“Go On”
Growing up in South Africa, I had an “uncle” named Rex Emslie. He was a funny guy, long gone now but remembered very fondly. When told something news-worthy or sort of unbelievable, he’d exclaim in a loud voice “Go Oooooon” It was sort of his version of “really”? or “tell me more” or “nooooooo way”!
I have been reminded of him several times this past week for some reason. We have a team visiting Iraq carrying out an evaluation of a large national program. One has to wonder what people are thinking when they agree to come to probably the most dangerous country in the world right now - at least one actively at war. The situation this past week has not been great here in Iraq with over 1,000 incidences reported country-wide. An incidence would be some sort of insurgent attack - could be a car bomb, suicide bomb, improvised explosive device, death squads, rocket attacks - you get get the picture. This is the sad reality in which we live every day. You see it on the news - we and most of all the Iraqis, live with it. There should be no doubt to anyone arriving here within less than an hour of being in the country that this is a country at war and there are active military operations on going.
Why then, would someone, who was well briefed before accepting the assignment and her arrival, be in a constant state of anxiety when she hears gun fire - rockets falling - bombs exploding…. I have wanted to say numerous times this week “go on” in true Rex Emslie fashion. I find myself just having to laugh or I’d cry. We have a job to do here - it’s not always pleasant - things are not always great - we are at war - but we have a job to do. I guess in my impatience at feeling like I’m having to baby sit, I have to wonder when I became so jaded. I almost don’t hear the sounds of war anymore. A rocket has to fall near enough to shake the villa almost before I look up from my computer. I wonder when that happened? I guess it’s must be somewhat of a coping mechanism otherwise I guess it would be difficult to stay here for any length of time.
So, while I’m finding myself a little impatient with one of my visitor’s who almost seems afraid of her own shadow, it’s also served to wake me up that this is not a “normal” environment in which I’m living. A good jolt of reality, no doubt!
Blessings to all
I didn’t know you grew up in SA!
I also knew people like your over-anxious colleague. One man that came to work for us would yell “incoming” and put a pillow over his head evertime he heard a boom. It was pretty durn funny!
Cyndi,
Hi,
I hae been reading your blog since it was mentioned by mutual friends of ours.
Where I live, I have noticed that same reaction you speak about in the deer that roam our property. They stand as close to the edge of that property line near the road and do not hear the oncoming traffic or even care about the oncoming traffic. Perhaps you have become blinded to the noise. I prefer to think you know where you are at Home. What does our friend Paul say? “To be absent from the body is to be…”
Blessings on you.