After I made sure that my daughter was only shocked and dazed, but unhurt, I leaned back to take a breath.
Her transport had to take his car to the fitter for some minor repairs and I was giving her a lift to school. One checkpoint after another all the way to a central main road where we could relax a little from the bumper-to-bumper lines of cars. As we sped along (50km/hr) feeling the freedom, suddenly an American convoy emerged from a side street at full speed. Terrified of getting too close, the first car braked so hard it swirved; the second slammed into it; I was the third ... and there were two more.
There we stood, each driver with a look of frustration on his face - who to blame?? Who to shout at to relieve the tention?? Who to haggle with for repair money?
We looked at each other, and at our smashed cars - and started laughing uncontrollably until the tears started to flow, "Alhamdu lillah assalama (thank God for your safety)" was all we could manage to say.
By that time the convoy was long gone.
I appreciate reading about what is happening in Iraq from Iraqi's. The news in Canada(especially Saskatchewan) is always so one sided. The only things that appear in the news are bombings and nobody reports on the citizens. Good luck and keep reporting.
Posted by: john goreham | January 31, 2008 at 11:00 PM
sorry your cars were damaged, hope you can get them fixed without too much trouble and money.... the US should pay for it, of course.
Posted by: Susan | January 08, 2008 at 03:18 PM
ALHAMDU LILLAH ASSALAMA!!
May you and yours continue to stay safe.
Posted by: Laura | January 08, 2008 at 10:34 AM
A wonderful blog -- really deeply appreciate your work and words. I just posted about the blog, which I was alerted to through Massing's piece in the NYRB.
Posted by: Robin Kirk | January 08, 2008 at 09:16 AM