Whoa nellie, I have never seen such a thing. In case anyone was wondering what in the world caused the traffic jam around Safeway/Cozmo around 7pm, it was dozens, if not hundreds, of people responding to the blog/Facebook request for blankets, jackets and canned food for Gaza through 7iber and the Action Committee.
I thought I would get there right at 6:30pm, drive up and drop off, knowing how the punctuality of ‘events’ is rather fluid in our part of the world. You know, 6:30pm means 7:30pm.
Let it be now known, that when Nas, Ramsey, Miriam, Muoffaq and Eyad are in charge, 6:30pm means 6:15pm. (any other Action Committee folks I have neglected to mention, let me know!)
I got my first glimpse of what an ‘extreme’ FB response to an event was when stuck on the bridge over Airport Road. Usually traffic flows smoothly as it is Safeway-induced. This traffic pattern was stuck turning left at the duwwar, and NOT u-turning. Towards Cozmo. Uh-huh. Second clue was when two cars in front of me pulled over and parked, and began pulling bags out of trunks, right off the duwwar. I followed suit, it was a wise move.
History Buff and Project Boy were my male-chaperones, looking like short Santas carrying big bags. As we trudged by stalled traffic, I heard a voice behind me calling “Kinzi! Kinzi!” (which doesn’t happen often in Jordan. Or anywhere, for that matter), and I saw dear commenter Um Omar behind me with several of her kounouz hauling bags as well. We ‘alhamdulilah-ed’ together over the overwhelming sight and entered the foray together.
At the corner by Cozmo we saw two men wrestling a stubborn dumpster off the street and through several inches of mud to make room for a Very Large Aramex Truck. Normal sight for Amman, except these guys were not wearing orange. Just when we realized it was bloggers/citizen journalists Nas and Ramsey, bloggerette Miriam said hello between frantic phone calls. Who took our bags but blogger Muoffaq Qabbani (being engaged has made him even more dapper!). Maher “Thabahtoona” from UJ pulled up just then, and Proactivity Man Eyad was organizing bag traffic flow.
Realizing it would be the better part of valor to leave the workers to tend their growing pile, we walked back up only to see blogger MommaBean pull up! She parked cleverly and the boys and I helped her carry her many bags down, and we had a short chat too. Unbeknownst to me, blogger Desertmom and her daughter were coming down from the other direction. Desertmom had alerted our church community via Facebook, I brought bags from friends who couldn’t make it. Providentially, our church had just sent a financial gift over the Western border, too.
Drivers not in on the action were getting antsy and honking, and I could hear sirens coming our way. Oops. Time to lift a prayer for the 7iber/Action Committee, as they explain to Officers Friendly that it really wasn’t a spontaneous demonstration. An Urdani-style demonstration of love and concern, yes, that just lived a little larger than the organizers had planned.
Praise God for many doing their part, to create a massive outpouring of mercy.
**UPDATE: Here is MommaBean’s post 
**UPDATE: Southern Muslimah’s post
**UPDATE: 7iber’s post, scroll down for pictures
**Youngest Blogger Khaled’s dad was there too!
I got Abu Khaled to take the bags for me & he kept saying: but it’s going to be crowded & I convinced him that as it’s raining & quite cold, the streets will be empty & he might be the only one there! He came back telling the same story as yours: heavey traffic & having to park far away & walk. Alhamdulilah! InshaAllah the stuff will get there soon. May Allah be with the people of Gaza.
Great minds think alike… Just saw an e-mail from Um Omar on the topic as well encouraging a group of friends to get out and do their part. Hopefully they added to even more traffic jams. Can’t wait to see the final results.
Mona, lol, you are one convincing woman, and he is one smart man! Bravo 3alay Abu Khaled, hope he enjoyed being a part of the Big Picture as an ABU-blogger. Too bad Khaled had to study, he would have enjoyed meeting the other bloggers as our most junior planeteer.
MB, no kidding! Both the great minds part AND that um Omar could get people out of the house on short notice. I didn’t realize until I read your post that one truck had already been filled. Yes, these were good traffic jams and I also can’t wait to see! The bloggers in charge are probably too tired to post after it all, allah ya3teehum il-afiyyah.
God bless you all
I’m glad to hear of the response
May Allah grant you huge rewards for this and give our brothers and sisters in Gaza the respite from horror they greatly deserve. ameen
I am so happy to read this was a huge turnout! I’ve learned to never underestimate what is possible when Allah and good intention is involved.
jazakAllah khairan
sis Dee in the US
Alhamdulillah I saw the police cars coming as I was leaving and said a little prayer that it would blow over easily. I am sure Cozmo was hoping some of the overflow would end up shopping in their store, and certainly some did buy groceries and things to donate from there. A win win situation for them. Alhamdulillah.
Sorry I missed you all; I left home early because I have bad enough night blindness, and the rain just worsens it. I got there around 6:15 and things were already jamming. It was great to see. Wish I could have had a mini bloggers-reunion in the parking lot with you all.
I just read your comments on Nizar’s post
“I appreciate your thoughts on this, Nizar.”
I already replied on his blog .. so I’m not gonna repeat myself here, I just wanna tell you to keep your crap for yourself, people in Gaza do not need your stupid clothes.
KJ, there are times it is true that it is more blessed to give than receive.
Asoom, yes, it was a lovely. Now, if the need for it would end.
Um Omar, I thought the same thing, Cozmo (and Safeway, as MB described) would definitely benefit from the crowd!
Umm Farouq, Sorry I missed you too! Had to wait for hubby to return, and I am like night-blind (oooo, dangerous) so I drive like an old lady.
Salem, risking the response like this, I hesitated to say even what I did. I won’t be reading your comment at Nizar’s, I’ve seen enough like them. You obviously haven’t seen my comments on other blogs that may be more according to your opinion. Everyone has strong opinions on this tragic topic, and if you don’t like my ‘appreciation’ you don’t have to visit my blog.
I bet you all feel great after the efforts you have put in helping the victims of the israeli attacks.
I wish i had the possibility to participate too.
Nizar, it is a bittersweet kind of ‘great’. Sweet to know a little bit can make a difference, bitter that it won’t keep people from dying. You participated by posting your thoughts, it may seem small if you are not ‘there’, but it is important too.
I am really proud of everyone. 7iber guys did an extra ordinary job and people just responded in a wonderful way.
This is the real thing that would help some people in Gaza, not the screams and shouts on al jazeera. Way to go people of Jordan. Jordan must be proud
I’ve just posted with links to your site and others. It’s my first attempt at linking on a blog so I hope it worked this time. Bravo alaykum! I’m definitely feeling more pride for my country of residence than my passport country today. Um Tulip
hey Kinzi
it was nice to see u
and come on “dapper”
well am with the organizer
Action committee and 7iber
its our event that went So great
Um Tulip, yes, that feeling is one of the most interesting of ex-pat experiences. thanks for linking!
Qabbani, ya salam , so you ar a community organizer too! I will amend the post now! As for ‘dapper’, that adjective means MORE than just handsome, but confident, well-dressed, and together. It is an old word, but very fitting for you! It was great to see you again, and I am so proud of you guys!!!
Observer, yes I am so proud of them too, providing a venue where everyone can do their part! I think it is a great use of energy for good.
it was great to be there …. i hoped to see u all