A post with no name...

I've been in Cairo for the past week and a half, today I finished packing up my flat in Aswan and tomorrow will be my last day at the office.  The process of going home has felt long already, the goodbyes started last week, and I've got two weeks to go before I hear a welcome that doesn't include the word Egypt.  This post has no name because even as I write this I can't tell you exactly how I feel about going home without it becoming a confused rambling collection of the thoughts and emotions that run through my head everyday like someone put my ipod on shuffle.

I did find this today though.  Someone gave it to me more than 10 years ago when the life of a 13 year old felt complicated.  Turns out 24 isn't that much different, the lessons just appear differently.

After a while you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul

And you learn that love doesn't mean security

And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts

And presents aren't promises

And you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes open

With the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child

And you learn to build all your roads on today, because tomorrows ground is too uncertain and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight

After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much

So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul instead of waiting for someone else to bring you flowers

And you learn that you really can endure

That you really are strong

And you really do have worth

And you learn and learn

With every goodbye you learn

Two weeks to go.  See you soon.