Up until the last minute I didn’t believe it would happen. Even as we were on our way to Jean-Claude Duvalier’s home in the hills outside Port-au-Prince, my friend Kate (my ally in this effort) and I didn’t know what to expect or where we would rendezvous with Richard, who claimed to be Duvalier’s friend and had set up the “interview.” The road was dark, as we wound our way up the mountain to encounter God only knew what.
It all started soon after Baby Doc’s unexpected return to Haiti in January. I had asked Richard, who, in fact, directs the security operation in Haiti for Sara’s NGO, if I could go to the Karibe Hotel in Petion-ville, where Duvalier was staying, as we had to clear any out-of-the-ordinary outing with Richard’s team. Security in Haiti is that precarious and risk-management is essential to the functioning of the NGO in potentially unsafe situations. I wanted to attend a press conference Baby Doc was supposed to hold there on his second day back in the country. Inevitably the event was delayed for a number of days first because the Karibe indicated it could not manage the number of press expected to attend and then by the eventual arrest of Duvalier on his third day back.
When I made the request, Richard, whose father had been a Haitian ambassador to France during the Duvalier era, surprised me, asking if I, in fact, wanted to meet Baby Doc. At the time, I knew Richard’s father had been a diplomat, but I didn’t know when or for whom, and though I said I certainly I’d like to meet the man, I never expected it could or would happen. Ultimately circumstances prevented me from attending the press conference which was held after the ex-dictator left the Karibe and was staying in a guest house on Montagne Noir.
I never again mentioned meeting Baby Doc to Richard, as, first, I had no real ambition of meeting a man who had allegedly committed crimes against humanity and, second, I knew Katie Couric herself would have loved to interview the former president. I never expected it could be arranged for an unknown writer from Kentucky like me.
That is until this past Wednesday evening, when Richard approached me at my partner Sara’s going away party. (We moved home to the US on Monday after a year in Haiti, where Sara directed the initial phase of an international NGO’s relief effort.)
“Would you still like to meet Baby Doc?” Richard asked at the barbeque, as I sat by the pool, minding my own business, admiring the setting’s breath-taking view of Port-au-Prince:
“Of course,” I stuttered, surprised by the question, imagining Richard was just making friendly conversation and couldn’t really make that happen.
“Then I’ll arrange it,” he asserted, turning to answer his phone.
He walked away.
And I laughed to Sara who was standing nearby, “Do you really think he can make that happen?”
“I don’t know, but I certainly don’t want to go,” she insisted.
She asserted the same, when Richard called the next day to announce the meeting had been arranged, “They’re expecting us Saturday evening.”
“Good God,” I said, having won the “Stylish Blogger” award, “What does one wear to meet a former dictator?”
(continued here)
Great start. Waiting impatiently for the rest of the story. 🙂
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I know you want more, but it’s crazy coming doing an international move with 2 dogs. I don’t have a lot of time this week. I’m sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned anything until I had written the whole thing. I just couldn’t contain myself–I was dying to share.
I promise more soon and apologize for the wait!
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Wow! Kathy! What an experience! Can’t wait to hear the rest of the story.
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Thanks, Marianne. Sorry I couldn’t finish the whole piece for today! It’s coming!
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Like Kirsten…I feel this is a great start and am waiting impatiently for the rest of the story also.
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Please try to be patient. And like I said to Kirsten–I’m snatching every spare moment I can to write. There just aren’t a lot of them to snatch. I will get you more soon, my friend! I swear———
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The suspense is KILLING me! Can’t wait to hear how that conversation went!
Hope you guys are getting settled in Kentucky! Welcome home, y’all 🙂
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Ha, ha–Tori. Hope ya’ll in Tennessee are getting along, as well! More soon!
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Take your time. This is brilliant and exciting, and you need to work through the meaning for yourself as well. I’m excited to read more, but I can wait., with bated breath. At least I don’t have to wait because of completely different time zones. 😉
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Yes, I think it’s digesting the expereince that’s most difficult–great meal–just too much to take it all at one time! Thanks for your patience, Lisa!
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You’re killing me Kathy! I wanna know what you said, what he said, what you said about what he said. Hope you asked him some hard questions!
Seriously though, great post to build up the suspense.
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I don’t know that I asked “hard” questions. I would have been escorted out and potentially jeapordized my friend, if I had been too tough, but I think the questions and anwers proved interesting. What do you think about Aristide’s supposed return tomorrow?
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Ooo, I love the little tease! This is really exciting and suspenseful! 🙂 Pace it how you want to–Lisa’s right. You still need to work out all of this for yourself, too. It only happened last week! 🙂
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You’re not kidding! I don’t know how to untangle all of the feelings I have about it. It was a bizarre expereince!
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Love the title! Can’t say I can help you out on what to wear in a circumstance like that….can’t wait to read the next installment!
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Thanks, Mark. I had fun with this one. What cracked me up was that what I’d wear was my first concern. Isn’t that ridiculous!
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Not ridiculous at all Kathy!
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Wow! I am new to your blog (pointed this way by my sister Lisa from Woman Wielding Words). What an intro! It is amazing where our paths can take us…even when we did not see the what is around the next bend. Seems maybe open ears and eyes might be the best garment…
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It truly is amazing! And, yes, I did try to cloak myself with honest inquiry. It was strange to try to be open to someone like this. Bizarre really.
Thanks so much for reading, and thanks to Lisa for sending you. I hope you’ll come back————-
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This is a cliffhanger, a cliffhanger with a great title! Sorry I’ll be on a plane all day tomorrow!
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I will try to post early, Renee, if that helps. Sorry about the wait, but glad you enjoyed the title!
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Cliff. Hanger.
This is killing me!!! You are worse than TV season finales! 🙂
(I am hooked just the same.)
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Well, hang on, my friend. I promise, I’ll deliver. At least now you have some context and can understand how this all came about. It was weird!
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Real life danger and excitement is even better than a movie – I’m on the edge of my seat. So far, I’m thinking you are either very courageous or crazy!
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But, Deanna, you know I’m crazy! I’ve already told you that! Ha, ha!
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You’re killing me, Kathy…I’ve been trying all day to work my way to this post…more suspense…AARGH!
Hugs,
Wendy
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Again, I’m sorry for not getting this out more quickly, but now the second part is posted. I hope that will give you what you’ve been looking for, Wendy!
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lol! One would think that being a Stylish Blogger (with an award and all!) you wouldn’t have to give what to wear a thought. 😉
Looking forward to reading the rest of the story.
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Yes, you would think so, Robin. And if I’m not mistaken, you were the one who gave me one of those awards!
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see…I waited until installment #3 to start…so, great start! off to read #2…
jane
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It’s cool that they work out of order too! Love it!
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Your bravery astounds me. I don’t mean in that security sense, I mean in that “what on earth do I say to that man” sense. Wow.
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I’ll tell you what, Rose–I was a complete nervous wreck. I just knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to talk to the guy. I thought about all of the journalists who would have killed to have an interview with the man.
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