And so it begins again...

It started as a small change in the tone of conversation in the office. 

I had my head down so I barely noticed the shift from boisterous, animated conversation to more subdued words of concern.  Several people were gathered near someone's desk looking over their shoulder at the computer screen.

A woman walks by and catches a whispered word; "Dimona?"

I take notice that she is now walking briskly back to her desk... dialing her cellphone as she walks... waiting... waiting... "Hello Ima, you're home?  Where's Abba??

A pause... then she allows herself to collapse into her chair with, "Thank G-d"

This is too familiar a routine, even though it hasn't played out in some time.  I turn to face my computer and surf over to one of the Israeli news sites.  Sure enough, the headlines:

At least three dead in Dimona suicide bombing attack
MDA treating casualties on the scene, say many wounded
by attack on Dimona commercial center; attacker assessed
to have crossed from Sinai...

I don't need to read more... I can probably write the rest of the coverage from memory.

More groups of people are gathering by computers... more people rush away suddenly while calls are hurriedly placed.  The relief... the guilt at feeling relief... the quiet tears...

And so it begins again.