[LWJ]

Not sure if you all are tracking this, but this earthquake is devastating. My wife and I have traveled to Turkiye a couple times in the last few years and have made friends in the city of Antakya. It was a poorer, dusty, remote city just a few miles from the border of Syria. Now, our friends tell us that 70-75% of the city is destroyed.

Antakya is also known as Antioch in the Bible. It is possible that it is the site of the second Christian church EVER, if that is your thing.

So my heart is breaking for these people. My wife is an avid shooter of street photography and the people of Antakya are easily the most delightful we have ever encountered. A particular memory was a stone bench on a street corner that had a number of retired men sitting and hanging out. My wife asked one if she could take his picture, and he smiled and agreed. Next thing we knew, all of the men wanted their pictures taken. One fellow in particular was insistent that she included his red bicycle in his photo. If you are one to take street shots, you will know that people NEVER want to have their picture taken. And can even get testy about it.

Not exactly sure what I am hoping to accomplish writing this, but I am feeling sad and powerless. The world is a really big place, until it isn't.