Leonie Jarrett - Issue 35

Leonie Jarrett lives in Melbourne, Australia with her Husband of more than 3 decades, 2 of her 4 adult children and her 2 Golden Retrievers. She is also a very proud Grandma to baby Vienna!

Leonie has just published her first book, a child’s first reader called “When Harry Got Lost.”

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My Odyssey

“How do I get on that?”

“Don’t worry, be happy,” says the guide. “Just relax, keep your arms straight and lean back.”

I am petrified. My palms are sweating so much that I fear they will slip off the metal handrail. The camel underneath me lurches. I am halfway up and hanging on for dear life. The camel lurches again and he is upright. Somehow, I manage to hang on. I exhale. I made it. Now I just have to stay on.

The guide is at the front and a dozen camels follow, linked together with ropes. One by one, each camel rises with each rider either exhilarated or terrified. There seems no in between. Once we’re all aboard, our camel train sets off for our ride amongst the Pyramids of Giza.

I have wanted to come to Cairo and the Pyramids for so long. For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated with Ancient Egypt. Now I am here. Terrified. But here.

As far as my eyes can see, there are hues of gold - the Pyramids and the sand. Fine, fine sand that is whipping me in the face. Luckily, I bought a scarf yesterday. There seemed every colour of the rainbow to choose from but I chose my Mum’s favourite colour - orange. As the vendor told me, it was a perfect match for the intense, burning sun. The guide had tied the scarf around my head and across my face so, in combination with my sunglasses, I am largely protected from the flying, biting sand.

The camel gently takes me on a scenic ride. It feels much like being on a horse and I start to relax into the undulating movement. I am awed at the Pyramids. I mull over so many questions. “How were the Pyramids built so long ago? How were they so perfectly shaped without computers? How many people died or were injured whilst building them?”

My mind wanders as to how I managed to be in Egypt at all. Overseas travel wasn’t on my radar whilst I was raising two kids on my own. For so many years, my life was work, look after the kids, pay bills, tidy the house, wash, grocery shop, cook, taxi the kids around. Repeat. Any spare money was put aside for emergencies. I don’t regret it. The kids are the best part of me but overseas travel? Bahaha. That was not an option.

My Mum knew I dreamt of travelling. Particularly of visiting the Pyramids. When she got sick last year, she told me that I was to use her inheritance to see, “Those Pyramids of (mine).” So I did.

Tears roll down my face at the memory. At hearing her voice in my head.

“Thank you Mum,” I say out loud. “Those Pyramids are better than I ever dreamt they would be.”

Chugging Along

The tram chugs along. I’m on one of the older models; not one of those more modern, space- ship looking ones so it chugs more than glides. Goodness, I’m old enough to remember the traditional green trams. The ones where the doors didn’t automatically shut. Coming home from school, we used to hang off the sides! I shouldn’t smile at this memory as that was dreadfully unsafe. So much of my childhood was dreadfully unsafe really.

“Stop reminiscing Sue,” I say to myself. “This is a big day. Focus.”

The tram chugs along.

“Why am I doing this to myself?” I ask myself. “What if I’m not up to it? What if I make a fool of myself? Don’t be stupid Sue. I will make a fool of myself. No, you won’t.”

The silent table tennis in my head goes on and on. And, before I know it, my eyes fill and I am crying. OMG. How mortifying.

I dab at my eyes and blow my nose and hope that no one notices the old lady crying on the tram.

“Oh no, that big bloke with all the tatts is coming my way. He’s not coming over to me is he? Surely not.”

The big bloke with all the tatts speaks to me. “Are you OK? Can I help?” He has a lovely, warm voice and a kind smile.

“I’m fine. Thank you for asking. Sorry,” I sniff.

“Are you sure?” asks the big bloke with all the tatts and the kind smile.

“Yes. Just a bit nervous. Sorry about the tears but I’m fine. Just a bit nervous. You see I start a new job today and I haven’t done that...started a new job I mean….for a long time. Well, not since…not since some stuff happened in my life. So I’m a bit nervous. Well, it’s not a job actually. It’s just a volunteer thing so it’s not like a job to pay the bills. I’m not even sure why I’m nervous but my kids say I need to get out so I am but I don’t know if I’m up to it.”

I stop suddenly. The big bloke with all the tatts and the kind smile is still looking at me, listening.

“I’m so sorry,” I say. “I’m babbling. How embarrassing. Look, I’ve stopped crying now. I’m fine. Thank you.”

“No worries, all good. Just wanted to make sure you were OK. Whatever you’ve been through sounds like it was tough. For what it’s worth, good on you for having a go. As my Mum always says, ‘You only live once.’”

I laugh. “I say that to my kids too. I’ve been saying it to myself a lot lately!”

“OK. This is my stop. Have a good day.” The big bloke with all the tatts and the kind smile gets off the tram.

“Well, there you go Sue,” I think to myself. “Never judge a book by its cover.”

The tram chugs along.