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During these days 28 years ago, I was sitting in a room with a gas mask on. I was alone in Israel & couldn't yet speak Hebrew. I had prepared the 'sealed room' according to instructions, and all windows & doors were covered in plastic, held in place with overpriced masking tape
Those first nights were scary. There was fear Saddam would launch a chemical attack. The Skuds were launched, the patriots fired up to meet them. There were explosions in the sky and the house shook at every one. I didn't understand a word of the radio updates.
There was a silent radio channel, that you tuned in to at night. It would sound the siren if needed & there was but a short time to put that gas mask on. I'll never forget the feeling, after the explosions, waiting to find out if another vile despot had chosen to gas some Jews
But during that scary time I was not alone in that room. My neighbours had a small dog. Her name was Lady. They used to leave her chained up for hours on end. I thought it so cruel and when they went out, I used to sneak over and release her for a while
So when those sirens sounded - I had no choice. There was no way I was going to leave Lady alone in the dark, with the sirens and the explosions. I ran over, released her and she ran back with me to the house. Barely enough time to seal us back inside that room
But we sat together in that war and kept each other company. I calmed Lady and Lady calmed me. The two of us against Saddam and his exploding Skuds. The important friendships in life are sometimes forged in special circumstances. She'll always be a special Lady to me.
