Since the terrorist attacks in Paris last week, friends who know that I've been living in France have been wondering whether I'm safe. In fact, I left Paris on Wednesday at around the same time as the massacre was taking place at the offices of Charlie Hebdo, and I only found out about it when I arrived in JFK later that day. This is now the third time that Al Qaeda has hit close to home. First time: the American embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam when I was living in Tanzania. Second time: the World Trade Center when I was living within view of the smoke cloud and working in SoHo. So yes, I am safe, sort of. But is anybody safe anymore? The cartoon is by Patrick, who is still in France. I will return there the end of this month. Meanwhile, it feels good to be spending time with loved ones in a relatively quiet corner of the world.
