This quote borrowed from one of my favorite authors often described the excessive burdens and hardships experienced by two of my favorite characters in Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series; AL’Lan Mandragoran and Rand Al’Thor. The entire quote is, “Death is light as a feather but duty is heavy as a mountain.” In my life at present both duty and death seem to be playing a large role. Though in this case they both seem heavy as a mountain. To explain, as part of my job I am responsible, on occasion to be on call 24/7 to assist any Americans who might find themselves in trouble while visiting or living in the Philippines. The problems can range from something as simple as losing a wallet to something as serious as death. To address any such emergencies, I was given a small cheap looking phone which I have now not-so-affectionately called the “little grey mobile phone of death.” I am charged with answering the phone immediately should it ring and try to solve the problem of the person on the other line. Unfortunately every time I have picked up the phone the person on the other end tells me someone has died. Not much I can do there! To make matters worse I have to ask them things like what is their passport number and do they have a birth certificate. Just the kind of things you want to be asked during such a moment I am sure. This is only day two, hopefully the rest of my time in this job passes by with few more incidents, or at least ones less . . . tragic.
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