Such a vivid description of your perspective. Thank you for making the situation more real and relatable than the mere headlines and the maps could ever do.
Thank you so much for reading and sharing, David. My perspective is such a small part of this situation, but if it brings things into greater focus for even one reader, I'll be happy!
As soon as I saw the title I knew this one would be worthwhile. You did not disappoint. Thank you for providing a close-up, yet reasonably unbiased perspective, Sam. And I hope and pray for your health and safety.
My God this one was so gripping. The dread reminds me of watching the pandemic spread at the beginning, when we weren’t sure what was coming. I hope you are not drawn in any time soon, that you are safe and that everyone is safe. 💔💔
Ugh yes, this very much feels like February 2020! It's difficult to see how this madness can be brought to an end. I do feel lucky to live in a country run by highly competent statesmen--the Jordanians are managing to walk an incredibly fine line, and I think that gives us the best possible shot at staying safe. I wish I could say the same for others in the region who are in far more precarious positions. 💔
What an amazing writer you are Samantha. I was transfixed. Thinking of you and your family. Stay safe. We actually have a trip booked for Egypt and Jordan in October. If all is well ( God willing) I'll be in Amman drinking mint tea and watching the world go by. Take care friend.🙏
Thank you for thinking of us, Deborah 💕 and how exciting about your trip!! I hope you'll be able to move forward with your plans in safety. And please feel free to reach out if you need any help or recommendations!
This is absolutely beautiful writing. Glad to have discovered your prose and hoping we pull back from this precipice. Reading you a stone’s throw away from the Healey Gates and sending positive thoughts
So brave, to live in an imminent danger zone. I have a friend who has gone back to Ukraine, for various reasons that are sufficient for her. I have never had to face such choices, let alone think about go bags…
So interesting to think about, “What would you do, if you were a major player?” This came up today in my Substack reading list, for some reason, 2 weeks later. More shots have been fired north of Israel, but various factions are putting out “we wanna back off a bit from this ledge” messages, it seems. I wonder how it is in Amman now? Have you made any progress in figuring out a way to get you fur baby out of the zone of strife?
Things feel much calmer now (thank you for asking!). I hope I'm not speaking too soon, but it seems for the moment we've dodged the threat of wider war. I think the fact that Iran still hasn't responded belies the fact that they're either dealing with internal disagreement over what to do, or they've realized that they are either unwilling or unable to respond strongly enough to send a message. Possibly both. I think they'll likely back down; probably Hezbollah, too. But so many others have it far, far worse than we do here...and frankly, I don't believe there is much hope for a ceasefire. 💔
Samantha, I’m definitely keeping you, Nick and Boo in my prayers along with the millions of people in the Middle East during this tense and unstable time. I hope that the worst doesn’t come, but being in the same field of interest as you and your husband it seems like it is fading away…
Thank you for the thoughtful and beautifully written update, Samanatha. I have been wondering how you and Nick and Boo are doing because Amman is so close to Jerusalem and Beirut. I can't imagine how stressful it is for you--and so many others--in the region. May all of you stay safe.
Thank you for thinking of us, Clarice ❤️ I hope all will be well here--yet I almost feel guilty for how relatively lucky we are when so many others close by have it so much worse. The chance that hostilities will cease feels remote, but we have to keep hoping.
It must be exhausting to live with so much tension. You write about it with detail and heart. Perhaps it helps to make photographs of the material possessions that mean a lot to you but won’t fit in your go bag. It’s how I was able to minimize my belongings when I lost my house.
It sounded more dramatic than I meant it; there wasn’t a wild fire or anything. Our landlady wanted to sell and we couldn’t afford to buy it. Losing my home turned me into a nomad, so I’m actually happy it happened. (I’m working on an Origin Post to explain all this soon).
Well Samantha. My Israeli niece and her husband and kids haven’t lived in their home in northern Israel since October 10. Like thousands of other Israelis.
Samantha,
Such a vivid description of your perspective. Thank you for making the situation more real and relatable than the mere headlines and the maps could ever do.
Thank you so much for reading and sharing, David. My perspective is such a small part of this situation, but if it brings things into greater focus for even one reader, I'll be happy!
As soon as I saw the title I knew this one would be worthwhile. You did not disappoint. Thank you for providing a close-up, yet reasonably unbiased perspective, Sam. And I hope and pray for your health and safety.
Thank you, Andrei ❤️
My God this one was so gripping. The dread reminds me of watching the pandemic spread at the beginning, when we weren’t sure what was coming. I hope you are not drawn in any time soon, that you are safe and that everyone is safe. 💔💔
Ugh yes, this very much feels like February 2020! It's difficult to see how this madness can be brought to an end. I do feel lucky to live in a country run by highly competent statesmen--the Jordanians are managing to walk an incredibly fine line, and I think that gives us the best possible shot at staying safe. I wish I could say the same for others in the region who are in far more precarious positions. 💔
What an amazing writer you are Samantha. I was transfixed. Thinking of you and your family. Stay safe. We actually have a trip booked for Egypt and Jordan in October. If all is well ( God willing) I'll be in Amman drinking mint tea and watching the world go by. Take care friend.🙏
Thank you for thinking of us, Deborah 💕 and how exciting about your trip!! I hope you'll be able to move forward with your plans in safety. And please feel free to reach out if you need any help or recommendations!
This is absolutely beautiful writing. Glad to have discovered your prose and hoping we pull back from this precipice. Reading you a stone’s throw away from the Healey Gates and sending positive thoughts
Thank you, Alicia--so glad you are here ❤️ (and please say hello to Georgetown for me!!)
So brave, to live in an imminent danger zone. I have a friend who has gone back to Ukraine, for various reasons that are sufficient for her. I have never had to face such choices, let alone think about go bags…
So interesting to think about, “What would you do, if you were a major player?” This came up today in my Substack reading list, for some reason, 2 weeks later. More shots have been fired north of Israel, but various factions are putting out “we wanna back off a bit from this ledge” messages, it seems. I wonder how it is in Amman now? Have you made any progress in figuring out a way to get you fur baby out of the zone of strife?
Things feel much calmer now (thank you for asking!). I hope I'm not speaking too soon, but it seems for the moment we've dodged the threat of wider war. I think the fact that Iran still hasn't responded belies the fact that they're either dealing with internal disagreement over what to do, or they've realized that they are either unwilling or unable to respond strongly enough to send a message. Possibly both. I think they'll likely back down; probably Hezbollah, too. But so many others have it far, far worse than we do here...and frankly, I don't believe there is much hope for a ceasefire. 💔
Fascinating to read - thank you for letting us step into your shoes for a little while x
Samantha, I’m definitely keeping you, Nick and Boo in my prayers along with the millions of people in the Middle East during this tense and unstable time. I hope that the worst doesn’t come, but being in the same field of interest as you and your husband it seems like it is fading away…
Thank you so much, Fahim ❤️ I do feel this will get worse before it gets better. How much worse it will get remains to be seen.
Thank you for the thoughtful and beautifully written update, Samanatha. I have been wondering how you and Nick and Boo are doing because Amman is so close to Jerusalem and Beirut. I can't imagine how stressful it is for you--and so many others--in the region. May all of you stay safe.
Thank you for thinking of us, Clarice ❤️ I hope all will be well here--yet I almost feel guilty for how relatively lucky we are when so many others close by have it so much worse. The chance that hostilities will cease feels remote, but we have to keep hoping.
Thank you, Samantha.
Good luck, and may you soon wait instead for peace.
It must be exhausting to live with so much tension. You write about it with detail and heart. Perhaps it helps to make photographs of the material possessions that mean a lot to you but won’t fit in your go bag. It’s how I was able to minimize my belongings when I lost my house.
This is a great idea, Claire. (And I'm so sorry to hear about your house!)
It sounded more dramatic than I meant it; there wasn’t a wild fire or anything. Our landlady wanted to sell and we couldn’t afford to buy it. Losing my home turned me into a nomad, so I’m actually happy it happened. (I’m working on an Origin Post to explain all this soon).
Oh phew! Glad to hear it was not the result of a disaster and looking forward to reading the post!
Sobering. I hope you pack that go-bag.
Wow. I feel like I’m in the movie “Beirut”
Thinking of you and everyone in the region.
Wonderfully written. I can relate, having had 'go bags' by the door before, and trying to peer inside the unknowable strategies of those in power.
Thank you, Brad. Moments like these how a way of reminding us that we are mere pawns in a much bigger strategic game.
Well Samantha. My Israeli niece and her husband and kids haven’t lived in their home in northern Israel since October 10. Like thousands of other Israelis.