Dispatch from Albania # 15 Nov. 30, 1999

From: Cdcphotog@aol.com
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 11:02:12 EST
Subject: #15 fr Albania
MIME-Version: 1.0
To: undisclosed-recipients:;

Dispatch from Albania # 15 & final Tuesday, Nov. 30, 1999

Guess what was at our front door this morning: meowing its little heart out:
Kosi. The person who didnít want an extra distraction or odor in our Albanian
lives jumped out of bed, opened the door, and in dashed Kosi. I woke up Boyd
& Kathy, and we celebrated by giving her some yogurt & bread. She was really
a mess. Burrs all over her wee body. But somehow we forgot this tiny cat is
not house-broken & that she found us. Kathy now plans to take her back to the
States. She says, ìBombed out in Kosovo. Shot at in Kosovo. Orphaned in
Kosovo. Survived a hijacking in Lac. Spent the night alone on the streets and
garbage heaps of Tirana.. Found her way to our street, up the stairs, to the
door of our apt. This cat deserves a better life. California, here we come.î
To be continued....*

Last day here. Boyd and his main security man took Kathy and me to the big
market for final photographs. I felt like Chelsea Clinton: One guy walked in
front of us and the other behind to make sure no one took my Ikon. (Forget
Kathy and me! Itís the equipment that was in danger.) We zipped through that
place looking for good pictures. I wanted light glistening on fresh fish or
coming through the wings of a turkey. We got that plus the meat room where
sheep and beef, freshly slaughtered that morning, were being disemboweled,
guts removed, then rest of body sliced or hacked up. Heads & carcasses of the
animals lined the shelves. In fact, you could buy any part of the animals.
Since this is a meat-eating country, I can see why this section of the market
was so busy.

On the way to the airport, photographed the sports palace again with a bluer
sky behind it, and was able to hand Kathy the final roll of film to send to
San Francisco for processing. Roll #39.

Checked in airport, had coffee (well I had to have a last Raki to gird myself
in case I needed to convince the guards about letting me carry 3 heavy bags
of gear onto the plane). OK. Flight on time. 1 hr. later arrived Rome, walked
through customs, just as planned, there was dear Robin.

*Today [Wednesday] Kathy told me via phone that her husband Mike already
said, ìNo way!"
But, do cats carry rabies? At the bottom of our list of "Shots for Albania"
were cholera and preventive rabies. Neither Kathy nor I took them because we
weren't planning to go to the mountains where those diseases are prevalent. I
think this is something I'll choose not to worry about.

Individual notes:

Ted: In my 2-wk stay didnít buy a single item. Didnít even buy a gadget.
(Well, they donít have many gadgets here.) Didnít even get pencils for the
Breakfast Group. Only helped the economy by purchasing food, drink, and 2
shampoos.

Gayle: Youíll be relieved to know that Robin & I made better connections here
than in Los Angeles when I photographed J. Sanders at his Bel Air home!

Jim B & Dan S: I didnít use the new digital camera after all because,
obviously, I wasnít as comfortable with it has with my 8-yr-old Nikon. Will
learn & use back in the States. Thanks, tho, for all your shopping & teaching
info through e-mail.

Gretchen DS: Do hope your show in NYC went verrrrry well!

Gretchen in Santa Fe: I know good things are coming forth from your new
studio. Will finish the scrapbook for you when we return.

Bob in Henderson: I once told you I read things approx. a dozen times before
I send them. Obviously, not here, Buddy!

Editor friends & writer friends & English teachers: Pls forgive punctuation
and all that. Havenít had time to proofread or check STRUNK & WHITE.

Ciao, Kosi, Boyd, and Kathy.
Good-bye, Albania.
Love from Carolyn

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