Lockdown, suicide bombing, yada, yada, yada

Yesterday morning, I woke up with a bomb blast noise. The glasses and the windows all vibrated loudly, and then after 5 minutes, I heard several ambulances going around. I pretty much made a mental note, rolled over, and went back to sleep for another 45 minutes. There were reports of between 20-40 casualties, some civilians.

By the afternoon, there were security notices like the one issued by Bearingpiont:

ALL

WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT A LOCK DOWN IS PUT IN PLACE.

CREDIBLE INFORMATION FROM US AND UK EMBASSIES INDICATE UP TO 14 SUICIDE BOMBERS IN TOWN.

ONCE YOU ARE HOME THERE WILL BE NO MOVEMENT REPEAT NO MOVEMENT. CANCEL ALL BUSINESS MEETINGS WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT

NO RESTAURANTS, BARS CLUBS ETC ETC.

AWAIT FURTHER INSTRUCTION TOMORROW AT 0830HRS.

So, after my telecon with HQ, I went back to my house, crawled into my bed with couple of Snickers bars (thanks, Bren), and watched a movie before drifting into sleep.

Woke up this morning, and read that the first female suicide bomber attacked someplace in Pakistan and blew herself up yesterday.

My opinion has always been that life is worth living, no matter what. Even though I contemplated death twice in my life; both times, the pros significantly overpowered the cons, and after couple of minutes, I reminded myself what a wonderful life I have.

Situation in Afghanistan is unstable, but somehow only way to look at it would be with controlled detachment. We will die someday, and it could well be unnatural, but it is not possible to live each day in fear. You keep on moving, keep on living. And when it ends, it ends.