In light of the Al Qaeda/Taliban attack on Hotel Serena, I spent most of the week reassuring friends and family that I was okay. Yes, the movement is restricted, but life goes on and you do your best with what you've got.So for a change, I'll focus on two moments this week that snuck up on me and hit me over the head with random sense of wonder.
The first came on Tuesday. I just came back from my first presentation at the Ministry of Public Health, and was reasonably wrapped up in work. The heater in my room is like Jeeves the Butler, it works overtime when you need it to ease up. So I turned around to open the window behind me. And I saw the majestic snow covered hill outside my window. The dust made the picture a bit blurry, but it was so beautiful it took my breath away.
The second perfect moment took place yesterday. I was crossing the Shas Darak circle on my way over to Bren's around 9am. I was scoping around in my bag to make sure I had my portable hard drive with me, since I was spending the day working at his house. And suddenly I looked up and saw this man with baloons crossing the circle. Luckily I was able to pull out my camera and take these shots.
The perfect moments are by nature fleeting. They come unannounced, but they demand your attention. In the end they leave a small token of joy, wonder, astonishment and appreciation for you to reminisce.The joy of abstract perfection may be small, but it's a major miracle that they can be found in the jaded day-to-day life in Kabul.
