A Synopsis

 I see my last entry was on March 14 - some of my sketches.

Today is March 25th. I believe this new war began March 1st, or February 28th.  Time is very difficult to track.  For one thing, the entire nation is sleep deprived - we are rudely awoken by the rattlesnake at odd times - maybe 11.00 p.m.   2.30 a.m.  4.30 a.m. 7.00 a.m. Whenever.  Our day routines, such as they are - are interrupted at varying intervals.  I think there was one night when we actually slept all night - the alarm sounded at 8.00 a.m. or close to that. 

In our high alert, sleep deprived state the smallest noise causes me, anyway to jump and get ready to run. My biggest fear is being in a car and having to stop and get out and lie down.  Before I get in a taxi I ask whether they will stop, because not everyone does, although we are told repeatedly to do so. I have my showering down to a fine art.  To go to the mall close by is OK because there is enough time between the warning and the siren to either return home or to get to a shelter at the mall.   I was caught in the neighbouring village during an unusual downpour.  My taxi driver took me to the ATM and showed me a spice shop nearby.  He also pointed out the public shelter.  We agreed to meet on a corner when I had finished my errands.

I was in the small, crowded spice shop when the rattlesnake sounded.  I had time to complete my purchases before the siren, if there was to be a siren.  I bought my things and stood outside on a pavement, looking at the rain.  Many people stood there waiting for the siren. Some customers left their bags on shelves, others hastily bought their items.  The siren sounded and we all walked to the shelter and climbed down the stairs, down and down and down to s small room.  We stood there jostling together, someone hermetically closed the door, mothers bounced kids, backs were patted.  After about 10 minutes the home front command sounded that we could leave.  The door was opened and we all left and continued whatever we had been doing - buying, drinking coffee, talking to a friend.  It is surreal.

The TV announcers working 24/7 keep saying - damage to property, no one hurt, middile intercepted, or fragments falling, keep away from them. When people are wounded or killed they insinuate that if they had gone to the shelter they would be OK.  All very well to say, but not everyone has access to shelters, or can reach one in time. 

I think the word chaos aptly describes our present situation.  Chaos and uncertainty.  Chaos and uncertainty and fear.

I had described my morning today in the gym, but it got lost somewhere and I don't feel like describing it again.  Suffice to say that while we were attempting to maintain some sanity by exercising - we had two alerts, one just 10 minutes after the other.  

Chaos.