I am certain most of the world is aware of the recent earthquake in Bam Iran.

There have been numerous reports and images of the incident. The fortress at Bam was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. Whenever I think of Bam that tanned colour fortress comes to mind.

However the most memorable part of Bam for me was not the fortress. It was the people. At the time I was there there were a lot of drug runners in the area, trying to get drugs from Afghanistan to the coast to ship abroad. There had been kidnappings of foreigners by drug runners and the sort. In all of that uncertainty, I met so many warm and friendly people. One in particular, a little old guy on the street who spoke some english. He wasn't so nimble anymore and wanted to show me something. A big smile on his face the little guy with a pained, arthritic walk, he put his hand on my back and guided me with his other telling me how glad he was to see a Canadian in Bam. His smile so huge I am sure he had no idea his legs even hurt him. He laid a jacket down below one of the infinite number of date trees of Bam and motioned me to climb it saying "up up". The only way to satisfy my curiosity why I would climb this tree was to climb it. His english wasn't good enough to explain, either that or he wasn't interested in explaining. I climbed about 6-8 ft up. His face grimaced and he demonstrated the motion to shake. Growling "rrrr", It was a great expression, I laughed and shook the tree. Dates rained down on me, it was clearly date season, the harder I shook the more ripe dates came down until the man yelled up "uya". I stopped, slid down the tree careful not to squish our bounty. He curled up his jacket, it was full. He filled a plastic bag for me with the most incredible dates I have ever tasted, enough of them to keep anyone regular for a year. He smiled and thanked me and excitedly stumbled on his way with a parting wave.

I remember his contented happy smile and crumpled up walk. Now, when I close my eyes and wonder, I think of the people who have lost loved ones. I envision them living surrounded by the rubble of there homes, living in tents amongst the date trees, the ground scattered with fallen dusty ripe dates.

My best wishes are with them.