Heya,

It's been total havoc here in NY. Yesterday was spent keeping the phone line clear, and shopping for Tony's inevitable deployment. Remember, Tony is in the Air National guard. Anyway, he did get called and I took him to Stewart AFB for deployment to NY city last night for Search and Rescue (sar) duty. Please do light a candle for his safety. I am not sure this is over with.

On the way back from the AFB I stopped at the hospital, which sent me to the Salvation Army (they were closed) to offer the services of myself and Moby the great white van to deliver supplies to the city. Since the Salvation Army was closed, I decided to wait until this am to donate the services...... Anyway, I get home to multiple messages. I return them all. Mom is quite upset that Tony is deployed and insisted on me promising not to go to the city.

Mom has more chemo today... She's worried enough about Tony so I promised her. Seeing that my blood is not worthy for donation, I will now be spending the next couple of days working at the blood bank.

The thing that upset me most about the whole situation after I got over many series of tears while watching all unfold bringing Tony to the base for deployment, talking to mom, etc. was what happened this AM.

I went to a local convenience store... and the owner of the store decided to unload on me. Chris is a great person ( 60 +/- years old and happens to be Korean,) so I am glad she did. It seems that an elderly couple came into the store a short time before me. They shouted obscenities at her flipped her the bird and told her it was all her fault and that there were too many foreigners in the US and they should all go home.

Chris was in tears and absolutely devastated. She is a great person and does not deserve the abuse. I reminded her how much she is loved by many people, told her that the remarks were an inflammatory reaction to the situation, and only indicated the feeling of a minority of people and to please not focus on them and take them to heart.

A similar situation happened a decade + ago... I had a great gynecologist, who happened to be Iranian. He knew his trade well. He knew how to relate to people. He had worked hard to get his degree and he did his profession proud. All of the sudden Saddam struck. Desert Storm resulted. Abdu lost his practice.

I also ask you, Jef to light several more candles. One for Chris, one for Abdu, and one that reactionary prejudice and narrow mindlessness end. Perhaps yet another candle should be lit... The most important candle of all... for peace and presence of mind for all of our leaders (and other leaders as well).

I probably spent as much time writing this (slow typist) as I could have writing an article for you and now don't have the time to do so, as I have to keep the phone lines reasonably clear. Sorry... If you want to use anything you have my okay.

Gotta go,

Huggs,