A Belated Cairo Update

For those that have been wondering about me, I'm still in Cairo. I never left, but let's just say that my life since January has been "interesting". I am fine. If anyone has been living under a rock and not followed the news since January, the domino effect of revolting countries in the Middle East that began with Tunisia, a little known North African country until now, fell to a riotous melee' in Cairo the weekend of January 25, 2011. The first 5 days of the demonstrations were hair raising. The morning before the situation in Cairo heightened, I was living my life as normal... running errands like I typically do on Fridays. I got a  pedi, met friends for lunch, then had a Tarot card reading. LOL. You know. Typical Friday stuff. However, I remembered how there were so many people on the streets that day talking to one another, dressed in patriotic colors, and carrying their National flag. Mobile phones and internet were down, which forced people to go out and communicate with their friends and neighbors the old fashioned way. For the first time in history, social media networking caused a revolution. Following the lead of neighboring Tunisia's revolt that toppled the 23 year reign of its president, growing discontent in Egypt were raised to a crescendo by Facebook and Twitter, which eventually was dubbed "The Facebook Revolution" or "The Twitter Revolution".  Egypt's government tried to stifle these venues by cutting off mobile phone and internet connectivity that week-end. Little did they know of the power of social media! Their seemingly simple solution was the match that ignited the revolt in Cairo, as outraged citizens were incensed that their voices could not be heard, and thus gathered in downtown's Tahir Square. Egyptians that didn't want to make a stand earlier were now part of the demonstrations as they fought for their voice of freedom to be heard.  (Ironically, Tahir means "freedom" in Arabic.) Soon streets were littered with angry anti-government demonstrators and opportunistic criminals.  Stores were looted and government buildings were burned down. The crowds swelled from hundreds of thousands to a million in the ensuing days of Cairo's revolution. Tear gas cans marked with "made in USA" inscriptions were thrown on the streets to tamp down angry demonstrators and looters. The police abandoned their posts as angry mobs chased them away after being subjected to years of police corruption. (To date only 30% have returned back to work.) Then 17,000 prisoners escaped when prisons were burned in the riots, stealing weapons in the melee' as they made their escape. (Only 10% have been captured.) This, compounded with anti-government demonstrators and the mass evacuation of over 2,000 U.S. mission personnel made life in Cairo NOT fun in the early days of the revolution. Gunfire was heard throughout the neighborhoods, and everyone was placed under a nationwide curfew with the cautioning message that anyone caught outside after curfew would be shot. Yep, good times.... good times. I was alone in my highrise apartment cut off from the outside world with no mobile phone and internet connectivity, and yet I was not afraid. My landline phone was still working and my handheld security radio kept me connected to the U.S. embassy. Unrelated to the events, my cable was down which was a good thing. If I had been tuned in 24/7 to the violence that was shown on the news, I would have been frightened. In the suburbs where I live, only a mild flash of unrest was occuring. BUT, the uncertainty of the unknown and the sounds of gunfire outside were unnerving. I tuned out the situation by watching the last DVD tv season of "Northern Exposure." LOL. But then my tv time came to an abrupt halt, as I helped with the mass evacuation of U.S. mission personnel and their families. A logistic adrenaline rush for me... 22 hour work days, every day for 11 days... and 3 U.S. personnel left at my Command to maintain the work and the oversight of  150 traumatized Egyptian staff personnel. To date the situation in Egypt remains unpredictable, and evacuees still have not returned. While things have calmed down and returned to a semi-semblance of order, the Egypt of my past is no more. President Mubarek's 30 year reign may be over, but the road to recovery and democracy will be a long time coming for Egypt. Pocket demonstrations continue as private groups gather like the Tea Party groups in the U.S.  These demonstrations, compounded with the tension between the Coptic Christians and Muslims, keep the drama viable. Coptics make up 10% of the population in Egypt, and still carry an open wound from the 2011 New Year's Day Coptic church bombing in Alexandria and this month's Coptic church burning in Helwan that point accusing fingers to the Muslim Brotherhood; a radical Islamic group that is vying for a win in the presidential election in September. Time will tell how Egypt will fare.  In the mean time, historical events have seen the wave of  uprisings in the Middle East by the revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya; major protests in Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Syria, and Yemen; and minor protests in Kuwait, Iran, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Western Sahara. As I close, I can't help but think that Charles Dickens said it best: "These are the best of times, these are the worst of times." I just pray for Peace in the Middle East. I hope you do the same.

Follow Up: The ordered evacuation of US Mission Personnel at the US Embassy Cairo was finally lifted on May 12, 2011. While police strength has not seen a 100% return, it has seen 80%  visbility in areas in Cairo that have high ex-pat and diplomatic visibility such as Maadi, Mohandissen, and Zamalek. Criminality continues to be high as purse snatchings, car jackings, and apartment break-ins are constant occurrences in post-revolutionary Cairo. There is very little police interference on behalf of local citizens and ex-pats, since the police fear retribution from the populace that turned violently on them during the revolution. The police have lost their power, hence one's security and safety are no longer assured. Cairo's future remains uncertain, and the upcoming presidential elections in September are being anticpated with dreaded concern.  

Should Auld Acquaintance Bring Dan Fogelberg to Mind...

It's New Year's Eve, and I'm not thinking of parties, champagne and dancing in high heels, but of Dan Fogelberg oddly enough. I just heard "Same Auld Lang Syne".... a nostalgic classic that evokes bittersweet emotions every time I hear it... sadness... old joys... and shoulda-coulda-woulda's. Dan Fogelberg was a gifted songwriter. He could paint a story with his lyrics, and bring listeners to an emotional place.  Every time I hear this song, I picture ME bumping into an old lover at the grocery store... seeing my purse spill out... he and I laughing about it... engaging small talk at the checkout line... searching for a bar afterwards... buying a six-pack at the liquor store instead... drinking it in my car and reminiscing... he gets out... I drive away... and the snow turns into rain. Boom-Boom-POW! That was the power of Dan Fogelberg. You TOTALLY could see yourself in the scenarios he sings about with purity and honesty. I have ran into old lovers a time or two, but never with the poignancy like this song evokes. Wish they had. Dan Fogelberg, thank you for your music. Thank you for this song.  You left our world much too soon (1951-2007). Regrettably, he has NOT been inducted in the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame. What a travesty! Wanna make the first difference in 2011? Click here and vote.  Dan, you are not forgotten.  HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!

Egads! 2 Feet of Snow!!

With all the snow that the East Coast      got over Christmas,       I thought this pic would give you a giggle.

Prezzie from Miss Danielle Ate The Sandwich

Merry Christmas! 

For my loved ones, I personally wanted to dedicate this blog to you since I laboriously scoured the internet looking for the PERFECT rendition of "I'll be home for Christmas" just.  for. you.  I didn't realize it would be a difficult process, but it was. Some were too glitzy, too old, or too used. But finally, I found one that was "just right"--- a homemade quirky one that could've been one I created had I the voice or talent to strum a ukulele. Once you play it, you will quickly see why I chose it. The characteristics between me and this dorky, but loveable girl are uncanny. So to this, I play for you in spirit! I wish I was there. Merry Christmas.   

God's Gift on Christmas Eve

When a dear friend shared Pastor Reid's story, I felt a strong compulsion to pass it on and share it with all of you. The story was so beautiful and so... PERFECT FOR TODAY... Christmas Eve!   Regardless of what faith and belief you have, this true story will move you as it did me. It is my sincerest wish that you and yours experience true happiness, good health, abounding love and fresh hope in this most wonderous and spiritual of all holidays!  Merry Christmas!


"The brand new pastor and his wife, newly assigned to their first ministry, to reopen a church in suburban Brooklyn, arrived in early October excited about their opportunities. When they saw their church, it was very run down and needed much work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on Christmas Eve.

They worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls, painting, etc. and on December18th were ahead of schedule and just about finished. On December 19th, a driving rainstorm hit the area and lasted for two days.

On the 21st, the pastor went over to the church. His heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster about 20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high.

The pastor cleaned up the mess on the floor, and not knowing what else to do but postpone the Christmas Eve service, headed home. On the way he noticed that a local business was having a flea market type sale for charity so he stopped in. One of the items was a beautiful, handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth with exquisite work, fine colors and a Cross embroidered right in the center. It was just the right size to cover up the hole in the front wall. He bought it and headed back to the church.

By this time it had started to snow. An older woman running from the opposite direction was trying to catch the bus. She missed it. The pastor invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus 45 minutes later. She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the pastor while he got a ladder, hangers, etc. to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry. The pastor could hardly believe how beautiful it looked, and how it covered up the entire problem area.

Then he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle. Her face was white as a sheet. "Pastor," she asked "where did you get that tablecloth?" The pastor explained. The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials "EBG" were crocheted into it there. They were. These were the initials of the woman, and she had made this tablecloth 35 years before in Austria!

The woman could hardly believe it as the pastor told how he had just gotten the tablecloth. The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do people in Austria. When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave. Her husband was going to follow her the next week. However, he was captured and sent to prison. She never saw her husband or her home again.

The pastor wanted to give her the tablecloth, but she made the pastor keep it for the church. The pastor insisted on driving her home, that was the least he could do. She lived on the other side of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn for the day for a housecleaning job.

The church had a wonderful service on Christmas Eve. It was practically full. The music and the spirit were great. At the end of the service, the pastor and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many said that they would return. One older man, whom the pastor recognized from the neighborhood, continued to sit in one of the pews and the the pastor wondered why he didn't leave.

The man asked him where he got the tablecloth on the front wall, because it was identical to the one that his wife had made years ago when they lived in Austria before the war, and these two tablecloths were so much alike!

He told the pastor how the Nazis came, and how he forced his wife to flee for her safety. He was supposed to follow her, but he was arrested and put in a prison. That was 35 years ago. He never saw his wife or his home again.

The pastor asked him if he would allow him to take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten Island to the same house where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier. He helped the man climb the three flights of stairs to the woman's apartment, knocked on the door... and he witnessed... the GREATEST Christmas reunion that he could ever imagine....

Father, God, bless all my friends and family in what ever it is that You know they may be needing this day! May their life be full of your peace, prosperity, and power as he/she seeks to have a closer relationship with you. Amen."   ~Pastor Rob Reid

Things happen for a reason... Merry Christmas!