"Oh it's just your standard running gun battle"

My first full lockdown since I've come home from evac.  Not a huge deal. We've dealt with these before. As long as it isn't on my street or every day, we handle them okay. And we're all sicker than sick today so it's not like we were going anywhere anyway.

When I asked my husband what was going on he said, "Oh it's just your standard running gun battle." I said, "Oh, okay." Then we looked at each other and we both laughed remembering when I went to a playgroup in the US a few weeks back. 

New woman at the group: "Can I ask what it is like over there? I mean I don't want to pry but I am interested. You read the news and stuff but I wondered what it was really like."

Me: (Trying to be casual and not alarmist cause I really love our Mexican town) "Oh it's just like running gun battles and stuff mostly. Usually not a huge deal unless you're trying to go somewhere."

Her: (Eyebrows raised) "Running gun fights?"

Me:  (Foot firmly planted in mouth and trying to backpedal) "Umm, yeah. I guess that is kind of a big deal? But really it's not that bad. I mean it's not as bad as when they carjack and make roadblocks or start shooting on the bridge so you can't get off or they throw grenades and stuff..."

(Her eyebrows are still raised. I am not doing too well here.) 

Me: "And...umm...it's not every day. And nothing has happened near our house in awhile. And our security is good and stuff..."

AAANNND the conversation devolves into silence. This is why I should never talk...ever. 

Dang, one more person that will never come visit us now. Thank goodness for my FS TCK friend who used to live in Pakistan as a kid. She always helps me feel a little normal for a sec.

And she saves me by saying, "But it's totally okay as long as you're careful and stuff right?" 

At which point we could talk about the cool glass factory, the awesome food,  fun shopping, etc. etc.

And really it is all right. It's rough when you have lock down after lock down. And with little kids you always worry a little. But there are lots of posts like this in the world. We all do our fair share. It's called public service for a reason.

(Addendum: This seemed pretty funny awhile ago when I posted and it just seemed like a simple gun battle that would clear up in a few hours. Almost normal around here.
Now it has moved beyond that, some families are separated now because their kids are at school in the US and can't come home. Suddenly worried about tons of stuff, especially families who have little ones caught in the US and whether we're entering another spike. You just never know around here.)