Friday, October 08, 2004
Alarm Clock
My alarm clock was ready to wake me up at 7:30am this morning. Unfortunately, I was awoken in a very different manner at 5am. At that time precisely, a small bomb exploded at the Indonesian Embassy a block or so away from my apartment. What a sound. My husband and I jumped out of bed and went to the window. Of course, at that moment, we didn't know exactly what had occurred. So, of course, my husband, in typical husband fashion, went out to try to determine what had happened. He reported that there was broken glass in front of the Embassy and since it was precisely at 5am, we put two and two together. It was all rather frightening.
My husband points out that city life has taught us some interesting things like the fact that our children can sleep through car accidents, domestic disputes, garbage trucks, and apparently even through the sound of a bomb a block away.
Interestingly enough life goes on. Paris woke up to one street roped off. More horns blared because of the unusual congestion as people tried to get their kids to school and themselves to work. I'm sure some didn't even realize what happened just a few hours before. After we brought the kids to school I went on a walking tour of the Arc de Triomphe with my nephew. While on top I started getting calls from friends and family who had heard on the news about the bomb so close by to where I live. I have to say I wondered if I was testing fate being on the top of the Arc de Triomphe, but I'm here to report to you that it was a wonderful tour with nothing out of the ordinary occurring.
My husband and I are now off to celebrate our 10th anniversary. We're heading to the Loire Valley for the night while my nephew watches the children. Hopefully nothing more exciting will happen during his stay!
-- said Auntie M in Paris
1:50 PM