happy national day ...

It's that time of the year.. celebrations.. celebrations.. and more celebrations.

Blessed in every aspect, the people of Wonderland get to be merry far longer than others, with a bumper National Day celebration (Dec 16 & 17), followed by Xmas and then a marvellous New Year, where they dunk their sorrows and usher in a new year without making a resolution because they know it will be a waste of time and effort to make one.

This could be true for many people, especially for those who are doomed like us, the people of Wonderland where everything is a paradox..where the level of happiness and national sentiments are not measured by newspaper headlines and scenes of forced smiles on television screens.

It's time for fun and parades and fireworks and ... rallies.. and demonstrations.. and the sound of explosions... chaos... anarchy.. the ugly smell of fear..the pungent sickening suffocating blinding aroma of tear gas and a great heavy burden on our chests ... wondering when - just when - will all this be over.

Far away .. here in Canada.. a group of not-so-disenchanted Bahrainis gathered for dinner in our humble dwellings last night.

"I miss Bahrain," said my uncle who was visiting from New York - his home for the past 41 years. "But things will never change there," he added.

"Bahrain was heaven," echoed Sherry on the phone when she called later.
"I miss Bahrain," she tells me every day..as I nod my head in agreement sometimes and in shame at others... but I will get to that some day. This is not the time nor the place to discuss the pride and shame of being a Bahraini.

Sherry left Bahrain for a new life in Canada nine years ago - after spending 19 years in Bahrain. A life time for Sherry.. a life sentence for me.