back at my desk

I returned to my desk after a month of legendarily life-giving holiday. A special props to the lovely people who came to visit me, I miss you excessively.

I spent ALL DAY catching up on work email yesterday. From Israel/Palestine to Iraq, from human trafficking to depleted uranium and, no joke, 5 bizillion other things. I faced again the ever lurking fear that all these people running around and doing all these actions and rallies, and protests, and art shows, and awareness raising activities, means absolutely nothing. This week-end though I have both a social justice rally and an interfaith gathering to check out, so I'm optimistic that real action with real people will give me back some hope.

Also, today I went to the gym and the grocery store, and came home in the gorgeous June sunshine, with roses blooming everywhere, and it's really hard to despair about the state of the world on such a morning.

Egypt

Not photoshopped in
My camel's name was Jackson
The cold and wild Mediterranean
Mmm...

Egypt (or "I am so lucky" or "dm's surreal life continues")

Because of departmental shuffling in headquarters, I got a trip to Egypt for annual retreat last week. I am so lucky. And yet, when I was sitting and journalling by the pool (the only place one was allowed to lie around and soak up the sun in a relatively uncovered manner), I realized it didn't even feel as surreal as it ought, because life has been so surreal for the past many many months. I don't expect it to last much longer.

I tacked on a couple days on either end of the retreat to do a little touring. Yes I've seen the pyramids and the Sphynix. And thanks to everyone else I know having been so disappointed with them, I was actually almost awed. Low expectations people, it's completely the way to go. The way Cairo comes up to their feet on one side, but the Sahara extends on the others. The way they say "Yes, we were wealthy and powerful, and feared, but now we are empty and wind-blown" gives me perspective on human achievement.

The other highlight of my touring was an evening that included a visit to the (apparently) oldest café in the Middle East, where the Egyptian revolution was planned. I recommend the mango juice. And also a boat ride down the Nile at night. Less surreal, more just really lovely.

Cairo is all noise and pollution and heat when you are a tourist. But when you are visiting folk who know the ropes, it is beautiful, and thrilling and exotic. Just something to keep in mind.

The retreat itself was 100% solid. As such things should be, it further enamoured me with the organization I work for, gave me hope that the work we are doing may in fact matter, and helped me refocus on why I am where I am trying to do what I'm trying to do.

I also got to oggle the cutest baby. He was born in Palestine last year. His passport is almost as full as mine. It was also really great getting to talk to his folks about their experiences in Palestine, and what it's like working there, in the context of being an outsider, and as such being free to come and go, and all those other things I struggled with on my significantly shorter visit there.

We also sang many fantastic hymns every day. Music is so crucial.