The day began with many anxious feelings, fear being the most prominent. Flights are my nemesis, I hate flying more than smelly feet. Just to make sure the experience was amply bad I accumulated an eye infection. So the before even washing my face there was a planned trip to the on call optometrist aka hash. Diagnosed with an infection a trip to boots.
The hardest part of today was saying bye, seeing the longing everyone felt to be a part of my trip, in some cases wanting to replace me. The sweetest was a friend wanting to fit into my luggage. I called a friend five times to say goodbye, yet each time we spoke I wanted to say bye all the less. Reminded me of a quote I once read. "Friendship in its purest form can be seen as an act of worship"
On the bright side, which there always is one. The masses of "nasta" and snacks that suddenly appeared at home this morning, made my heart smile.
Seeing everyone at the airport gave me serious anxiety issues, a continuing theme throughout today by the way. So many khojas, and I have to live with them for weeks, not mere hours. After an hour in the check in queue I turned to my uncle and mother saying "I just realised we're surrounded by khojas" I got the unanimous response of "shush". I guess that's where they draw the line to my sarcasm.
Mum got stopped at security and her handbag is kept aside, I realising she's left some liquid in her handbag smile, the knowings of a well travelled mother-daughter combination. I let my uncle queue with her to investigate, at which point I saw just how being with a sibling reduces you back to the child bond you form, no matter how old you are. Completely justifying my immaturity around my siblings. He questioned her possession of liquids, she protested and denied. At the point when she gets caught having not removed her hand sanitisation gel, he turns to me expecting support. I smiled, at which point he realised where my loyalties lie.
To be honest, this whole part journey has made me realise how accustomed I am to being surrounded by the people I love and my comforts. I'm not just referring to my reliance on the apple systems, but my need to think out loud. My questioning around the washroom design and my shock at the Asian toilet filled me with the realisation of how unprepared I am for this trip. However, humanity lives on. That makes me smile. I asked a random stranger in the group to offer out my chicken sandwiches. He smiled and offered me snacks in return. It touches my heart when strangers behave as though helping you is an honour for them. Yes, I know I'm a princess even on Hajj.
As I sit here in the prayer room at Cairo airport, surrounded by sleeping women I hope this journey leads to a fresh start and we all find out peace.
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