.

"So back to giving us some of your kids..."

Rob seemed a little confused and we told him to just try to ignore the sound, that we were OK and could keep talking.  We told him they shoot rockets at us all the time and it was OK.

His comment?

"I can't wait until I go home.  This is going to be the most interesting dinner conversation EVER!"

It's all about perspective.

Baghdad: Land o' love

I read an article two days ago about the Middle East, and their feelings for our beloved (and be-loving) holiday: Valentines Day. 

Apparently they don't like it.  There are bans and secret police watching store fronts to make sure there aren't displays with red or pink, no chocolate or hearts or signs that V-Day is in their hearts and/or their pockets.  Why?  Simple:  because it promotes sex.  Valentines Day is apparently the holiday of sex.  I did not know that because I never got sex on Valentines Day.  Of course I didn't usually get anything on V-Day...except for breakups.  It's a high pressure holiday, people.  Anyway, without chocolate, hearts and red on display, I guess there is no fear of anyone having it.  Sex that is. 

It's sad.  Luckily, it didn't impact MY special day here (I'm not talking about sex now, let's move on) and my valentine charmingly surprised me with flowers and a song.

How did you get flowers?... you might ask yourself.  Or you might not if you don't know that we live in a compound and can't leave it and that flower delivery doesn't exist.  But now that you know that, you would probably ask yourself.  Go ahead. 

The answer is as follows:  You make them.

My special little Valentine is in a barbershop quartet here (yes, you read it right) and the leader of the quartet (my boss, Chuck) suggested they practice a song that they could sing to their valentines.  Me, Oni, (both here in Baghdad) and Steve's partner Daniel via skype.

Chris (Oni's husband and also another of my bosses - I have many) told Oni and I to meet in the studio at 3pm to do a video project.  I suspected nothing.  At 3pm Oni and I were in the studio chatting when the quartet walked in. James and Chris were holding paper flower boquets (very cute!) and then they all busted in to a barbershop love song.

I was BRIGHT RED - embarrassed, and happy to hear that Steve's idea of singing to us in the DFAC had gotten shot down! I mean if I was embarrassed alone in the TV studio, imagine how I would have done in front of a hundred people.  No, don't.

Embarrassment aside, it was thoughtful, and lovely.  I wish I had been able to capture video of them singing to us with flowers in hand, but I did go with the group later to film them singing to Steve's partner via Skype.  Witness the amazing vocals of the Baghdad Barbershop:

And witness this, you mean old secret police:  love, romance and of course barbershops rule the day in America.  Sex may be a result of this awesome cheesy-ness, but it is not the purpose of the holiday.  Let the love in people, let it in.

I dream of R&R

Several posts ago I mentioned that I was looking forward to our next R&R, and several people have asked where James and I are going.   Let's say this, we were hoping for a longer honeymoon, so we always planned to make this our honeymoon part deux.  And we're doing it up right!  We're going two places.   Let me show you the first...

Hello beautiful Maldives.  I'd tell you not to be jealous, but it's not what I want.  Be very, very jealous because it is ah-mazing.  Baghdad does have it's rewards.  And so does Hilton.  I highly encourage all of you to sign up now if you haven't because you can use your points to go to this paradise!  Also big thanks to Gina Valenti for giving us Hilton certificates for our wedding...We LOVE you!!!  And we love Hilton.

On the less happy and shiny side of things, we did find out the exact day we got our flights booked that the Maldives had a coup and their President resigned.  Political turmoil reigns, but hey...I'm in Baghdad, think a little turmoil and unrest can keep me from that water villa?  Doubt it.  People are shooting guns here too.  At least there I'll listen to them whilst snorkeling or looking through the glass bottom of our bungalow at fish swimming by.  Bliss.

Part two.  And then we are on to....

 Yes, Bali.  James hasn't been and it's not too far from the Maldives.  This picture is a renovated Rice Barn that we are renting in Ubud for our first few nights - isn't all storybook picturesque and amazing? The answer is simple - yes.

 We'll get our surf on, visit some temples, plenty of 10 dollar massages and cooking class and relaxation.  Bring it on!

So there you have it.  R&R #2.  We are counting down the days and we may not return to Baghdad.  In the meantime, of course we heart Baghdad 100%.

(and in the spirit of hearting Baghdad, let me mention that James wore his Christmas gift from Lisa to Ultimate a few weeks ago - an I Heart Iraq t-shirt - and got widespread acclaim.  So he did find a place to wear it after all.)

Refusing Equality

Another great Public Affairs email last week.

The headline from the al-Mada story(http://almadapaper.net/news.php?action=view&id=58462) is:

“Ibtihal al-Kasad: I am with the superiority of men and refuse the principle of equality between the two sexes.
ابتهال كاصد : انا مع قوامة الرجال وارفض مبدأ المساواة بين الجنسين

Isn't it refreshing when someone can just say what they feel instead of pretending to believe in things like equality? 

Personally, I am with the superiority of using your brain and refuse the principle of being an ignorant, backwards, stuck in the middle ages imbecile.   I just think that's a better way to go.  I'd love to sit down and have a chat with this Ibtihal guy, seems like it would go pretty well.