I smell spring

I really did, getting off the plane from Miami, there was a scent of spring, of freshness that wasn't there before.  And we are enjoying a weekend of 50-plus days with sun.
 
Mary took a couple of personal days and we met in Miami, for a long weekend.  I had a day of appointments in the area and then a couple of days to take a shower, eat real food and relax, I thought.  So, we were literally stepping off the hotel grounds on to the beach, when I got a call asking me to turn on the television, that there had been an 8-point something eathquake in Chile with a tsunami heading to Hawaii and south.  Like all of you, it was hard to believe and we immediately thought something bibilical was happening.  There wasn't a lot from Miami we could do, but colleagues worked the task force, to support the work of our Embassy in Chile, looking for staff, for American citizens, for all the grantees on our exchange programs. 
 
There have been lots of comparisons about the devastation, the preparations, the two governments' ability to react and respond, about the international community's willingness to support (and the two governments' willingness to accept offers of support).   One comparison says a lot:  the State Department's Chile task force lasted two days; the Haiti task forces (four of them) lasted a month.
 
And for the first time in my life, we saw a full rainbow, with both ends hitting the horizon, and even double in some places!  Does that mean hope for Haiti and Chile?
 
Margaret is moving this weekend.  She found a place in the Capitol Hill area, not too far frm where she used to live.  It's small but cute.  Dee will like the freedom to roam around without being fenced in during the day.  Hey, and she lives on D St.  There's a coincidence.
 
Joe returned from his trip to the Midle East and to the UK.  We expect to get all of the news from hims this am.  He did hear other news, that USAID has selected him for employment.  Now he has even more tough choices ahead.  Congratulations.
 
Speaking of travel, Annie bought her ticket to China.  She's off in May for a brief visit, and is still planning on going there this summer for a year.
 
Great to see the stories and photos from Vancouver!  Must have been tremendous to see it live.  The difference between the summer and winter games - not only are there incredible athletes, but they're also a little nuts.  Television doesn't really give you a sense of skiiers going down the side of a mountain.  Did anyone hear of the snow plow?
 
Anyway, hope everyone's well.  Love from down here.