The long-awaited flight
Today is Friday 25th of March, 2022; a very important date indeed. Today is the first time for the kids and I to travel to Egypt since 2019. I haven’t seen my family in almost 3 years. Thankfully, we have various forms of online communication at our fingertips so I get to see their faces at least weekly. Having face-to-face communication is definitely something else. And you can’t give them virtual hugs… that’s one thing online communication falls short in.
I am currently overwhelmed with an overflow of excitement as I sit in front of the gate waiting to board the plane. I can’t help but imagine how my parents will react when they meet my almost 3-year-old whom they last met at three months old! Also my older ones must have grown up since our last visit.. I long for that first hug after three years, for my Dad’s warm welcome and my mom’s emotional tears of joy as we reunite. I have missed my brothers so much, too.
I also can’t wait to see my beloved country after 3 years of being away. Things have drastically changed I’m sure, as everything else changes. “Change is the only constant”, as they say. I hope there are more positive changes than the negatives though.
People must have changed, too. The elderly naturally become older and the young have grown up. Family and friends are each in their respective grinds… I’m certain not everyone I would love to meet would find time for me in their busy schedule but I’ll be so grateful for those who would.
The excitement is building up within me and it is quite obvious in my children’s attitude as well. I’m immensely thankful to Allah for making this possible: a flight that took less than a week to book and prepare for but that has been long-awaited for months now. I wish all goes well and that we enjoy every second we spend with our extended family.
