Already?

Christmas goodies
on sale

 The streets remain quiet and few people venture out unless for urgent and   necessary business. Police are everywhere, stopping and searching everyone. It's   tense just to go out but I must go to work. No avoiding it. Yesterday there was a   stabbing attack and that caused more problems with road closures, public   transport halted, City Gates closed. We don't want trouble. Life is hard as it is,   with this war going on.

 Several days back there was rain ... actually a steady shower for most of the day.   It was good. The land is parched and dry. Dust in the air. The rain washed away   and cleared everything. It gave a sense of freshness and renewal. And the plants are flourishing.

The economy is not good and many shops that usually start selling Christmas things are not opened. George who runs our little grocery has however started a small section of Christmas goodies. The panettone are much smaller hence cheaper. In fact all the goodies are much smaller to fit the budget of a poorer people. There'll be a little cheer this Christmas ... not much. But we try. In this dark days, we try to smile. The droning of fighter planes above remind us of reality. We try to distract ourselves but the shock and pain of the war are too deep to be removed from our minds and hearts. Still we smile ... not for ourselves but for others; to give them a little hope and encouragement to go on.