TBT: Bahrain 1986

During our last days in Bahrain, Vice-President George Bush arrived in April on a 3 day visit. We all gathered in the Embassy courtyard, getting warmer by the minute. It wasn't long before the VP took his jacket off. Snipers on the roof - just in case - made us hope that they'd miss us if they started shooting. My children had their photos taken and the VP then pulled me over to have my photo taken. I could have passed on that one but... Now it seems that  only the photo of my daughter , center child of the three girls, is the only one that has survived the passage of time.

One of my children liked to deface photos back in the day. Thus the VP has a few more wrinkles than he actually had back then.

TBT: Kitchen Staff is Hard to Keep

My daughter, now 41 tomorrow, said she wanted to see some images of herself to show to her daughters. Here's one from Manama Bahrain in the 80s. 

Salaam to Bahrain

The events in Bahrain are being overshadowed by the horrific events in Japan which is totally understandable. However I have only spent a couple of hours at Narita many years ago but I spent two years in Bahrain. I have friends and family who have friends and workmates who live their. My heart cannot really fathom the destruction and loss even with photos and videos from Japan. It's too much like so many disaster movies that we click off and forget. My head knows it's real but my heart is filled with other places in the world.

Mmy heart has strong memories of the road from the western shore of Bahrain leading across the island into Manama. The road the Saudis took into the island yesterday. I recognize places I've been, think of my house between two mosques, the roads across the desert where we visited. I don't want to think of invasions taking place there. I don't want to think of my children's school friends, many named Al Khalifa, in danger. Many of them are now married with homes and businesses and families.  This is the world upheaval that hits home with me. I wish them all peace and security and wish that damn causeway had never been built.