At 0330 this morning the family dog, who has taken to sleeping next to me jumped off my bed. She takes off down the stairs barking. I sit up in bed, eyes wide open and my heart racing in my chest. I suddenly develop supper sonic hearing abilities and am straining to hear anything.
A thousand thoughts running through my head; why didn't I get my pistol permit, should I call 911, my parents are down the hall sleeping, why didn't my dad get up and the list goes on.
Several minutes later the dog comes back. I am laying there trying to convince myself that she scared away whoever or whatever made her bark. The dog jumps back up in bed with me and I nervously pet her head. Just as I am about to lay my head back down to bed, her ears perk up, she growls and I hear a man's voice down stairs.
At this point, my heart has gone from racing to pounding in my chest. I hit the dog on her back end and tell her "go get 'em". We both jump off the bed, she goes downstairs and I take off running down the hall to my parents bedroom. Throwing open my parents door, in a loud whisper I say "WHERE'S DADDY?" My very disoriented mother answers "downstairs with the guy from the gas company we don't have any heat....why what's the matter with you?"
I jump into their bed, throw my arms around her and exclaim that "I thought someone was breaking in." I didn't know if I wanted to laugh or cry. Like all good mom's she gave me hug and sent me back to bed.
In my defense, after being in Kabul for a year, my senses are still a little hyper-vigilant. And, I watched Dr.Petit speak on Oprah last week (family brutally murdered several years ago; occurred in suburbs of CT around 0330).
Keep Smiling!
