Cool Breezes And Scorpions

Antenna in the morning light

They said that it comes on quickly, the coolness that marks the change of seasons here in Iraq. I woke up this morning to a pleasant dawn breeze, and temps in the mid-seventies. It was wonderful, and hopeful thoughts of sweaters and fleece paraded through my mind.

I returned to my ground-floor room and threw open the window leading out to the villa's courtyard, hoping to cool my room down with fresh, morning air instead of the incessant roar of the air-conditioner. I looked down on the sill and there was a two-inch, grey scorpion merrily making his way towards my now open window. Close it. Atlanta’s only five weeks away.