We need rain

Yesterday at 10.30am sirens were blaring throughout the country. It's the rocket alert system that warns people to run to bomb shelters because a missile is on its way. But not to worry ... it was only a drill for schools. From my window I could see the students from the school opposite running into ground floor classrooms. The exercise was repeated several times.

Bedouin women selling
veggies in the sidewalk

Other than that, it was a normal day. Markets were opened as usual and people were only momentarily taken aback when the sirens sounded. But life went on with buying and selling.

The forecast is for rain today and the skies are certainly overcast with rain clouds. But the strong westerly winds might just blow the clouds into Jordan and the rains will escape us once again. And its very damp too. My arthritis is playing up. 2 Fridays back, the muslims prayed for rain in the Al Aqsa mosque. That's how much we need the rains.

Anyway its back to work. I dread having to walk to work in the rain ... but we do need it desparately. Otherwise it'll be another drought season and everyone will suffer for the rest of the year: prices of vegetables and food will rise, water will be rationed and heavily taxed, the air will be dusty and polluted ... Let's pray God be merciful and send us heavy rains.