Life Goes On

September 13, 2001- Chores

The sun is shining, as usual. People are swimming in the pool, but I spent the best part of the day standing in front of the TV and ironing. I’d looked forward to this task once all our clothes had arrived. Now it’s a nightmare. We don’t have cable, but for now Australian TV is carrying CNN. We appreciate it. We were up until 3 AM so we just woke from a nap. The radio alarm was set and we woke to the national radio station playing Bob Dillon music. The selection was “With God On Our Side.” The music was followed by a talk show during which Muslim leaders were interviewed. They condemned the attack but cautioned the U.S. not to react too violently without having proof of who the perpetrators were.

I’m so lonely. Reading your supportive emails was most appreciated. David had gone to temple and didn’t get home until noon. The decision was to have increased security but to have services for the holidays. Now David is hooking up a borrowed printer. We’re becoming more and more entrenched here though my heart is aching to be home.

A Needed Friend

Janet Bruce called to see if we were OK. They were going out to dinner for Thai food and asked us to join them. We’re grateful for their company and for the diversion. We had an hour until dinnertime, so we turned off the TV and walked along the beach. As we approached the entrance to the shoreline, I looked out at the Pacific stretching endlessly before us and lost it. You all are so, so far away. We staggered along the sand holding onto each other and trying to reassure ourselves. The scene before us was spectacular but stark in the moonlight. There was a sinister quality to the deserted beauty of it all. The beaches here are all public, so there’s unbroken shoreline for forty-six miles. The sand bore evidence of the previous day’s activity. We walked over footprints avoiding holes and abandoned castles dug by children. The sand here is fine, white, and clean. To our right, the sea beat at us with a persistent yet gentle throbbing. There were visible whitecaps and the soothing quality of its rhythm. We tried to sort out our emotions as we walked, but I imagine they’re much like our restless aptly named neighbor, the Pacific. We seem to be coping outwardly, but if we probe too deeply, there’s terror and uncertainty.

The Bruce’s brought a nice Lambrusca to accompany our meal. Restaurants here are often licensed so you can BYO. Syd Bruce has strong feelings about the danger of Australia's Muslim population and agrees with Prime Minister John Howard’s decision not to admit the Afghani boat people. One of his sales reps had an unsettling meeting with a Lebanese customer today. Mistaking the rep’s dark complexion for middle eastern, the customer said he was pleased with the events in New York. Syd also shared a story about the aborigines. A while ago a group of American blacks came to Australia to see if they could help the aborigine cause. When they found out about the benefits given to the indigenous people here, the African-Americans went home telling the aborigines that they had it better than blacks in the U.S. They paid a dear price, but now they get very cheap start up business loans, college tuition paid in full with no need to finish secondary school, health care, housing, and other perks. There are some hard feelings among the tax paying public.

Syd tends to be a bit conservative, but we find ourselves becoming quite intolerant now. Talking has gotten the world nowhere. Sanctions and embargos didn’t work. We didn’t finish Iraq and got pounded in Saudi, the U.S.S. Cole, and now the Trade Towers and Pentagon. I hope Bush can rise to the occasion. The TV commentators were saying that his speech included all the right words, but I think there’s an effort to show support and not be critical now. My impression, and Syd’s, was that the words may have been right, but the presence of leadership was absent.

Toby