My Saturday started with an early Skype call with Marguerite who IS coming to Beirut in November, in spite of all the press to the contrary. We've had several emails. "Would you make this trip if you were me?" she asked. "Yes, but get traveler's insurance; that way you don't have to worry." Marguerite's courage takes me back to my own journey and a conversation I had with Phil last night. "We each took a leap of faith," he reminded, this being his third year in Beirut. I looked around the room at the "new" Americans attending Friday night's potluck: Joe and Jessica, Lolita, and Charlene, Susan and Henry, and Totally Todd, all crowded on couches with our new Lebanese friends in the "Senior Lounge". It was a great relief to be on this shore, and on this side of all those doubts.
The ACS staff was invited to a reception in Headmaster Damon's rooftop garden, to meet new personnel from the U.S. embassy. Only a few came, Ambassador Maura Connelly being among them. Talk about courage? With all the uproar of the past two months, these people have been under the tightest security. They are not allowed to leave the embassy compound except on carefully preplannned outings, this being one of them. A handful came, but late, and were preceded by security guards, complete with those curly wired ear phones, who arrived first. It was such an honor to meet and talk with these Americans. Azza, so gracious and warm, has worked for the US all over the world. This is her first position in the Middle East. I met Ambassador Connelly, and learned that she was the only person in her family who had the desire to serve and work outside the US, which she's been doing ever since college. She is a tall, white haired woman. You can read her bulletins on the US Embassy, Beirut, website.
Talk about a "leap of faith"? Mine was what I was able and determined to take. But I've thought about this process and how it works for each of us. I can only imagine what a soldier goes through, who is "assigned" duty in Afghanistan, or some other not-so-friendly outpost. We each take our "leaps" as we go through life, every day. Look at Mary, and her decision to retire. Or Diana's move to the mainland. Then there's Pam and her pending surgery, and my sister with her challenging ankle and move to California. My Dad is adjusting to his new pacemaker. Talk about courage and that leap of faith? I'm in awe of you all.
The ACS staff was invited to a reception in Headmaster Damon's rooftop garden, to meet new personnel from the U.S. embassy. Only a few came, Ambassador Maura Connelly being among them. Talk about courage? With all the uproar of the past two months, these people have been under the tightest security. They are not allowed to leave the embassy compound except on carefully preplannned outings, this being one of them. A handful came, but late, and were preceded by security guards, complete with those curly wired ear phones, who arrived first. It was such an honor to meet and talk with these Americans. Azza, so gracious and warm, has worked for the US all over the world. This is her first position in the Middle East. I met Ambassador Connelly, and learned that she was the only person in her family who had the desire to serve and work outside the US, which she's been doing ever since college. She is a tall, white haired woman. You can read her bulletins on the US Embassy, Beirut, website.
Talk about a "leap of faith"? Mine was what I was able and determined to take. But I've thought about this process and how it works for each of us. I can only imagine what a soldier goes through, who is "assigned" duty in Afghanistan, or some other not-so-friendly outpost. We each take our "leaps" as we go through life, every day. Look at Mary, and her decision to retire. Or Diana's move to the mainland. Then there's Pam and her pending surgery, and my sister with her challenging ankle and move to California. My Dad is adjusting to his new pacemaker. Talk about courage and that leap of faith? I'm in awe of you all.
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