Dr.
Fatima's "clinic" is in the Medina not far from my Hotel and the area is coming
back to life as some citizens are beginning to peak out and emerge from their
homes. Hundreds of shops and outdoor tables with all kinds of new and used
goods have been closed for more than a week. Even the lovely Chadian
hospitality ladies who I have good reason to believe rent themselves from dirt
floor rooms off the ancient streets of the medina for ten Libyan dinars an hour
(about $8) or 16 dinar ($ 12.80) for two hostesses, (three additional dinars
per hour for air conditioning in the room --highly recommended!) have vanished.
This sad fact alone, according to one of the guys from the UN delegation that
ten days ago got permission from NATO to fly from Tripoli airport to Tunis for
R & R and to assess their "findings,"is reason enough for the UNSC to
immediately end NATO's carnage in Libya.
I
admit to being a little apprehensive because Aya told me one of the Chadian
ladies, who recently returned and works as a nurse for Dr. Fatima, must first
slice my wound in narrow lines and then rub and wash it thoroughly with Saharan
sand and some nasty looking green paste of Sarahan vegetation and insect
fluids.
While
I sat thinking how that is going to feel, Aya seems to have read my expression
and assures me that everything will be ok because her granny also makes a
strong alcoholic drink out of Saharan cactus and I will drink some and feel
fine.
"Well, why not we just use that drink rather than sand to cleanse the wound"? I ask.
Aya gave me one of her, "You stupid American!" glances that communicates, "Please don't bother to question we who know what's best for you!"
Aya
also promises me that after my "treatment" the now returning Chadian ladies
will take care of me for the expected three day recovery period. I immediately
feel better.
If
fate rules that these next few days in fact comprise my last chapter, and never
having had much interest in being with virgins, the company of these angels
will certainly be as close to Heaven as this hayseed from rural Oregon will
likely get.
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