EMERGENCY RESPONSE

The term Emergency Response must be put into perspective here in Kabul. Here's my story and I have any number of witnesses who can confirm the facts.

So there we were leaving the Ministry to head back to our international compound during peak traffic hours, with traffic at a turtle's pace. Suddenly our driver takes an alternative turn telling us he knew a better route... big mistake for all of us and unfortunately I was sitting shotgun. Needless to say, traffic flow on this route was even worse... I guess everybody had the same idea. Suddenly one of those poor traffic cops I always feel bad for, is just swinging his little wand furiously and blowing his whistle till I thought he'd implode. Then we heard the alarms behind us with no maneuver room for anyone than the traffic cop who's running around trying to get people to do the impossible. Ultimately, the fire truck did inch forward and our driver somehow maneuvered to get right behind it... I'm confident now the guy learned to drive in Boston.

My heart rate is now far exceeding its maximum cardio levels, I've said a number of Our Fathers and many more Hail Marys. Then, we (fire truck and our vehicle) get to the dreaded TRAFFIC CIRLCE with bikes, motorcycles, donkey carts, pedestrians, etc. all mixed into the fold. I saw a car hit a bicyclist who proceeded to get up (thankfully) and then attempt to pull the driver out of the vehicle. The Traffic Cop must now deal with the fire truck and a very aggravated cyclist... wand flying even faster, whistle louder. I continue my prayers. Fire truck is not moving so uses every siren in his portfolio at maximum volume... I wanted to choke the guy. Wait, it gets better and this is no lie. An ambulance is now attempting to enter into the traffic circle at the opposite end. I'm now thinking I'm going to have a heart attack and just want to climb into the back of the vehicle so I see less. Realizing this just ain't going to happen, I pesevere and focus on the traffic cop who I really think is going to have a heart attack. I've got to start carrying my rosary beads on these trips.

In the end, we all finally made it through the traffic circle... us, ambulance, fire truck. Not sure if the ambulance slowed to picked up the driver who hit the bicyclist. It took till I arrived my office to get my heart rate down. I was in desperate need of a drink... but that's not going to happen either.

Just another commuter day... not.