h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I received an email from a friend who has worked for the United Nations, most recently as the co-ordinator of elections in Bosnia/Herz. and Kosovo.

She was, of course, also acquainted with Annetta Flanigan from Northern Ireland, Shqipe Hebibi from Kosovo, and Angelito Nayan from the Phillipines, who had all been kidnapped in Afghanistan, as well as Margaret Hassan who had been executed in Iraq... This is an account of a reunion of the women with their counterparts, here at home, after their release....

"How sweet it is! How very sweet to have hugged, and hugged, and hugged our 3 colleagues again! I'm speechless.

What a sweet, sweet reunion!

The tears were flowing by the buckets, from everyone. The laughter
and the embraces were as warm as the glorious morning sun!

They spoke with each and every single one of us, either in small groups that formed quite naturally around them or on an individual basis. Each in their own way, they explained the events and shared
anecdotes. Strangely, they all shared with us only the "good" parts of their experience. And amazingly, they even saw humor in certain details. An incredible trio, they are! What a strong bunch.

As Shqipe was standing next to me, explaining to me that this was her second kidnapping experience in her lifetime (the first one being in her homeland of Kosovo), she very nonchalantly picked the lint from my
sweater. I couldn't quite believe my ears. And I couldn't quite believe that she was grooming my sweater in the process, a la Shqipe style. And only Shqipe could do. Her whole demeanor simply amazes me.

"It's all over now Shqipe. You guys gave us the biggest scare of our
lives. My God, it's so good to see you again. It's so good to have you back!" We hugged and hugged and couldn't let go.

Annetta's small delicate hands were still trembling but her smiles
let us know that she was going to make it through this. With the strong support of her husband close by, who is also one of our colleagues, she will be fine.

As she explained some disturbing details about being forced to call
her mother back home, someone suggested that she should not share the
scary parts with her mother when she gets back home. Annetta just smirked and didn't say anything. Another close colleague then offered a brief explanation to Annetta's silent smile: "Annetta and her mother are tougher than we think." I guess Northern Ireland can do that to someone.

Angelito gave me the warmest hug ever. He said that he thought about
me every morning at around transport pick-up time. (Lito and I shared a UN vehicle every morning to get into work.) He told us that he thought about everyone on an individual basis and used to close his eyes and envision being back in the office surrounded by us all. I hugged him back just as tightly.

The lump in my throat is now gone. Sort of. But now it's a good lump. Lito will be flying home this afternoon. Shqipe and Annetta want to
stick around for a little while longer. A week or so maybe. They want to come back to the office. See anybody that wasn't able to attend today. Sit at their desks. Bug the usual people with their usual annoying demands. heh! heh! They're a crazy bunch. I'm sure that this is all part of their healing process. Anything they want, they can have. If they want to be surrounded with the usual mayhem in this office, then we shall arrange this for them.

If they want peace & quiet, then peace & quiet they shall have. Anything. Good God it's so good to have them back alive.

Mare"

Sorry I inferred that these were all women.... rather just that they are aid workers....

Yes, and so we see the terrible price paid for negotiating with terrorists.....damn those Esperanto-speaking UN surrender monkeys, don't they know the only way to deal with a terrorist kidnapping is to carpet bomb the area the abductees were captured in?
yours in patriotism
Ronald Dumbsfeld