{observations}

As we urged our way through the crowd near the side entrance, we entered the police station.  Squeezing through the narrow hall and politely avoiding toes and knees of those sitting and waiting their turn, we made our way to the office of sejour to reapply for our visa.  The sounds of low whispers were broken by the long forgotten, yet familiar, click clack of a typewriter.  I wanted to stop and stare.  I stole a glance of important people sitting before their oh-so-important documents, typing away.  I found my mind drifting for a brief moment as I imagined the French in the smart suits years ago, click clacking away…

Those days are gone and though only the typerwriters remain, I chuckled under my breath at this country I live in.  At the desk, the stoic mustached man told us to return tomorrow for our documents.  They would be ready… enshahallah.  I wondered if my documents would find their way to the typerwriter…

Next on our morning ageda was a visit to the pediatrician for a vaccination.  After stopping at the pharmacy to pick up the shot, we walked to the office.  There was a man with half his shirt hanging off and wild looking hair and there were many men seated at tables along the sidewalks, just watching and observing.  I saw a woman with her child laying in her lap.  Her hand was not outstretched this time, but my heart still ached for her and for her child.

We climbed the steep stairs to the top and waited politely for our turn.  I rarely bother with arriving early.  There is no clipboard with forms to fill out or even long lines of patients, but we had finished early at the police station.  So we sat and waited.  10:30 came and went and I asked the receptionist if the doctor was in… because sometimes she is not.  Yes, she is, but your appointment was at 10:30.  It didn’t matter that the doctor did not have any other patients… I must wait until after 10:30 because that is just simply the way things are done.

As we walked home I noticed a girl wearing a heavy wool coat.  I felt an involutary smile creeping up on my face.  This was my kind of girl.  She was defiant- mocking the scorching heat of the day- and wearing her coat simply because it is October.  I came home and put on a pair of shorts and a tank top… my own little defiance…

PS  Thank you all for your votes over at Torendi!  If you haven’t voted yet, please stop by here and vote to keep me in the competition to become one of the next designers!

*Also, tomorrow is the last day to purchase from our Etsy shop and support He{art} for Morocco.   Your support has been amazing and we are so grateful for each and every one of you!

Tagged as: He{art} for Morocco