Moving past Dubai

It's been almost three months since we returned from our stay in the UAE, and we are blissfully happy to be back in America, back in Virginia, back in Fauquier County. Friends -- and people with whom we only have a nodding relationship with -- have been united in what they have said to us: "We're glad you're back." That has been most heartwarming.

You see, we live in a community. It's not just a bunch of houses close together. People care about each other here, and many were worried about us and praying for us while we were in the UAE.

(Actually, where we live really isn't a bunch of houses close together. We live in the outskirts of Orlean, where cable TV will never arrive, and where one cannot see another house nearby when the leaves are all on the trees, as they are now.)

Now, only three months later, our time in the UAE seems to be a long, long time ago, and the country seems far, far away. Since we've been home, people we know here and there have been sending articles about what is going on there. It hasn't been good. Sheikhs have been accused of beating people and of fondling a man in a bar. A real estate development connected to the ruling family in the UAE seemingly has collapsed, taking innocent investors money in the process.

Seems like another day in the office in the UAE to me. Same old, same old.

Would I go back there? No. It simply isn't interesting enough to visit, and the attitude of the natives is feudal, and, therefor, un-American. For me, I really don't intend to comment about the place again. It's just not worth my time.

So we're home. Rita is heading off to Moscow on Sunday for about a week. George Mason University is working on a partnership with Moscow State University, and Rita is going to help introduce George Mason to the MSU students. Michael and I tried to go along, but with air tickets, hotel rooms and Russian visas, it just got too complicated to get together in about a week.

We are planning on going to Montreal and Quebec City in July. Michael and I are both looking for jobs, but I'm keeping myself busy with a fair number of freelance articles for Warrenton Lifestyles magazine and for the Bull Run Observer. Perhaps I will go on to a new and different career. I've done this before. I was a lawyer, a thoroughbred stable manager, a real estate agent, a drama teacher, a reporter, editor and a published author. Must be something out there that can combine that eclectic set of skills into something meaningful. Personally, I would love to find a way to help local businesses and organizations through these trying economic times. Maybe I will.

People have asked me to continue this blog, and I will. Check back in from time to time to see what is going on and what my thoughts are. Again, I want to thank you all for keeping us in your thoughts while we were in the UAE. It meant everything to us to know that so many cared about us.