After a few days of being inside the house and having been cautious where to go, the boys couldn’t take it anymore and so we decided last night that we would wake up early and go for a surf. The roads were empty with a few military people around..At the beach there was nobody to be seen…
The boys immediately got their boards ready and went off to the far end of the beach to check out the best waves. Guido stayed around with me. He was happy to play and go for a swim.
I had a flash back….the silence and deserted beach reminded me of the days of the war when hardly any foreigners were around. Back then I had never felt unsafe. This time it is different as the attackers clearly aimed at foreigners as well..
But I also know that we need to continue with our lives. We can’t be hold hostage to fear. That is no way to live..That is not why we live in Galle. To give our kids a free spirited upbringing… The school is still closed but we hope that this coming Wednesday it will open with the necessary safety measures into place.
I have explained it to the boys. Each in a different way. A conversation at their own level and age appropriate. Difficult times for our whole community and ourselves as we all work in some way or another in the tourism trade. We help and support each other where we can and I think the boys have their own friends to share their experience. It is not easy but I try to look at it positively and hope this will make them more resilient. A necessary skill – I am afraid- that they will need to have looking into the future…
It is late and Miguel is in Colombo. There is so much silence that it makes me feel a little worried. But the boys are here with me at home. Fast asleep and I am going to do the same. Hoping to wake up and enjoy a next day in this beautiful country and its people..X
The Five Gypsies 