Are We Safe?

"Are you safe?" I used to get that question a lot. It was either completely absurd or deadly serious and the truth was, I had no idea which. And still don't. Not for sure, anyway. After years of sobriety, though, I came to understand (or believe) that the answer was almost surely "yes." Yes, I was completely safe. The question was entirely absurd. The context was the Kremlin, and my standard response ("Just like us," a reference that'll be lost on everyone save the Clinton Hill-Bed Stuy nativ